MetaVR News Volume VII, Issue 1 April 30, 2003 http://www.metavr.com MetaVR makes software that enables you to create and run your photo- realistic 3D virtual worlds on PC image generators. In This Issue: 12.A - Continued Sales for Future Combat Systems at Ft. Knox 12.B - Simulating Dense Terrain For Future Combat Systems 12.C - MetaVR Announces Release of Version 4 Products 12.D - Version 4 Terrain for Simulating Dense Urban Environments 12.E - VRSG in Cyber Warfare Integration Network Center 12.F - Joint Operations With Simulated Forward Observer 12.G - MetaVR VRSG in Czech Armed Forces Tactical Simulators 12.H - Small Unit Level UAV Systems Urban Testbed 12.I - Artillery Trainer and Simulation System 12.J - MetaVR Announces VRSG Radar 12.K - MetaVR Technology Displayed at IDET Trade Show ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.A Continued Sales for Future Combat Systems at Ft. Knox Recently, 40 new MetaVR visual licenses were purchased for the upcoming May UACEP (Unit of Action Concept Evaluation Program) experiment at the Unit of Action Maneuver Battle Lab (UAMBL) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. UACEP is a distributed simulation exercise involving Future Combat Systems, individual combatant simulation, man-in-the-loop simulators, and computer-generated forces. The Ft. Knox simulation lab now has 112 VRSG version 4-based visual systems for use in simulating dense urban environment combat for both vehicles and individual soldiers in the UAMBL's Eastern Europe virtual terrain database. Six additional First Person Simulator (FPS) licenses with the integrated Boston Dynamics version 5 high resolution human character models were also purchased for a total of 18 individual soldier synthetic environment simulators on site. Version 4 of MetaVR VRSG features dynamic terrain support when used in conjunction with the OneSAF Testbed (OTB) MES DTServer. (See article 12.C for details about the release of Version 4.) DISAF 10.0 and an upcoming release of OneSAF OTB will include this new dynamic terrain server (DTServer). DTServer allows real-time modifications to the terrain database for individual combatant training, supporting such operations as wall breaching (that is, blowing holes in walls to allow entry), and opening and closing of apertures such as windows and doors. The new DTServer features an image generator (IG) independent protocol allowing potentially any IG vendor to support the interface. MetaVR VRSG 4 is the first IG to implement this new interface, which will be used at the UACEP 2003. http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/firstpersonsim.html http://www.metavr.com/technology/thresholdterrainreqs.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/diguy.html http://www.bdi.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.B Simulating Dense Terrain for Future Combat Systems General Dynamics has purchased 11 VRSG economy PC-visual systems and a WorldPerfect virtual-world creation system to prototype their future- combat systems (FCS). The MetaVR visualization products are used to help develop robotic and crew-based FCS vehicles that use 1-meter elevation data and 30 cm imagery for their real-time simulated terrain. This high- resolution real-time 3D terrain realistically models the real terrain an FCS vehicle would have to navigate as the nominal elevation data spacing is less than the wheelbase of the vehicle. MetaVR Low Profile Rackmount VRSG 1U visual systems, similar but smaller in size to those used for the Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) ground control stations, are now available for prototyping FCS embedded systems. http://www.metavr.com/technology/thresholdterrainreqs.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/TUAV.html http://www.metavr.com/1Uchannel.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.C MetaVR Announces Release of Version 4 Products MetaVR has just released version 4 of its primary software product line. This release of VRSG and WorldPerfect version 4 is the first major release of MetaVR's products since August 2001. New features include native support for the latest version of Microsoft's DirectX 9 video cards, a new VRSG model library featuring over 60 photorealistic and geometrically accurate entity models and a performanced enhanced terrain database format. Many of the models include multiple paint schemes, articulated parts, damage states, and sensor modes. The models include advanced animations such as moving wheels or tank tracks that turn at a rate coupled to vehicle velocity. All 3D models are in our new HPX model format and are MetaVR IRserver-ready to support real-time, physics-based thermal sensor viewing within VRSG. http://www.metavr.com/products/v4announcement.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsgnew4.html http://www.metavr.com/products/worldperfect/wpnew4.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/3Dcontent.html http://www.metavr.com/products/IRserver.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.D Version 4 Terrain for Simulating Dense Urban Environments MetaVR has built a highly realistic real-time 3D replica of the Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Cassidy Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) site for simulation and training of both infantry and combined arms operations. The Ft. Campbell terrain database is comprised of 300 x 300 km of natural color imagery with 15 cm aerial photography at its highest resolution which depicts the Cassidy MOUT site. The Cassidy MOUT area is populated with buildings whose exteriors were made from perspectiveless color digital imagery of the actual building faces. The 3D buildings are constructed from CAD models and have varying levels of interior detail. All buildings have articulated windows, doors, and blast holes for realistic Special Operations training. The Cassidy MOUT site also serves as a testbed for candidate production micro UAVs. (See article 12.H for details about the Small Unit Level UAV Systems Urban Testbed.) MetaVR has developed an augmented version of the industry standard virtual Ft. Benning, Georgia, McKenna 2 x 2 km geotypical urban warfare site. The extended terrain database features 50 cm aerial photography on the terrain encompassing the full 30 x 40 km facility. With this new version of the terrain database, soldiers can practice approaching the MOUT site from several different directions under the cover of georeferenced geotypical trees and vegetation. Using MetaVR's conversion tools, the Institute for Defense Analysis' virtual cities environment Anywhere database has been converted from OpenFlight format to MetaVR's MDX database format. http://www.metavr.com/technology/ftcampbell.html http://www.metavr.com/technology/ftbenning.html http://www.metavr.com/technology/anywhere.html http://virtualcities.ida.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.E VRSG in Cyber Warfare Integration Network Center MetaVR visualization technology is mentioned in the Advanced Imaging March 2003 issue, in the article "Modeling & Simulation? Hollywood Fulfills Military Needs". The article discusses how commercial technologies are rapidly being embraced in the military simulation domain. Northrop Grumman's Cyber Warfare Integration Network (CWIN) in Melbourne, Florida is referenced as an example of this trend. The article describes how MetaVR's VRSG is used in the Northrop Grumman CWIN Battle Management Center room to simulate visual sensors on board Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). http://www.metavr.com/aboutus/articles/AImag0303article.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.F Joint Operations With Simulated Forward Observer Recently, the Joint Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Joint Test and Evaluation program (JUAV JT&E) conducted a modeling-and-simulation (M&S) based exercise using MetaVR visualization technology that included the use of a MUSE unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in observed, indirect fire missions and a simulated Forward Observer (FO). The week-long event, known as Virtual Rehearsal #3" (VR-3), was conducted at the Integrated Battlespace Arena (IBAR) located at the U.S. Naval Weapons Station, China Lake, California. To add realism to the Forward Observer simulation, a Mini Eye-safe Laser Infrared Observation Set (MELIOS) shell with a miniaturized video display was used for target designation in a simulated rock and sand bags setting. The FO is modeled within the simulation as a ground-clamped DIS entity, situated in an isolated location on the terrain in advance of the main forces. The same terrain database is used for the FO, F/A-18, and MetaVR-based MUSE UAV. A single-channel VRSG is integrated into a MELIOS shell containing a miniature CRT display to provide the simulated range and target designation function. A MELIOS is a hand-held laser range finder containing a single 8X optic. This device is used by Marine FO/FAC units to accurately determine locations of targets for both artillery and close air support missions. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/forwardobserver.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/UAVvisual.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/artillerytraining.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/immersim.html http://ibar.nawcwd.navy.mil/ http://www.nawcwpns.navy.mil/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.G VRSG used in Tactical Simulators for Czech Armed Forces VR Group Company, a Czech-based systems integrator, has acquired 30 VRSG licenses supplied under a foreign military sale to provide the visual systems for the Reconfigurable Tactical Virtual Simulators, type II (VS II). In addition to the VS II simulator, VR Group offers reconfigurable tactical virtual simulators on the PC platform for small units and vehicle commanders collective preparation. The fielded VS II simulator enables tactical preparation of tank units equipped with the T-72 and the Czech upgraded T-72 M4CZ tanks and mechanized units equipped with BVP-2 combat vehicles including the dismounted commander. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/vrgroup.html http://www.vrg.cz http://www.vrgcz.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.H Small Unit Level UAV Systems Urban Testbed MetaVR has developed a high-resolution 3D urban terrain database and vehicle models needed to create a virtual Small Unit Level Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Systems testbed for proposed vehicle design evaluation. MetaVR simulation technology is well suited for this application as very high correlation between the actual and simulated MOUT sites is maintained. Correlation between the real and virtual is necessary so that the training and experiment results are inferred from common spatial and visual environments. Vendors that produce highly mobile and deployable UAV systems to support Company and Platoon level operations that are day/night ISR capable can test their designs and operation tactics using the MetaVR Ft. Campbell terrain database and new vehicle model library of current and future vehicle designs (as well as provide their own). http://www.metavr.com/technology/microuavtraining.html http://www.eps.gov/spg/USA/USAMC/DAAH01/DAAH01-03-R-XXXX/SynopsisR.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/3Dcontent.html http://www.metavr.com/technology/ftcampbell.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.I Artillery Trainer & Simulation System for NATO Customer MetaVR VRSG visual systems have been selected for Fidelity Technologies forward observer Artillery Trainer and Simulation System (ATSSCz). The scalable system was developed by Fidelity in response to a U.S. Army sale for a NATO country's need for operational training in the use of an Artillery Fire Control System, laser range finder, thermal imager, and night vision binoculars. This system is interoperable with other networked DIS close air support and forward observer technology. MetaVR technology also supports the simulation of target laser designation (illumination) for network distributed simulation. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/artillerytraining.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/forwardobserver.html http://www.fidelitytech.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.J MetaVR Announces VRSG Radar MetaVR VRSG offers a radar option that provides the simulation of a radar system to be built upon the VRSG rendering engine, using VRSG visual databases and moving models. VRSG Radar takes advantage of the capabilities of modern commercial graphics accelerators to solve real- time radar simulation problems that historically have required extensive custom hardware and software, at great expense. VRSG Radar is suitable for building radar simulations such as the F16 Digital Radar Land Mapping System (DRLMS), or even synthetic aperture radar (SAR) displays for Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (UAV) and other such equipped platforms. http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/radar.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.K MetaVR Technology Displayed at IDET Trade Show MetaVR Technology was on display in two booths at the International Exhibition of Defence (IDET) 2003 in Brno, Czech Republic from April 28- 30, 2003. The VR Group booth (Exhibition Hall Z, number 45) featured a reconfigurable simulator that can function as multiple vehicles both from their indigenous modernized WARSAW pact inventory as well as the original Russian-supplied vehicles. The T-72M4CZ (Czech modernized version), T-72, BVP-2, and an individual commander were simulated. All simulations were on a tactical level of command, using both MetaVR and Boston Dynamics technology. In the Fidelity booth (Pavilion Z, 068) MetaVR real-time 3D VRSG provided the visuals for their forward observer Artillery Trainer and Simulation System. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/vrgroup.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/artillerytraining.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/firstpersonsim.html http://www.idet.cz/english/ http://www.fidelitytech.com/ http://www.bdi.com http://www.vrg.cz http://www.vrgcz.com ************************************************************************ Previous issues of MetaVR News can be found at http://www.metavr.com/aboutus/newsarchive.html. MetaVR News is comprised of over 7,000 e-mail addresses taken from correspondence and public forums of those who have interest in visual simulation. This electronic newsletter may be redistributed without restriction in any format as long as the contents are unaltered. Copyright 2003, MetaVR, Inc. Requests for subscription to MetaVR News can be sent to news_request@metavr.com. 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