What's New in VRSG Version 5

Real-time VRSG scene showing a Foxhound entity and Marine character on MetaVR's virtual Afghanistan. The Foxhound model is one of over 350 new military vehicle models distributed with VRSG version 5.7.

Version 5.7 of MetaVR™ Virtual Reality Scene Generator™ (VRSG™) is now available to customers on active maintenance. VRSG version 5.7 contains the following new features, enhancements, and 3D content:

• Over 450 new real-time military vehicle models added to the MetaVR 3D content libraries since version 5.6. Several new models are relevant to current events, such as variations of Libyan and Egyptian T-55 and T-62 tanks with both government and rebel markings. A number of the new models are technical vehicles which have been used by pro-democracy rebels in recent Middle East events. Technical vehicles are commercial vehicles that have been adapted for military use by adding a military weapon system. MetaVR’s library of military models contains 31 models of technical vehicles. Relevant and timely simulation training is possible with MetaVR visual systems to train operators to discern friendly and opposing forces, often times using the same types of equipment that differ only in markings. MetaVR’s library of military models now totals over 1,000 models, including various paint schemes and markings for many of the models. In addition to the long-standing catastrophic damage feature, new fire-power disabled and mobility-impaired features are now standard model features; these latter two new features have become part of the library model specification.
  
  
  Real-time VRSG screen capture of a scene featuring two Libyan BM-21 entities and 2 characters. The BM-21 model is one of over 350 new military vehicle models distributed with VRSG version 5.7.
  
  
• MetaVR’s Afghanistan 3D terrain, which covers the entire country at 647,500 sq. km with 2.5 meter resolution satellite imagery in MetaVR’s Metadesic format; demonstrations include several real-time scenarios centered on a high-resolution (0.60 m imagery) modeled Afghan village based on Khairabad located in the southern part of the Kabul province, and include a high-speed fixed-wing flight and low-level UAV reconnaissance. Other scenarios depict ground combat simulations such as snipers, IED detection, insurgent activity in a tunnel network, and forward air controller or JTAC missions. The Afghanistan database is also available in OTF format.
  

	Real-time scenes in VRSG on virtual Afghanistan; on the right is simulated UAV camera view of scene on the left.

• Several enhancements to First Person Simulator (FPS), to support the use of VRSG for JTAC simulation training. When VRSG FPS is displayed in NVG sensor mode, you can create and manipulate an IR pointer to designate targets. A new viewpoint protocol message is also available to create and control IR pointers. VRSG now supports NaturalPoint's TrackIR 5 which improves situational awareness on a desktop simulator by eliminating the need for a expensive head mounted display (HMD). This 6DOF head-tracking input device consists of an infrared camera that sits on the top of a computer monitor and a sensor/tracking clip that you attach to the brim of a baseball cap or visor, which you wear during the VRSG session. The TrackIR device provides exaggerated displacement in the virtual display such that the operator can perform type I JTAC controls by visually tracking an aircraft as it flies over the operator's head. VRSG is now available as a supported title in the TrackIR 5 installation distributed on the NaturalPoint website.
  
  
• Support for version 2.4 of the MUSE Visualization Interface Description Document (VIDD), including improvements to sensor effects such as depth-of-field, independent video-signal noise, brightness, contrast, washout, and digital zoom. VRSG also includes improvements to its Radar model to better support high-resolution SAR imaging required by UAV platforms.
  
  
• Enhancements to VRSG’s digital video streaming capability, including addition of the H.264 format. Expanded metadata output and frame rate options have been added to MPEG2/H.264 video streams, as well as new text fields to specify additional static metadata items. The security metadata item is now MISB 0102.7 compliant.

	Real-time VRSG scenes of a Nishant UAV and a convoy of MRAP vehicle models from MetaVR’s 3D content libraries, available with VRSG version 5.7.

• Ability to create dynamic craters on Metadesic terrain.
  
  
• New Sniper Pod HUD for sensor pods.
  
  
• Improved support for the Applied Research Associates (ARA) damage server model. Damage building models can now be loaded over secure HTTP/HTTPS connections.
  
  
• Improvements to aerial refueling capabilities, to include CIGI component controls to access all features, improved shadow map filtering, and controllable shadow map softness.
  
  
• Expanded CIGI support to include:
• Component control to create/modify light points on models.
• Component control for IR intensity configuration.
• Component control for sensor effects.
• Improved component control interface for light lobes.
• Component control to define viewport rectangles.
• Component control to support shadowing for aerial refueling missions.
• Support for multiple viewports per channel.
  
  

Real-time VRSG screen capture of EA-18G entity in flight over the China Lake area of MetaVR's
North America terrain. The EA-18G model is one of over 350 new military vehicle models distributed with VRSG version 5.7.


• New optional artificial modulation of terrain surface in VRSG Radar for more realistic returns.
  
  
• Enhancements to VRSG’s plugin interface, including a new Data Query mechanism, new Immediate Mode Render API, and a new interface to obtain information about entities.
  
  
• New precipitation effect for user-defined volumetric clouds. The rain and snow effects are supported via CIGI and DIS SetDataPDUs.
  
  
  Real-time VRSG screen capture of volumetric clouds over virtual Vermont and upstate New York.
  
  
• New fixed-length datum for VRSG SetDataPDU interfaces.
  
  
• New viewpoint protocol message to dynamically create/modify light points on a model.
  
  
• Support for DI-Guy version 10. In addition to VRSG's native character simulation, VRSG supports DI-Guy character simulation software via a plugin for DI-Guy version 10, which is delivered with VRSG. To use this plugin, you must first obtain and install a DI-Guy runtime license.
  
  
• OpenFlight databases produced in Terra Vista will now use MetaVR's decoupled terrain and texture LOD technology when rendered in flat-earth MDX format.
  
  
• New ground clamp switch to enable a specific enumeration to be ground clamped. This feature enables you to restrict ground clamping to specific effects.
  
  
• New LOD scale switch to scale the LOD ranges in a specific model to larger or smaller values than what is built into the model without having to modify the model.
  
  
• The MetaVR Model Viewer now displays the physics model of a character model, a lightweight mesh with a negative LOD-range. VRSG uses this mesh for collision detection.
  
  
• Ability to associate multiple model state files with a model to have multiple saved model states and to load a specific state for a model in a scene.
  
  
• Support for the IR versions of microtextures.
  
  
• New Sensor tab on the Dashboard for controlling post-processing and rendering effects of the VRSG IR scene display, such as the amount of noise or blur, the level of intensity of the terrain or vehicles, and whether to display simulated A/C banding. This tab consolidates sensor options previously located elsewhere on the Dashboard and makes visible sensor options previously available programmatically.
  
  
  Real-time VRSG sensor-based screen capture on MetaVR's Afghanistan database.
  
  
• When you select an entity by marking on the Dashboard’s Attach tab, a dropdown list displays with a match of the entities that match the characters you have typed so far. You only need to type as many characters as necessary to obtain a unique match.
  
  
• VRSG Metadesic support for multiple microtextures for different sets of terrain tiles.
  
  
• VRSG Metadesic support for multi-textured linear features in Metadesic terrain tiles.
  
  
• Ability to preconfigure IR hotspots using Model Viewer, prior to visualizing in VRSG.
  
  
• Support for multiple dust trails and contrails per model.
  
  
• New anti-aliasing control on the Dashboard for easily changing the anti-aliasing level or turning off anti-aliasing during a VRSG session.

	Real-time VRSG screen captures of character, vehicle, and weapon entities from VRSG 3D content libraries.

MetaVR continues to implement customer requested software features at no additional cost beyond the license purchase and the annual software maintenance fees. Many features in the VRSG version 5.7 release were developed as the result of customers' requests at no additional charge.

Version 5.7 of VRSG is available for download to customers on active maintenance. Contact MetaVR for further information.

You can order VRSG version 5 directly from MetaVR.