MetaVR News Volume VIII, Issue 2 December 1, 2004 http://www.metavr.com/ MetaVR makes software that enables you to create and run high- resolution, real-time photo-realistic 3D virtual worlds on commercial PC image generators for the simulation and location based entertainment markets. In This Issue: 16.A - MetaVR Provides Visual Systems and Terrain for Stryker Training 16.B - 25th ID Follow-on Purchase of VRSG for Joint Combined Arms Trainer 16.C - BAE Systems Upgrades A-10 Simulator HUD Test Systems to VRSG 16.D - Canada's Defence R&D CF-18 Multi-Task Trainers Use MetaVR Visuals 16.E - Lockheed Martin Uses VRSG Systems for F-22 Business Development 16.F - Alcatraz the Ride at Six Flags, NJ, Uses MetaVR Visual Systems 16.G - DBST Ft. Wainwright AK Terrain and MOUT Site 16.H - Lockheed Martin Minnesota Purchases VRSG for Maritime Surveillance 16.I - North America 3D Terrain Now Available in MetaVR Metadesic Format 16.J - MetaVR Sponsors Patriot Incentive Award for School Teachers 16.K - MetaVR at I/ITSEC 2004 in Booth #1030 16.L - MetaVR's MOUT Site Featured on Cover of TSJ Magazine December Issue 16.M - Continued VRSG Sales to Air National Guard 16.N - MetaVR Technology at AUSA 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.A MetaVR Provides Visual Systems and Terrain for Stryker Training Recently, MetaVR delivered 11 multi-channel ruggedized visual systems as part of an $800K purchase for the delivery of Stryker vehicle simulators and an urban warfare training terrain database. The new Stryker armored wheeled vehicle is designed to enable the Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) to maneuver in dense urban terrain while providing protection in open terrain. The MetaVR visual systems were coupled to a US Government Stryker vehicle model simulation and fielded at Ft. Lewis, WA, which is the location of the 1st SBCT. At that site, Stryker combat vehicles and command and staff elements operate in a live maneuver area where the MetaVR systems are used to provide the visuals for the Stryker simulators. The 1/25th Infantry (SBCT2) trained on these simulators prior to its recent deployment to Iraq. The training exercise is described in the Simulations Operations Quarterly, Fall 2004, Volume 1, Issue 4 in the article, "1/25 Units Use BCST to Train at Ft. Lewis". The purchase includes a 3D 65 km x 130 km terrain database using .3 meter color imagery that covers Ft. Lewis, including the Leschi Town West urban warfare training site. The delivered database contains 14 detailed MOUT buildings with partial interiors and articulated portals. The terrain includes cultural elements that have high-resolution textures: bridge, culvert, road signs, electrical poles, 288 volumetric trees, parking lots, and roads. The buildings and other structures are photorealistic; MetaVR's model designers created the models from a set of approximately 200 photographs of the Leschi Town area. Also delivered with the MetaVR visual systems is a set of 12 Stryker vehicle models licensed from RealDB. The existing Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) systems fielded with the Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Ft. Lewis have embedded training systems that use MetaVR visuals. These TUAV payload operator trainers, which reside in the HMMWV (High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) vehicles, are interoperable with the Stryker vehicle simulators as they all use a common visual system, terrain database, and networking protocols. The Stryker simulators are also interoperable with fielded convoy training systems at Ft. Hood, Ft. Carson, CO, and Ft. Stewart, GA (see 15.A of the previous newsletter). Both the Stryker simulator and TUAV embedded trainer will interoperate with the DBST (see 16.G) systems also fielded at Ft. Lewis, WA. A subset of the delivery went to the National Simulation Center (NSC) at Ft. Leavenworth, KS, where the MetaVR systems are used to create and test additional Stryker simulators. The MetaVR Leschi Town, Ft. Lewis terrain database is free of charge to all US Government agencies. The Stryker simulator purchase was awarded to MetaVR by PEO STRI. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/ftlewis-stryker.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsg-stryker-details.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsgoverview.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/TUAV.html http://www.metavr.com/aboutus/newsarchive.html http://www.metavr.com/downloads/MetaVR_News_Volume_VIII_Issue_1.txt (see 15.A) http://www.realdb.qc.ca/ http://www.army.mil/fact_files_site/stryker/ http://www.fa-57.army.mil/newsletter/online/Fall2004/ftlewis.htm http://www.aaicorp.com/corporate/press/tuav_stryker_release.html http://www.peostri.army.mil/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.B 25th ID Follow-on Purchase of VRSG for Joint Combined Arms Trainer As a follow on sale, the 25th Infantry Division (25th ID) in Hawaii recently purchased multiple VRSG licenses and complete systems for their Joint Combined Arms Virtual Effects Trainer (JCAVET). JCAVET creates a 3D environment for pilots and ground commanders to plan and scenario-play combined arms operations in a real-time environment. The sale was comprised of three VRSG license upgrades, three VRSG+First Person Simulator (FPS) license upgrades, three new VRSG licenses, five new VRSG+FPS licenses, two new VRSG+MUSE licenses, three Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder(LLDR) simulators, and hardware purchases of 16 2U rackmount economy units and two after action review 2U rackmount efficiency units. This MetaVR sale adds to the 25th ID's existing 13 VRSG licenses, which were purchased in 2002 by the CAVSIM program at Ft. Rucker, AL. Previously they have used VRSG for their MELIOS laser target designation training from their initial purchase. The most recent acquisition includes three simulated LLDR laser target designators built by Fidelity Technologies. These simulated laser designators use VRSG to display the view that the operator sees in the optic sight. The Fidelity Technology simulated laser target designators use the same technology that is in place for the Call For Fire Trainer (CFFT), which was demonstrated at National Guard Association of the United States General Conference and Exhibition 2004 (NGAUS). The LLDR is the latest production laser target designator developed for the Army, which in addition to ground troop use, can be positioned outside the Stryker vehicles and on HMMWV's to facilitate close air support. These LLDR simulators are compatible for use with the recent Stryker trainers delivered to the 1st SBCT at Ft. Lewis, WA, (see 16.A). http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/artillerytraining.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/forwardobserver.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/firstpersonsim.html http://www.fidelitytech.com/news.html http://www.dsd.es.northropgrumman.com/laser/ANPED.html http://www.ngaus.org/ http://www.metavr.com/downloads/MetaVR_News_Volume_VII_Issue_3.txt (see 14.B) http://www.metavr.com/ruggedrackmountefficiency.html http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/docs/990609-asb_gust/sld012.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.C BAE Systems Upgrades A-10 Simulator HUD Test Systems to VRSG BAE Systems has purchased a multi-channel visual system for upgrading their A- 10 simulator heads-up display (HUD) test systems to use MetaVR visuals as part of the Precision Engagement (PE) program. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is being upgraded to support precision-strike technology under the PE program. BAE purchased MetaVR software and hardware (three 2U rackmount units with VRSG software licenses, one 2U rackmount system for customer configuration and one rackmount operator system) for their A-10 simulator which will replace an existing legacy Quantum3D AAlchemy system. BAE Systems makes the software for the HUD used in the A-10 aircraft. BAE will use VRSG to test their HUD software in their A-10 simulators prior to fielding the software in the real A-10 aircraft. The purpose of the upgrade is to make BAE's simulation system match or be compatible with, that of US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL); to enable a better exchange of terrain databases between BAE and AFRL and to give BAE the potential to participate in the CASNET system. Ultimately, the goal is to make BAE's simulations compatible with other simulations, including A-10 full mission trainers (FMT), to better exercise their system designs. Also delivered with the MetaVR visual systems is a 7,200 polygon A-10 model with complete hard point mounted munitions and sensors. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/fwsafrl.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/fwa10followup.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/fwsa10.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/CASNET.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsg3dcontent/air_big/A10-gen.jpg http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2004/Jul/Air_Force_Seeks_to.htm http://www.quantum3d.com/products/AAlchemy/aalchemy.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.D Canada's Defence R&D CF-18 Multi-Task Trainers Use MetaVR Visuals The CF-18 Multi-Task Trainer (MTT) at DRDC Toronto Canada, which enables pilots to fly in coalition scenarios, uses MetaVR VRSG for its visual system. The CF- 18 is interoperable with US simulators and was built for DRDC by the Warfighter Training Division of the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Mesa, AZ. The recent installation is the result of a scientific exchange partnership between DRDC and AFRL that began in 1994. As stated in the article, "Canada-US collaboration in flight simulation" in the May 5, 2004 issue of The Maple Leaf, a publication of the Canadian National Defense, "The objective of Defence and Research Development Canada (DRDC)- Toronto's Distributed Mission Training (DMT) project is to provide CF-18 pilots with enhanced training capabilities by developing and applying advanced simulation technologies for coalition air operations." Use of the CF-18 MTT will address intersimulator networking issues, visual display fidelity, the use of constructive agents for friendly and opposing forces and the right mix of simulator and in-flight training. Future collaborative activities with the US and other international allies will see DRDC simulation facilities used in a variety of coalition exercises. Also delivered with the MetaVR visual systems is a 2,800 polygon CF-18 model with an articulated pilot. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/DRDC_cf18.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsg3dcontent/air_big/cf18-gen.jpg http://www.metavr.com/aboutus/articles/TheMapleLeaf-May2004.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.E Lockheed Martin Uses VRSG Systems for F-22 Business Development Zedasoft has developed an F-22 simulator that uses MetaVR visuals, which they provide to Lockheed Martin for F-22 sales related efforts. The simulators are used at the Fighter Development Center in Crystal City, VA, and at various trade shows for business development by Lockheed Martin. Their recent purchase consisted of two new VRSG licenses, six VRSG license upgrades, eight 2U rackmount economy systems, and a Washington DC terrain dataset in Metadesic terrain tile format that was delivered with 15 models of historic buildings in the Washington DC area. The 1-geocell high resolution inset was built with 100 meter elevation and .3 meter color imagery, and augments the MetaVR North America Terrain Database. The delivery also included a 3,300 polygon, articulated F-22 model with articulated weapons storage bays and missiles. This is a follow on sale to upgrade a subset of the original 23 MetaVR visual systems purchased by Lockheed Martin, Ft. Worth, TX in 2001. http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsg3dcontent/air_big/f22-gen.jpg http://www.metavr.com/products/metadesic/metadesic_compiler.html http://www.metavr.com/technology/metadesic.html http://www.metavr.com/products/north_amer_terrain/north_america_terrain.html http://www.metavr.com/downloads/MetaVR_News_Volume_V_Issue_2.txt (see 10.B) http://www.zedasoft.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.F Alcatraz the Ride at Six Flags, NJ, Uses MetaVR Visual Systems This summer, i2STAR and Six Flags Great Adventure of NJ amusement park opened to the public "Alcatraz, The Ride", an immersive, location based entertainment attraction. The helicopter simulator ride features MetaVR's synchronized multi- channel capability, and consists of three simulators, each using six channels and analysis stations for total of 20 VRSG licenses. The prototype of this ride was first on display at the IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) annual convention and trade show in October 2000 where it won "Best Exhibit" award. Each simulator has a full-motion cockpit with a distortion-corrected, edge- blended dome display simulating a Hel-Jet (combined helicopter and jet) to save the San Francisco Bay Area from an invasion by alien spacecraft. MetaVR's system couples video-like image quality with the interactivity of a real-time visual simulation in which participants (as pilots/gunners) can maneuver, hover, evade, engage, attack, and destroy enemy spacecraft. http://www.metavr.com/aboutus/articles/AlcatrazRideAnnouncement.pdf http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/channelsurfer.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/ovsiaapa.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/ovsalcatraz.html http://www.alcatraztheride.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.G DBST Ft. Wainwright, AK Terrain and MOUT Site Earlier this year Digital Battle Staff Sustainment Trainer (DBST) program purchased eight MetaVR visual systems for Ft. Wainwright, AK. DBST uses the MetaVR visual system as a component of their simulation, which provides the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) synthetic camera payload view. More recently, the program purchased Alaska terrain which MetaVR delivered in the Metadesic format. The 280 km x 330 km Alaska terrain in Metadesic format (470 tiles) was delivered with terrain tiles in two primary areas: Ft. Wainwright area and the Anchorage and Ft. Richardson area. The terrain elevation is 100 meter posting. For the imagery coverage of this terrain, MetaVR combined high-resolution imagery from various sources that had differing resolutions. For some areas of this terrain, the available source imagery was .5 to 1 meter grayscale SID imagery, which was overlaid with 1 to 5 meter natural color imagery. For example, the immediate Ft. Wainwright area has .5 meter grayscale .SID imagery fused with 1 meter color Geotiffs. The resulting compiled data then appears as detailed color terrain. To complete this sale, MetaVR will provide in the coming months a set of 16 models of MOUT buildings for simulating the Ft. Wainwright MOUT site. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/TUAV.html http://www.metavr.com/products/metadesic/metadesic_compiler.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.H Lockheed Martin Minnesota Purchases VRSG for Maritime Surveillance Lockheed Martin Minnesota recently purchased VRSG for their maritime Global Hawk UAV surveillance simulation for homeland security coastline monitoring. The sale included three MetaVR IG Cubes with VRSG licenses, one VRSG Radar upgrade, and one license for MetaVR's new Metadesic Compiler, which included an early version of MetaVR's MetaVR's North America 3D Terrain (formerly called CONUS terrain) in Metadesic format. http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/radar.html http://www.metavr.com/products/metadesic/metadesic_compiler.html http://www.metavr.com/products/north_amer_terrain/north_america_terrain.html http://www.metavr.com/ig-cube.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.I North America 3D Terrain Now Available in MetaVR Metadesic Format This year, MetaVR applied its new Metadesic Compiler to build a seamless 3D terrain of North America. The Metadesic terrain was constructed from 100 meter elevation data with .3, 1, 5, and 15 meter imagery covering a 1,037-geocell area. The terrain tiles reside in a geocentric coordinate system and are suitable for real-time visualization, simulation, and synthetic vision such as glass-cockpit displays, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) applications, and fixed-wing cockpit simulation. The North America dataset can also serve as a baseline to which you can add higher-fidelity information such as high-resolution aerial imagery or LIDAR elevation data, GPS point surveys, or 3D point features (such as buildings, trees, targets, and runway models), to areas of interest. You can make these additions as they become available, even in real-time if information is provided directly from sensors in the field. The Metadesic architecture automatically signals any "listening" VRSG visualizations that new data is available to be paged into memory. This update flexibility is: - Convenient; conventional simulations applications do not need to recompile entire databases upon receipt of new data. - Scalable; independent assets can be applied to both construction and visualization. - Innovative; mission rehearsal and battle damage assessment tasks can now include a 3D visualization component that is sensor-data driven. The Metadesic North America dataset contains high-resolution insets (some include cultural features) of approximately 48 US cities such as Anchorage, San Francisco, Saint Louis, Orlando, and Washington DC The insets also include several military installations. The Metadesic MDS format requires VRSG version 4 or greater. Although the North America terrain is comprised of US imagery, with the Metadesic Compiler one could construct a database of the entire earth if low- cost redistributable data were available. MetaVR's North America 3D terrain in Metadesic format will be in available in February 2005 in two configurations: - Terrain tiles of the entire coverage listed above delivered on a 1.6 TB external LaCie hard drive for a cost of $5,500. This terrain is constructed from natural color imagery in .3, 1, 5, and 15 meter resolution. - A subset of the terrain tiles listed above, delivered on a 500 GB external LaCie hard drive for a cost of $2,400 that includes terrain constructed from color imagery in 1, 5, and 15 meter resolution. MetaVR's North America dataset is available for purchase only by US Government organizations and US Government contractors. The costs described here do not include source imagery; the nominal fees for the Metadesic tiles cover the processing of large quantities of data into the Metadesic format and the LaCie drive distribution media. http://www.metavr.com/products/north_amer_terrain/north_america_terrain.html http://www.metavr.com/products/metadesic/metadesic_compiler.html http://www.metavr.com/technology/metadesic.html http://www.lacie.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.J MetaVR Sponsors Patriot Incentive Award for School Teachers MetaVR's Patriot Incentive Award (PIA) is an opportunity for school teachers to obtain classroom funding and personal reward based on their creation and submission of a proposal for a teaching experience that transcends the normal school curriculum. This year, three high schools in West Virginia and one high school in Massachusetts were given Patriot Incentive Awards totaling more than $20,000. This competitive award was established in 1999 as a pilot program at Parkersburg South High School, Parkersburg, WV and has been in operation since that year. The intent of this annual award is to acknowledge dedicated teaching and to provide an opportunity for educators to obtain additional classroom resources. Consequently, the recipient for the winning proposal will receive a grant in the amount of $3,000 for classroom use and an additional $2,000 as a personal award, for a total value of $5,000. http://www.metavr.com/aboutus/patriotincentiveaward.html http://pshs.wood.k12.wv.us/acad/Daniel/Publish/Patriot%20Incentive%20Site/index .html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.K MetaVR at I/ITSEC 2004 in Booth #1030 MetaVR will exhibit its products at the annual I/ITSEC trade show in Booth #1030. The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference and Trade Show will be held December 6-9, 2004, at Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL, USA. MetaVR will announce its new Metadesic terrain compiler, based on its recently developed geocentric virtual terrain architecture, and significant additions to the MetaVR 3D entity model library including several new models that use the company's photo-specific 3D model convention with sub-centimeter resolution imagery models. Built from the new Metadesic Compiler, MetaVR will announce its North America 3D terrain, which spans coast to coast with 15 meter imagery augmented with several high-resolution (.3, 1, 5 meter) insets. MetaVR will also announce its new Ft. Lewis Stryker training terrain database (see 16.A) built from 100 meter elevation data and 15 meter imagery with .3 meter inset imagery. The database includes custom-built 3D feature content of the Leschi Town MOUT site (which is the Army's largest urban combat training center), and a set of 12 high-resolution Stryker models. MetaVR will demonstrate its new Metadesic Compiler and visualize the resulting terrain tiles in its real-time 3D visualization product, Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG). The databases that MetaVR plans to demonstrate contain new cultural feature assets from MetaVR's 3D model libraries such as photo- realistic models of structures at the Leschi Town MOUT site, a set of 22 new HMMWV's and 16 Stryker models and new photo-specific T-80 UM1, ZILI31H, and Hunter UAV models. Among the 3D terrain databases that MetaVR will demonstrate in VRSG are the aforementioned new Ft. Lewis terrain database with the Leschi Town MOUT site and North America 3D terrain generated by MetaVR's new Metadesic Compiler with several high-resolution inset areas of interest, and a new Baghdad Iraq database that features a simulated convoy scenario. MetaVR will also demonstrate its US Military Future Combat System (FCS) training facility terrain database, Ft. Campbell with its Cassidy MOUT site, and the extended Ft. Benning, McKenna MOUT site. http://www.metavr.com/iitsec2004.html http://www.metavr.com/products/metadesic/metadesic_compiler.html http://www.metavr.com/products/north_amer_terrain/north_america_terrain.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/ftlewis-stryker.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/convoytrainer.html http://www.metavr.com/products/MetaVRPhotoSpec3Dcontent.html http://www.metavr.com/technology/ftcampbell.html http://www.metavr.com/technology/ftbenning.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/VRSG3Dcontent-mil-land1.html http://www.iitsec.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.L - MetaVR's MOUT Site Featured on Cover of TSJ Magazine December Issue The cover of the December issue of Training & Simulation Journal (TSJ) features a picture of MetaVR's new virtual Leschi Town MOUT site, which is part of the Ft. Lewis terrain database described in 16.A. In addition to the details described above, the image, which is also on the MetaVR web site, shows a scenario that highlights MetaVR's recently added VRSG support for 3D human character animation in BVF format. Cubic Corporation provided the human characters, which are models originally developed for their EST 2000 that can now be rendered as part of a VRSG scenario. Training & Simulation Journal (TSJ) is a bi-monthly publication that covers the global military training, simulation and modeling sector. It is owned by Army Times Publishing Co. and is part of the Defense News Media Group, whose industry-leading publications include Armed Forces Journal, Army Times and Defense News. TSJ has a worldwide subscription circulation of 18,000; its readers include heads of industry, simulation and modeling professionals, and training command chiefs. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/ftlewis-stryker.html http://www.metavr.com/ausa04.html http://www.tsjonline.com/index.php ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16.M Continued VRSG Sales to Air National Guard The Air National Guard recently purchased eight additional VRSG licenses to be used by the AFRL for two F-16 Full Mission Trainers (FMT) simulators. These simulators will be delivered to Luke Air Force Base, AZ. For the second consecutive year, Lockheed Martin demonstrated an F-16 MTC simulator at the annual National Guard Conference (NGAUS 2004). Both the Air Force Research Laboratory's F-16 FMT simulator and the Lockheed Martin's F-16 MTC simulator use the same VRSG visual systems. This year's F-16 FMT used a similar display as shown at NGAUS 2003. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/fwsafrl.html http://www.metavr.com/ngaus03.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16.N MetaVR Technology at AUSA 2004 MetaVR technology was demonstrated at the recent Association of the United States Army (AUSA) conference, which was held October 25-27, 2004 at the Washington DC Convention Center. Cubic Corporation demonstrated its Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), and is a component system used for convoy training. The EST uses the VRSG software, and was displaying MetaVR-built Baghdad database at the conference. http://www.metavr.com/ausa04.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/convoytrainer.html http://cubic.com/ecc/est/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- MetaVR will be closed for the holidays from December 23, 2004 through January 4, 2005. All purchase orders received by December 17, 2004 will be processed this calendar year. Any purchase inquiries received after December 22, 2004 will be acknowledged on January 5, 2005. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This electronic newsletter may be redistributed without restriction in any format as long as the contents are unaltered. Previous issues of MetaVR News can be found at http://www.metavr.com/aboutus/newsarchive.html Copyright 2004, MetaVR, Inc. MetaVR, Inc. 37 Elm Street Brookline, MA 02445-6813 USA MetaVR News is mailed to over 10,000 email addresses collected from company correspondence and public forums of those who have an interest in visual simulation. To subscribe to MetaVR News, send email to news_request@metavr.com. To unsubscribe from MetaVR News, send email to no_news@metavr.com. 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