VBS3

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VBS3 is the third major version of the Virtual Battlespace software series, developed by Bohemia Interactive Simulations. VBS3 is a desktop tactical trainer and mission rehearsal software system in use by major military organizations including the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, UK MOD and others, using Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) technology. [1] [2] [3] Several major updates have been released since its launch. [4] [5]

Contents

History

In 2013 in January, the US Army was holding a competition to find a replacement for VBS2, with the winner to be picked that spring. The Army said it would contract $44.5 million over five years to create a "first-person shooter with updated graphics, the ability to move a group of players across larger landmasses (such as in an MMO) and the ability to play across mobile and PC." [6] In 2014, the Bohemia Interactive Simulations company was based in Orlando, Florida, and was in the process of updating VBS 3, which was released that year s the successor to Virtual Battlespace 2. The new changes were going to include "more realistic graphics, more weapon and vehicle choices and customizable solider avatars." [7] VBS 3, as a "multiplayer, networked first-person shooter" like its predecessor, began changing avatar's weight and performance to reflect user's actual physical fitness. [8]

Uses

VBS3 simulates any environment for military training so users can learn how to think, communicate and make decisions in a wide range of scenarios. The Virtual Battlespace series is the "flagship training game" of the U.S. Army's Games for Training Program of Record and its predecessor VBS2 has been used by the majority of NATO partners for more than five years. [9] [10] The U.S. Army utilized VBS3 for combined arms training practice. [11]

The software is primarily used for tactical training and mission rehearsal, though VBS3 can be used for a wide range of training tasks. The U.S. Army has accredited VBS3 for training on more than 100 combined arms tasks. [12] These tasks include entering and clearing a building, conducting an attack, conducting convoy security and more. [13] The U.S. Army also is incorporating VBS3 into other simulators including its Close Combat Tactical Trainer simulator and Dismounted Soldier Training System. [13] In addition to its use for combined arms training, VBS3 has been integrated into other training solutions such as System Technologies' PARASIM for virtual reality parachute safety training and Meggitt Training Systems' FATS100MIL for small arms collective training. [14] [15] The U.S. Air Force Academy uses VBS3 for training cadets on air power and unmanned aerial vehicle use. [16]

As of 2016, the U.S. Army was working to determine a training substitute for the VBS3 due to various difficulties because it was difficult to use as soldiers described the user interface as confusing and time consuming to learn. [ citation needed ] Researchers suggested that virtual reality environments be introduced earlier into curriculum in addition to making technological improvements. [17]

Components

VBS3 comes equipped with several built-in applications that support development training capabilities. These include mission editors, which allow users to add, modify or delete objects before and during game play, and an after-action review module, which allows administrators and users to conduct post-training analysis with the ability to fast-forward or rewind to events; a full development suite, allowing users to create buildings, edit terrains and convert 3D models to the VBS3 simulation environment; a 3D model content library, including more than 10,000 entities; an HLA/DIS gateway that connects VBS with other military simulations, or interconnects many VBS servers together; a voice communications and radio simulation system; and a mission planning tool that allows users to add military symbols to both the 2D and 3D maps as well as draw lines or add text. [18]

Features

VBS3 introduced a number of new and enhanced features and capabilities, according to John Matthews, project director for Army Games for Training at Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI). These include personalized avatars, more varied terrains and added interoperability. [19]

Fast-air performance

The performance of VBS3 is an improvement on VBS2. With VBS3, the developers implemented new object aggregation technology and smarter object fading to enhance the software's fast air performance capabilities. [20]

Multicast system

VBS3 is optimized to allow for more participants in larger, more complex scenarios. VBS3's multicast system helps prevent data bottlenecks and delays, reduce the server load and provide faster performance over a local area network. Multicast refers to sending data across a network to several computers at the same time, greatly optimizing the performance of VBS3. With the new multicast system, hundreds of participants can take part in virtual scenarios. [20]

Terrain development

Using on-the-fly procedural generation, terrains can leverage biotopes, which are groupings of trees, rocks and other vegetation, ultimately enabling faster performance. Terrain features are created by the engine as they are needed rather than storing billions of objects with other terrain data. VBS3 v3.6 can handle large paged terrains of 2,000 km by 2,000 km with faster loading times for massive terrains. [21] VBS3 v3.6 also supports high-detail insets. [20]

Physics capabilities

Using Nvidia's PhysX, VBS3 supports physics-based destructible buildings. Any building in VBS3 can have multiple destruct states and VBS3 also supports component destruction. [20]

Support for large models

The VBS3 engine has been optimized to support the creation of extremely large models with hundreds of rooms, such as the Royal Navy's Type 45 Destroyer. [20]

Command and control

In VBS3 v3.5, introduced the capability to build order of battle (ORBAT) command hierarchies in the VBS mission editor and command units can be given movement orders which will move the entire formation. [22]

Helicopter mission simulation

Simulation of the ARH Eurocopter Tiger flight model was improved in VBS3 v3.4 and 3.6. These include improvements to the cockpit system, forward air refueling points, and weapon simulations. [22]

Support for virtual reality hardware

With the release of VBS3 v3.9.2 in October 2016, Bohemia Interactive Simulations announced that VBS3 supports Oculus Rift CV1 and HTC Vive head-mounted displays. [23] In February 2017, with the release of VBS3 v17.1, Bohemia Interactive Simulations announced that they added support for Open-Source Virtual Reality-based VR devices to be integrated with VBS3. [24]

Related Research Articles

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Mixed reality (MR) is the merging of real and virtual worlds to produce new environments and visualizations, where physical and digital objects co-exist and interact in real time. Mixed reality does not exclusively take place in either the physical or virtual world, but is a hybrid of reality and virtual reality, encompassing both augmented reality and augmented virtuality via immersive technology.

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References

  1. ↑ Stand-To! The Official Focus of The U.S. Army. "Virtual Battlespace 3". army.mil. U.S. Army. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  2. ↑ Bohemia Interactive Simulations. "Bohemia Interactive Simulations Awarded U.S. Marine Corps Contract" (PDF). bisimulations.com. Bohemia Interactive Simulations. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  3. ↑ Aishwarya, Srivari. "UK MoD to use VBS3 software to train soldiers in virtual environment". army-technology.com. Verdict Media Ltd. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  4. ↑ Bohemia Interactive Simulations. "BISIM RELEASES LATEST UPDATES TO VBS3, VBS CONTROL BEHAVIOR PACK 1, AND VBS SIMULATION SDK". bisimulations.com. Bohemia Interactive Simulations. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ Shephard News Team. "BISim released updated VBS3 versions". shephardmedia.com. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  6. ↑ US military looking for better video game training technology, Polygon
  7. ↑ Military upgrade: A look at Bohemia’s revamped soldier-training simulator, Orlando Business Journal
  8. ↑ Army’s new training shooter makes out of shape soldiers look fat, Ars Technica
  9. ↑ Stand-To! The Official Focus of the U.S. Army. "Virtual Battlespace 3". army.mil. U.S. Army. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  10. ↑ Barrie, Alison. "Army battles with brawn and beer bellies". foxnews.com. Fox News. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "STAND-TO!". www.army.mil. Retrieved 2018-08-22.
  12. ↑ U.S. Army TRADOC. "Gaming is serious business: VBS3 TRADOC Now!". Gaming is serious business: VBS3 TRADOC Now!. U.S. Army. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  13. 1 2 "Virtual Battlespace 3". army.mil. U.S. Army. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  14. ↑ South, Todd. "See how this virtual reality trainer can help paratroopers do mission planning". armytimes.com. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  15. ↑ Meggitt Training Systems. "FATS100MIL small arms trainer". meggitttrainingsystems.com. Meggitt Training Systems. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  16. ↑ Military Simulation and Training Magazine. "U.S. Air Force to use VBS3 to approach unmanned aircraft training". militarysimulation.training. Halldale Group. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  17. ↑ Jones, Ted; Moore, Todd; Choo, James (2016-12-20). "The Impact of Virtual Reality on Chronic Pain". PLOS ONE. 11 (12): e0167523. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1167523J. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0167523. ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   5172565 . PMID   27997539.
  18. ↑ Bohemia Interactive Simulations. "VBS3 Fact Sheet" (PDF). bisimulations.com. Bohemia Interactive Simulations. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  19. ↑ CURTHOYS, KATHLEEN. "Personalized Approach to Army Avatars". defensenews.com. Defense News. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Bohemia Interactive Simulations. "Technology". bisimulations.com. Bohemia Interactive Simulations. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  21. ↑ http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2014/05/22/army-battles-with-brawn-and-beer-bellies/
  22. 1 2 Bohemia Interactive Simulations. "New Developments in VBS3 – GameTech 2014" (PDF). bisimulations.com. Bohemia Interactive Simulations. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  23. ↑ RealWire. "VBS3 v3.9.2 Supports New Prototype Oculus Rift CV1 and HTC Vive Integrations". realwire.com. RealWire. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  24. ↑ Bohemia Interactive Simulations. "VBS Expands Support for VR". bisimulations.com. Bohemia Interactive Simulations. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
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