AMCOM Upgrades CG2/Intergraph Visual Systems with MetaVR Technology

When the Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama needed to upgrade the performance of their existing PC-based visual systems they chose the MetaVR multi-channel visual system solution for their Reconfigurable Helicopter simulator. MetaVR upgraded the hardware and software for five (5) systems.

The AMCOM now uses the STRICOM PC-based reconfigurable rotary wing aircraft (RWA) simulator for their Reconfigurable Helicopter coupled with the MetaVR visuals. Here is an image of the RWA software running on a MetaVR SimHost system. The reconfigurable software uses virtual control panels depicted here on the flat panel display. MetaVR also provides digital moving map application software for the STRICOM RWA as an add-on situational awareness display.

The MetaVR ChannelSync cable replaced the CG² MultiVis option to provide direct hardware synchronization versus network synchronized visual channels. Network-based synchronization schemes typically require multiple channels to send messages to each other to determine if all channels are ready to display the current scene. These schemes are subject to the latencies accumulated in the network transport layers and the inherent unreliability of broadcast-based protocols. MetaVR's hardware-based approach to synchronization relies on direct physical connections between channels and allows synchronization to be achieved with order-microsecond latency.

The customer recovered some of their investment by providing MetaVR with their legacy hardware for upgrade. Original components were reused where applicable and the desktop units were rehosted to ruggedized rackmount configurations. This MetaVR service of refurbishing the legacy Intergraph TDZ® 2000 RealiZm II ViZual™ Workstation hardware enabled the customer to preserve some of their investment while migrating to the latest system hardware. MetaVR then replaced the CG² software with the VRSG application to provide new, state-of-the-art out-the-window visuals.

The clock speed of the visual simulation community is now approaching that of traditional commercial PC markets. The result for the user community is greater and more frequent choices for their simulation needs. Previous investments in legacy systems with high life-cycle hidden software costs and proprietary components need not tie a customer to a particular solution. Because the PC 3D graphics hardware market changes so rapidly, proprietary parts that once cost several hundreds of dollars are rendered obsolete in very short order. For the investment in a single expensive and proprietary graphics card, a simulation consumer can now purchase multiple of the latest PC commercial 3D hardware, stay ahead of the performance curve, and preserve their program investments. Simulation consumers who do not keep their investments current can see their program canceled if they do not stay competitive.

The legacy systems at the MetaVR production center prior to upgrading.

	Software
	CG 2VTree	scene manager =======>  replaced with	MetaVR VRSG
	Hardware
		reuse salvageable components  =======> older components upgraded, obsolete parts sold off
		proprietary graphics cards =======> replaced with COTS units

Some of the upgraded systems at the MetaVR production center prior to shipment.

Upgraded software: VTree is a trademark of of CG² Inc.
Upgraded hardware: TDZ 2000 GX1 ViZual is a trademark of Intergraph Computer Systems.