Virtual Reality Scene Generator (VRSG)

MetaVR™ Virtual Reality Scene Generator™ (VRSG)™ is a Microsoft DirectX-based render engine that provides geospecific simulation as an image generator (IG) with game quality graphics.  MetaVR’s IG enables users to visualize geographically expansive and detailed virtual worlds at 60Hz frame rates on commercially available PCs. Using Microsoft commercial standards since 1997, VRSG provides real-time, single- or multiple-channel visualization of virtual environments, dynamic moving models, and special effects.

	Real-time MetaVR VRSG rendering featuring a JTAC character, A-10 and M-ATV entities, and other characters on MetaVR’s virtual Afghanistan terrain. This scene is representative of a simulated joint air support mission with a full mission aircraft trainer in a networked collaborative exercise. The characters, entities, and cultural features are from MetaVR’s 3D content libraries.

You can use VRSG as:

• A dedicated computer image generator, coupled to an external simulation host in single- or multiple-channel mode. As an IG, VRSG supports the features that are typically required for flight training, driving simulations, and many other applications.
• A standalone DIS or HLA stealth visualization tool, providing real-time or after-action analysis of distributed simulation exercises.
• Self-contained first person shooter to simulate individual combatants, JTACs, or forward area controllers.
• Self-contained UAV camera payload operator to render simulated UAV payload video and to stimulate video players such as a ROVER.

VRSG software is Microsoft-based; it uses Windows, DirectX, and is written in C++. As an executable-ready render engine, VRSG supports but does not require programming for use. Configuration files and interface protocols provide users with the ability to control basic components of the render engine. Developers can use the plugin interface to augment the functionality of the render engine with their own low-level features.

	Real-time MetaVR VRSG rendering featuring an EA-18G VX-31 entity in flight over the China Lake area of MetaVR's virtual North America 3D terrain. The models of the pilots and the aircraft are from MetaVR's 3D content libraries.

Image generator features

• Asynchronous texture paging technology for visualizing high-resolution, photo-realistic databases at 60 Hz; can address up to 2 TB of texture in real time.
• Database geometry paging, level-of-detail blending, decoupled terrain and texture level-of-detail.
• Dynamic lighting and time-of-day conditions, light-point based star fields, horizon glow, and multiple sky models.
• Ephemeris model for sun and moon position, and moon phase.
• Multi-texture techniques such as normal maps, shadow maps, light maps, and decals.
• Volumetric clouds and storm cells with optional volumetric precipitation effects.
• Multiple atmospheric layers including ground fog and haze with sun-angle dependent density and color.
• Object-on-object dynamic shadowing for applications such as tanker refueling.
• Full-featured light points that respond realistically to visibility conditions.
• Up to 8 independent light lobes.
• User-extendable particle effects that respond to wind: dust trails, contrails, tactical smoke, and blown sand or snow.
• Conversion utilities for OpenFlight databases and models.
• Full mission function support to include height above terrain, laser range, line-of-sight (intervisibility), and collision detection.
• Significant Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI) support.
• Native high-performance 3D human character render engine; no third-party software required.
• Support for synchronized multiple channels and multiple viewports per channel.
• Multiple mechanisms for adding 2D overlays to the 3D display.
• Edge blending and distortion correction support of third-party solutions from Scalable Display Technologies and Mersive Technologies.
• Multiple degree-of-freedom hardware tracker support for controlling the position and/or orientation of the VRSG viewpoint.
  

Sensor features

• Notional infrared (IR) simulation featuring dynamic hot-spots, user-controlled intensity as a function of material and time-of-day.
• Optional physics-based IR support from Technology Service Corporation’s (TSC’s) RealIR library.
• Post-processing effects to include noise, blur, depth-of-field, level, gain, polarity, digital zoom, and AC banding.
• Electro-Optic (EO) simulation mode.
• Night Vision Goggle (NVG) stimulation modes.
• Radar simulation to support applications such as F-16 DRLMS, SAR, and ISAR, displays for UAVs, or similarly equipped platforms.

UAV simulation

• Support for the MUSE VIDD V2.4 for high-fidelity UAV training.
• Built-in UAV sensor payload model allowing any DIS airborne platform to be used as a UAV, for situations when a notional UAV will suffice for your training needs.
• Real-time MPEG-2 or H.264 video generation with support for the KLV encoding of UAV telemetry in a compliant subset of NATO standard STANAG 4096 to include EG 0601 KLV metadata, and MISB security metadata standard 0102.7.
• Built-in HUDs for several UAV platforms (available in domestic release only).

	Real-time MetaVR VRSG scenes featuring a Shadow UAV entity flying over MetaVR's virtual Afghanistan terrrain, the Shadow’s simulated camera view of an insurgent compound below it, JTAC and coalition soldier characters, and the JTAC's simulated designator view of the target scene. Click the image to see an enlarged view.

JTAC / individual combatant simulation

• First person shooter mode, for adding an individual combatant to a networked simulation.
• Gamepad interface to manipulate first-person and JTAC simulation modes.
• Laser rangefinder/designator mode for designating targets for other simulations.
• NVG IR pointer mode for night-time target marking.
• Stimulate ROVER devices with streaming digital video of UAV or targeting pod feeds.
• Integration with simulated military target locator and designator devices.
• Support for off-the-shelf devices such as NVIS Virtual Binocular SX to enhance the fidelity of JTAC training.

Analysis / after-action review features

• Mature user interface and feature set supporting real-time or after-action review functions.
• Native support for DIS or High Level Architecture (HLA).
• A variety of attachment modes: tether, mimic, orbit, compass, and track.
• Fire lines and shot lines for visualization of engagements.
• Visualization of designator PDUs.
• Savable viewpoints, entity-relative or database-relative.
• Virtual world sound generation.

MetaVR VRSG screen capture of an MRAP convoy traveling within the high-resolution modeled Afghan village on MetaVR's Afghanistan virtual terrain. The Husky and Buffalo are among the many military models in MetaVR's 3D content libraries.

3D content libraries

• Over 2650 models: military and commercial vehicles, military and civilian characters, buildings, trees and foliage, signs, street elements, and other culture.
• Ability to add static content directly to a target location on the terrain in a drag and drop manner.
• In-game drag-and-drop interface that enables end users to add and manipulate 3D content from the content libraries to construct areas of interest on the terrain.
• Capable of managing thousands of human character entities and displaying hundreds in the VRSG field-of-view.
• Model Viewer to preview model switch states and articulated parts, and thermal hotspots.

VRSG screen capture of a street market scenario on MetaVR's Afghanistan virtual terrain using characters, and cultural features from MetaVR's 3D content libraries.

MetaVR's terrain and texture paging technology enable you to depict ultra-realistic virtual worlds derived from gigabytes of actual aerial imagery and elevation data.

	Real-time VRSG rendering of the airfield on MetaVR's virtual Luke AFB.

You can run MetaVR VRSG on a variety of computers that use Microsoft Windows operating systems, from a notebook computer, a 2-unit game computer, to a 1-unit desktop computer using a current commercial graphics card and a Windows 64-bit system (Windows 7 or Vista).

	Real-time VRSG screen capture of the virtual airfield at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in MetaVR's round-earth Metadesic format. Click to swap rendered and wireframe views. Click Zoom to see a high-resolution version.

Each new VRSG software license is delivered with an external hard drive that contains virtual terrain of an Afghanistan virtual village in Kabul province and Greater Baghdad.

MetaVR provides a 3D terrain-creation product that complements VRSG, Terrain Tools for ESRI ArcGIS, which uses elevation points and imagery as source data in a familiar GIS interface. MetaVR Terrain Tools work hand-in-hand with VRSG to provide rapid terrain creation and high-speed visualization.

You can order the VRSG application directly from MetaVR.