Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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GAME COCK LXXlV, No. H1//2 University of South Carolina Thursday April 22,1982 USC Engineers For Navy Flig In a heart-stopping moment, the student pilot realizes he has lost control of the aircraft. The snapping harness, bruising impact, and ear-shattering crunch of heavy metal are simulated, but the exneriencp is rpal enough to discourage a repeat performance. Aided by a multiple microcomputer system designed by USC engineers, future Navy flight simulators will offer trainees flying experiences much closer to the real thing than those now used. Budding pilots will be able to experience intricate flight maneuvers as well as the terror of a crash landing without leaving the ground, said project director Dr. Robert Pettus, a professor in USC's College of Engineering. The microcomputer system was recently created to help the Navy make its flight simulators more realistic with expanded and faster capabilities. Pettus said. But the engineer predicts the technology also will be used by the commercial airline industry to improve pilot training and by other industries to more efficiently control production processes and industrial robots. Featuring rapid-paced, large-capacity decision making, the multiple microcomputer system outperforms mafiy higherpriced single-computer systems, Pettus explained. While single-computer systems can become overburdened and slowed down as operation demands increase, multiple microcomputer systems can divide tasks efficiently among several computers, Fettus said. Developed with a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Naval Training Equipment Center in Orlando, Fla., the multiple microcomputer system is well suited for breaking complex operations into separate tasks and offers an "enormous cost advantage over alternative single-computer systems," Pettus said. "With faster and expanded information processing and decision making, the new system is expected to improve simulator performance threefold." he noted Cwrrpnt Navy flight simulators are operated by a slower, limited-capacity computer system. Foreign Invc By DR. JEFFREY S. ARPAN Special to the Gamecock Foreign investment plays an important Carolina's economy. From less than $80 i foreign direct investment (FDI) in the state 1 than $3 billion, and during the 1970s averaged new industrial investments in the state.' Investors from more than 15 countries Dercent of the state's manufacturing labor f Carolina ranks second of all 50 states in the ar direct investment per person. The state rani value and twelfth in total employment. This large amount of foreign direct casionally raises several questions as to ho from a citizen's viewpoint. Is South Carolina being "sold," constn otherwise changed by FDI? Is it worth the mc (or the tax revenues foregone) to attract it? I Carolina better off without it? While there is no precise, unassailable swering these questions, the evidence sugges is better off because of FDI. One way to examine it is economically, investment provides direct employment a more than 36,000 South Carolina manufacl Design System u* e:?1? l-rw-wn tit, uiiuuiaiui^ When a pilot trainee flies the simulated aircraft, there will be little difference between the simulation and the real thing. The aircraft, mechanically maneuvered inside a three-story building, will respond in about the same time frame and manner as the real machine to changing weather conditions, wind velocity, throttle speed and other factors. With the multiple microcomputer system more factors can be incorporated, including additional types of aircraft. The computer can alter the simulated aircraft model and maneuvers, such as F-4 jets landing on an aircraft carrier. Other elements include weather conditions, geographic surroundings, the scene viewed by the pilot, and mechanical problems that may be encountered. 4'Even a crash landing or collision will be more realistic," Pettus explained. "Once a pilot trainee experiences this, he or she rarely will do it again." The major technological advancement that brings these aircraft situations to life is the system's control concept, Pettus said. l'lie concept, being patented by USC and the Navy, is a new way of controlling multiple microcomputers, said C. Forrest Summer, director of the Experimental Computer Lab at the Naval Training Equipment Center. The USC engineering feat solves the problem of getting a multiple microcomputer system to do a real-time processing job ? receive information, make decisions and implement action at speeds close to real-life situations. "This achievement is the first step in developing a full-scale system for flight _ 1 _ i mi r 1 ii* ? i _ ? ? sunuiaiors. ine unai multiple microcomputer system will have about four times the capability of the USC model," Summer said. The model system works efficiently because tasks are divided among several computers, and each computer retains its own memory as well as sharing information with the others through a^group memory. jstment Plays Maj< ?? Thousands of others supply i I firms. In addition, the income ci provides jobs and income role in South Carolinians whose consumer ] million in 1960, for by the income generated b; now totals more Because most foreign direci 25 percent of all new plants, the South Caroling benefitted. Also, the personal now employ 9 by foreign investment adds to orce, and South ultimately benefitting many nount of foreign activities. ks ninth in total The foreign investors tenc average wages in their con investment oc- upgrade skills of the local worl w desirable it is Foreign investors also hav . industrial base, and diversi rined, built, or greater economic and employi >ney being spent example, Michelin brought n short, is South brought aluminum works, manufacturing. method of an- Other foreign investments ts that the state industries in the state. For example, West Germ; Foreign direct fibers and European investm< md income for helped South Carolina's own :uring workers, compete. [ 1 J ----- - -;"_j--"~ " ::^?a; mm !| The lead lip syncher 1 | contest at the Golden) >r Role In S, material and services to these eated directly and indirectly to thousands of other South products and services are paid y FDl. t investment enters by building ? 1 1 I tunou UU11UI1 1I1UUSII y lias and corporate income created the tax collections of the state, state supported agencies and I to pay slightly higher than imunities. Also, they usually1 tforce with high technology, e helped diversify the state's t ification generally results in raent stability for the state. For tire manufacturing, Mitsui and Sony brings television nave sirengmenea existing an investments in man-made ents in textile machinery have textile and apparel industries k::: " >>::: '^'|||B8H|M|^BB^BHBL! 11 Jliiiii | i 11,'. 111|' | 1'' i i'.W | ; . IS H v. - . Bj ' HBHkflHHHI *afc&:S .jocfflffffPiB ffl^v .;: * ;. j. W: x %. I TjyBfg[n^ fJ-l^?. fg?g& StaH Photo by LAURA WU.UND j for the Vectors competes in Tuesday's airband I Spur. The band finished third. I .C.. Professor Savs On the other hand, most foreign investors have received special tax incentives which allow them certain exemptions. In addition, the State Development Board spends much money to promote and attract foreign direct investment. Also, some of the corporate earnings are sent to parent companies out of state, and hence are not spent in South Carolina. Finally, the international competitiveness of the foreign investors may hurt some local South Carolina firms by raising wages and land prices or even putting some comoetitors out of business However, these results and most of the state expenditures? as well as the benefits? would occur from any out-of-state investment coming in, be it from Japan, Germany, Pennsylvania, or Ohio. From^ a purely economic viewpoint, there is little difference between out-of-state and out-of-country investment. One area of difference is international business activities and SIHUS. Foreign investors are most actively involved in international transactions, which generally helps stabilize the state's economy. Their international activities also enhance international business skills for the South Carolinians who work them, and for many of the industries who serve them. Another way to look at the desirability of foreign direct investment is its culturalimpact, both in the factory and in the community. See INVESTMENTS page: