MetaVR at I/ITSEC 2007

MetaVR exhibited its products at the annual I/ITSEC trade show in Booth #1901. The Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference and Trade Show was held November 26-29, 2007, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL, USA.

JTAC virtual dome trainer prototype at I/ITSEC 2007 in the Air Force Research Lab's booth. The dome uses MetaVR's visualization software. Photo courtesy of Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), Mesa Research Lab.

About our demonstrations

MetaVR showcased several new features and enhancements in the forthcoming release of VRSG version 5.4, such as the ability to create and play back VRSG scenarios using First Person Simulator, an enhancement to VRSG's MPEG recording feature which now includes UAV KLV metadata multiplexed into an MPEG2 transport stream, Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) simulation, advanced atmospheric effects, and improved sensor post-processing effects such as optical focus and simulated noise. Additions to the military vehicle 3D model library include a set of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, and new models of robotic vehicles and UAVs.

MetaVR also previewed its new terrain tools for ESRI ArcGIS. The forthcoming extension will enable users to build expansive and detailed terrain databases in MetaVR formats using intuitive, industry standard workflows.

MetaVR also demonstrated:

Urban combat-training scenarios highlighting integrated 3D character animation and an MRAP convoy performing route clearance operations. Among the 3D terrain databases on which MetaVR demonstrated these capabilities is an enhanced Baghdad database populated by several hundred characters.

MetaVR's new 3D terrain of the Vermont Air National Guard 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.

Realtime scenes from MetaVR's new 3D terrain of the Vermont Air National Guard base facilities and airfield at the Burlington International Airport.

A large display in MetaVR's booth demonstrated how Mersive Technologies' Sol Server can be used to create a single 6- megapixel display (108" x 81") from four separate MetaVR IG channels using Electric Picture projectors. This display showed VRSG integration with Mersive technology for edge-blended, distortion-corrected, multiple projector displays on arbitrary-shaped surfaces. The display shown on the right contains a scenario on MetaVR's new 3D terrain of the Vermont Air National Guard base facilities and airfield.

Mersive's 108" x 81" display in MetaVR's booth.

MetaVR technology was also used in displays of other exhibitors at I/ITSEC. Among them, in another example of VRSG integration with Mersive technology, the Air Force Research Lab demonstrated the Deployable JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome prototype.

Deployable JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome prototype, using MetaVR VRSG visuals, demonstrated in Air Force Research Lab's booth. Photos courtesy of AFRL, Mesa Research Lab.

In the PM-CATT booth, Cubic Defense Applications displayed an Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) 2000 system with VRSG running in the Synthetic Environment Core (SE Core).

AAI Corp., Battelle Inc., Realtime Technologies Inc., and MetaVR collaborated on a demonstration (displayed in AAI's booth) of 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.

Buffalo mine resistant-ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle simulator demonstrated in AAI's booth.

Flight simulator running VRSG in ZedaSoft's booth (on the left) and Simthetiq's models at MetaVR's booth.

About our booth

MetaVR's 50' x 30' booth was designed by Shepard Exposition Services, who also designed MetaVR's booth at I/ITSEC 2003, I/ITSEC 2004, I/ITSEC 2005 and I/ITSEC 2006.

MetaVR manufactures software and turnkey PC-based systems that provide the fidelity of geospecific simulation with game quality graphics. MetaVR's software products enable users to build high-fidelity virtual worlds for high-speed 3D visualization and rapid creation of networked virtual worlds for the simulation and training markets.

MetaVR systems are used for applications such as urban operations training, unmanned aerial vehicles for the US Army TUAV, the A-10 program, and prototyping the JTAC Virtual Trainer Dome.