MetaVR News Volume XI, Issue 2 November 28, 2007 http://www.metavr.com/ MetaVR creates 3D real-time PC-based visual systems that provide the fidelity of geographically specific simulation with game quality graphics and performance. In This Issue: 21.A - New ERMP UAV and Ongoing Shadow TUAV Program Use MetaVR Visuals 21.B - Vermont Air National Guard to Use VRSG in F-16 Simulators 21.C - MetaVR VRSG Provides Visuals in Prototype JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome 21.D - Insitu Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Incorporates MetaVR Visuals 21.E - VR Group Purchases Additional MetaVR VRSG licenses for the Czech Forces 21.F - MetaVR Visuals Used at Edwards AFB USAF Test Pilot School 21.G - Continued Deployment of A-10 Full Mission Trainers to US Air Force 21.H - MetaVR's New 3D Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Models 21.I - MetaVR in the News 21.J - MetaVR at I/ITSEC 2007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 21.A - New ERMP UAV and Ongoing Shadow TUAV Program Use MetaVR Visuals Recently AAI Corporation, a subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation, purchased 30 additional MetaVR 3D visualization software licenses to provide the embedded 3D synthetic payload visualization system for training Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operators for the Ground Control Stations (GCS) that are manufactured for the U.S. Army. AAI has purchased a total of 195 MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) licenses since 2002 to support the Hunter, Shadow TUAV (Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), and most recently the Warrior Extended-Range Multi-Purpose (ERMP) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). AAI was selected in late 1999 to provide the U.S. Army with brigade-level TUAV capabilities. In 2002, AAI purchased VRSG licenses for the GCS embedded trainer in the Shadow 200 program. As part of the U.S. Army's ongoing Shadow TUAV program, AAI has developed and produced its One System GCS which also serves as the technological, operational, and intelligence-gathering heart of the Warrior ERMP and Hunter systems. The One System GCS complies with STANAG 4586, a NATO standardization agreement that enables various UAVs to share information through common ground stations, thus enhancing interoperability among allied military forces. The MetaVR software is also used to train UAS operators at the Institutional Mission Simulator used at the UAV schoolhouse at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. This facility consists of mockups of the actual GCS vehicles in a class room setting. VRSG can be configured to simulate UAVs in a variety of ways. These configurations range from using VRSG's internal camera payload model in which the telemetry of the simulated UAV is provided by a DIS or HLA entity, to fully integrated applications such as the MUSE UAV tactical trainer. The Multiple Unified Simulation Environment (MUSE)/Air Force Synthetic Environment for Reconnaissance and Surveillance (AFSERS) simulation system is the primary UAV training system used within the Department of Defense (DoD) for command- and staff-level training for the Joint Services. MetaVR is the primary supplier of training visual systems for the MUSE UAV program. Other VRSG UAV simulation features include: - Capturing high-resolution virtual world screen images remotely, in which VRSG can instruct the UAV camera to capture the current image in its field of view from remote operators in the simulation environment, save the image to a file, and deliver the file for display on another computer. This feature simulates the GlobalHawk large image sensor capability. - Using VRSG as a simulated, live, virtual video feed from a UAV that is used to classify ground information from a Geographical Situational Display. Airborne or space-borne collection systems that use Ground Moving Target Indication (GMTI) and target identification devices create symbolic representations of moving entities over large geographic areas. VRSG enables the operator to refine target identification and classification. - Streaming real-time MPEG of UAV KLV metadata multiplexed into an MPEG2 transport stream. Tactical exploitation systems can use this streaming MPEG feed to visualize sensor payload imagery in real time and extract the UAV metadata. The metadata editor GV 3.0 is an example of a system that can decode VRSG's MPEG stream and embedded UAV metadata. http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsgoverview.html http://www.aaicorp.com/New/UAS/index.htm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.B - Vermont Air National Guard to Use VRSG in F-16 Simulators The Vermont Air National Guard (VT ANG) recently acquired, through a purchase made by Lockheed Martin I&TS, 32 new VRSG licenses to use in their F-16 training simulators. In conjunction with this purchase, MetaVR is building 3D terrain of the VT ANG base facilities and airfield at the Burlington International Airport. The 6 geocell Metadesic-formatted 3D terrain is comprised of 47 GB of data, with 60 meter post spacing, 1 meter imagery with 0.5 meter imagery inset of the VT ANG airfield. The virtual terrain contains several high-resolution models of cultural features of the area: buildings such as hangars, offices, and storage facilities; a high-resolution F-16 aircraft model; and the VT ANG runway, all of which have been modeled with textures created from high-resolution photographs recently taken of the area with a 10-megapixel camera. This database will be on display at I/ITSEC 2007, in MetaVR's Booth #1901. http://www.metavr.com/technology/metadesic.html http://www.metavr.com/products/north_amer_terrain/north_america_terrain.html http://www.vt.ang.af.mil/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.C - MetaVR VRSG Provides Visuals in Prototype JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome Recently, 33 MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) licenses were purchased to support the Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Virtual Trainer Dome simulator at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and the Deployable JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome, which will be on display at I/ITSEC 2007 in Booth #1923. The Deployable JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome was recently demonstrated at the AFA 2007 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington D.C., from September 24 - 26. The Air Force's Joint Air Ground Operations School at Nellis AFB is the primary training facility for the USAF JTACs. These 33 new MetaVR VRSG licenses supplement 21 existing VRSG licenses already in use in the JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome prototype at the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) in Mesa, AZ. To date, 54 licenses have been purchased for the JTAC simulators. The JTAC simulators are fully interoperable with the A-10 Full Mission Trainers and the Multiple Unified Simulation Environment (MUSE)/Air Force Synthetic Environment For Reconnaissance And Surveillance (AFSERS) program, which also use MetaVR real-time 3D visualization software. The Joint Terminal Controller Training and Rehearsal System (JTC TRS), a proof- of-concept developed at AFRL in Mesa, provides a high-fidelity, fully immersive, realistic training and rehearsal environment with real-time sensor, simulator, and database correlation. Its primary focus will be to provide a persistent total air-ground virtual training environment for networked air/ground training and mission rehearsals. The JTC TRS will also support call for fire training (CFFT) artillery missions. This system will be used to train both JTAC and combat air crews assigned to accomplish complex missions in close proximity to ground forces. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/jtac.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsgoverview.html http://www.metavr.com/iitsec2007.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/a10.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/a10-cas-hardware.html http://www.iitsec.org http://www.mesa.afmc.af.mil/jtacvt.html http://www.mesa.afmc.af.mil/ http://www.mersive.com/ http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/military-sim-almost-brings-halo-3-to-reality/military-vr-simulator-is-closest-thing-ever-to-real+life-halo-3-315435.php http://www.electricpicture.com/ http://www.minervaengineering.com/ http://www.jessan.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.D - Insitu Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Incorporates MetaVR Visuals Insitu, Inc. of Bingen, Washington, now uses MetaVR VRSG in one of its Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). The Insitu Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a compact, economical, long endurance UAV suited for land- and maritime-based commercial, military, and homeland security applications. In 2007 Insitu purchased 12 VRSG licenses, and Metadesic-formatted tiles of a requested area. The Insitu UAV is four feet long with a 10-foot wingspan, and carries a payload of up to 13 pounds. Capable of flying above 16,000 feet, the UAV normally provides persistent low-altitude reconnaissance. Its inertially stabilized camera turret mounted on the nose of the aircraft can house either an electro-optical daylight or infrared camera and can track stationary or moving targets of interest for extended periods of time. The Insitu UAS includes the UAV, SuperWedge launcher, SkyHook retriever, and a mobile ground control component, all of which have a small footprint and are quickly reconfigurable in the field. Designed for continuous missions of over 15 hours, and without requiring a runway for launch or retrieval, the UAV can be used for operations in non-traditional UAV environments, such as the ocean or rugged terrain. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/insitu_uas.html http://www.insitu.com/ http://www.boeing.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.E - VR Group Purchases Additional MetaVR VRSG Licenses for the Czech Forces Recently Czech-based systems integrator VR Group Company purchased 20 new VRSG licenses and 33 VRSG version 5 upgrades to provide additional visual systems for their reconfigurable simulators for various training programs of the Czech Armed Forces. As a leading supplier of advanced simulation solutions for the Czech Armed Forces, VR Group currently uses MetaVR visual systems in their crew simulators of BMP-2 combat vehicles, among other programs. Their crew simulator consists of 5 VRSG channels, displaying 15 high-resolution views to simulate all the observing and targeting devices of the BMP-2. In addition to the BMP-2 crew simulators, VR Group uses VRSG in other training simulators for: - T 72 and T 72 M4CZ tanks designed for a tactical training of tank units in a synthetic environment. - A light artillery reconnaissance and observation vehicle based on BMP-2 hull designed for a tactical training of the crew in coordination with a mechanized unit or a battlegroup. - A dismounted infantry squad for a tactical training of mechanized units up to the company level in a synthetic environment. The squad consists of six simulated combatants controlled as whole squad, by groups or by individual combatants. - The Land Rover Defender 110 TDi Military Armoured 3 Special Operations Vehicle (SOV). - A Forward Air Controller (FAC) vehicle and equipment, which enables trainees to perform FAC tasks as measuring distance and azimuth of a target or another object a synthetic environment. - Mi-17 and Mi-24 helicopters. All of VR Group's simulators use their Reconfigurable Simulator Technology (RST), running on Microsoft .NET framework. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/vrgroup.html http://www.vrg.eu/index-en.php ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.F - MetaVR Visuals Used at Edwards AFB USAF Test Pilot School To prepare student pilots for flying the next generation of USAF fighter aircraft, the USAF Test Pilot School (TPS) at Edwards Air Force Base, California, recently began training students with aviation simulators designed to teach current and advanced avionics concepts, including the current sensor capabilities of fourth and fifth generation aircraft. The sensors on the simulation system developed by ZedaSoft Inc. include electro-optical (EO) targeting, Forward Looking Infrared Receiver (FLIR) technology, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and multiple sensor cockpit management techniques. ZedaSoft deployed their Portable Simulator Desktop (PSD) solution with MetaVR’s Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG) image generation software. The simulation system is based on ZedaSoft's patent-pending Container Based Architecture (CBA), which enables TPS student pilots to observe the avionics capabilities of different generations of aircraft by instantaneously switching from one aircraft type to another in the same scenario. Such observations are valuable for learning workload management techniques. The simulator includes a 24" touch-screen virtual instrument display, hands-on-controls, four 24" monitors for out-the-window viewing, a sensor channel, and all necessary computers housed in a single rolling case. A virtual Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) system provides students standard HMD symbology drawn within the VRSG out-the-window channels. This integrated visual scene symbology is also used to overlay Heads-Up Display (HUD) on the center out-the-window channel. The HMD symbology is oriented using the Intersense IS- 900 head-tracking system, which is mounted on a student’s headset. This simulation system gives student pilots the opportunity to simulate their exact EO flight mission in advance of flying the mission in the actual aircraft. The US Air Force does not endorse MetaVR, ZedaSoft, or their product lines. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/usaf_tps.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsgoverview.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/multichannel.html http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/radar.html http://www.edwards.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=6467 http://www.zedasoft.com/ http://www.isense.com/products.aspx?id=45 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.G - Continued Deployment of A-10 Full Mission Trainers to US Air Force The recent purchase of 30 MetaVR VRSG software licenses for the U.S. Air Force brings the total number of sales to 132 licenses for the A-10 Full Mission Trainer (FMT) program. Since its first purchase of MetaVR visual systems in 2001, the U.S. Air Force has been using VRSG software to replace legacy visual systems and to equip new sites as part of a networked training system for close air support missions. As the US Air Force modernizes the A-10 aircraft with new avionics and cockpits as part of the Precision Engagement program, pilots are also being trained on MetaVR-equipped Hands-On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) simulators that have a subset of the FMT trainer's capabilities. Fourteen sites have MetaVR-based A-10 simulators: Air Force Research Lab, Mesa, AZ, Barksdale AFB, LA, Battlecreek AFB, MI, Bradley AFB, CT, Boise AFB, ID, Davis Montham AFB, AZ, Ft. Smith, AR, Mountain Home AFB, ID, Moody AFB, GA, New Orleans, LA, Osan AFB, Korea, Pope AFB, NC, Spangdahlem AFB, Germany, and Whiteman AFB, AR. The base FMT simulator configuration uses MetaVR VRSG to drive a four-screen display configured to fit within a nine foot ceiling with an optional upgrade to a full 360 degree (eight channels) display. This operational configuration is a derivative of the Mobile Modular Display for Advanced Research and Training (M2DART). A fifth visual channel is used to provide the sensor view for the A-10 Maverick missile. The MetaVR visual systems are delivered with government-furnished equipment (GFE) terrain databases that entail no cost or licensing fees. All MetaVR visual systems were delivered with the latest version of VRSG software and 3D content libraries. The 3D military vehicle library includes the distributed mission training (DMT) model set at no additional charge. http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/a10.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/jtac.html http://www.mesa.afmc.af.mil/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20.H - MetaVR's New 3D Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Models In joint development with Simthetiq, MetaVR has built models of the primary MRAP vehicles that have been committed to production as 3D entities for simulating counter IED activities or route clearance operations by Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) teams. These models, which are in MetaVR's model format, are included in the 3D content libraries that are delivered with MetaVR VRSG software. Updates are available to customers with current maintenance of the VRSG software. MRAP is a category of armored fighting vehicle designed to survive IEDs and land mines. These vehicles have been innovated to improve upon blast deflection and are used to support armed forces and security personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas of conflict around the world. MRAP systems are designed with a V-shaped hull that assists deflection of a mine or IED blast away from the vehicle's interior. With their appropriate markings, accurate geometry, and damage states, MetaVR's 3D MRAP models can be used in counter-IED training scenarios. The following MRAP models are currently available: Buffalo, Cheetah, Cougar 4x4, Cougar 6X6, Golan, M1117, Meerkat, RG-31. MetaVR is currently building additional real-time MRAP models. AAI Corp. will demonstrate at I/ITSEC 2007, in Booth #3517, an IED detection and disposal scenario featuring MetaVR's simulated Buffalo mine resistant- ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle with a robotic articulated arm, operating in a virtual 3D environment, and emulating real-world behavior. See item 21.J below. http://www.metavr.com/products/3Dcontent/metavrMRAPvehicles.html http://www.simthetiq.com/ http://www.aaicorp.com/New/training/ http://www.iitsec.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.I - MetaVR in the News MetaVR's Virtual Reality Scene Generator is mentioned in the paper "Detection threshold of visual displacement in a networked flight simulator" (Covas, Gaska, Shamp, Pierce), presented at the Advanced Deployable Day Night Simulation Symposium, DRDC-Toronto, November 13th-14th, 2007. This research, presented by Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Link Simulation & Training, aims to determine the detection threshold of visual displacement for a typical flight task, formation flight, as a function of simulated distance and smoothing. The real-time visual scenes were rendered with MetaVR VRSG. MetaVR VRSG is cited the recent article on Gizmodo.com, "Military VR Simulator is Closest Thing to Real-Life Halo 3". The article describes the technology used in Lockheed Martin’s Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) Virtual Trainer Dome simulator at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada (see item 21.C). Use of MetaVR VRSG in Shadow 200 UAV training at Ft.Huachuca, AZ, in the Multiple Unified Simulation Environment (MUSE)/Air Force Synthetic Environment is mentioned in Training and Simulation Journal's December 2007/January 2008 issue. The issue also cites highlights of MetaVR’s booth at I/ITSEC 2007 (see item 21.J) the I/ITSEC show spotlight article "Show With an Edge". MetaVR's products are described in the I/ITSEC issue of Military Training Technology, in the article "3D Simulations Taking Off in Military Training". http://www.metavr.com/products/vrsg/vrsgoverview.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/TUAV.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/uas_sim.html http://www.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/addns/papers/Symposium_Abstract_Covas.pdf http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/military-sim-almost-brings-halo-3-to-reality/ http://www.tsjonline.com/ http://www.military-training-technology.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21.J - MetaVR at I/ITSEC 2007 MetaVR will exhibit its products this year at the annual I/ITSEC trade show. The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference and Trade Show will be held November 26 - 29, 2007, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL, USA. MetaVR will exhibit in booth #1901. One display will demonstrate the Mersive Technologies' Sol Server which is used to create a single 6-megapixel display (48" x 83") from four separate MetaVR IG channels using Electric Picture projectors. This display will show VRSG integration with Mersive technology for edge-blended, distortion-corrected, multiple projector displays on arbitrary-shaped surfaces. In another example of VRSG integration with Mersive technology, the Air Force Research Lab will be demonstrating in Booth #1923 the Deployable JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome prototype. MetaVR technology will also be used in displays of other exhibitors at I/ITSEC. In the PM-CATT booth, Cubic Defense Applications will display an Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) 2000 system with VRSG running in the Synthetic Environment Core (SE Core). AAI Corporation, Battelle Inc., Realtime Technologies Inc., and MetaVR have collaborated on a demonstration, which will be displayed in AAI's Booth #3517, that shows a simulated Buffalo mine resistant-ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle with a robotic articulated arm, operating in a virtual 3D environment, in an IED detection and disposal scenario. MetaVR's 50' x 30' booth is designed by Shepard Exposition Services, who also designed MetaVR's booth at I/ITSEC 2006. http://www.metavr.com/iitsec2007.html http://www.metavr.com/casestudies/jtac.html http://www.metavr.com/products/3Dcontent/metavrMRAPvehicles.html http://www.iitsec.org http://www.mersive.com/ http://www.electricpicture.com/ http://www.aaicorp.com/New/training/ http://www.simcreator.com/ http://www.shepardes.com/new/exhibit_services.asp ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 2007, MetaVR, Inc. 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