ORLANDO, Fla. (USA) — Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a global developer of advanced military simulation and training software, announced the forthcoming release of updates to VBS Blue IG, expanding its capabilities to enhance the realism of joint fires and close air support training use cases. The updates also provide deeper integration between VBS Blue IG and VBS3, which can already serve as a simulation host for the whole-earth image generator. Along with the release VBS Blue IG, BISim also released another new set of powerful APIs for VBS IG SDK, including new APIs for creating custom sensors and integrating with VR input devices.
VBS Blue IG and VBS IG SDK will be available for customers to download using the VBS License Manager v18.3 on January 18.
VBS Blue IG Updates
VBS Blue IG is a high-performance, 3D whole-earth image generator designed to support the full spectrum of land, sea, air and space use cases for collective and individual training. VBS Blue IG’s uniquely versatile engine is able to provide new training capability for military and defense organizations to visualize and rehearse complex joint military operations anywhere in the world. It is already in use on dozens of defense industry projects ranging from VR-based flight and air crew training to multichannel simulation for JTAC/FAC training.
VBS Blue IG v18.3 contains a variety of major feature improvements devoted to enabling greater customization, improving performance, quality and more. Key highlights include:
VBS3 AAR to VBS Blue IG Integration: VBS Blue IG now supports broadcast during VBS3 After-Action Review (AAR) playback. Each IG view displays what was occurring during runtime based on the AAR playback. The integration enables an administrator to control the camera and override views for use as a stealth viewer during AAR playback.
Multiple Viewports Beta: VBS Blue IG supports picture-in-picture viewports (such as mirrors) as a beta feature, as well as separate window rendering of scenes. This can be used to configure a contiguous physical display with multiple IG views for monitoring an exercise.
Video Downlink: VBS Blue IG includes a component for video streaming, using STANAG-4586 compliant H.264 in an MPEG-2 TS container, to simulate digital video downlinks from UAVs and other ISR assets.
IZLID IR Pointer Capability: IZLID Infrared Pointers are now supported when using VBS3 as the host, adding to the existing CIGI support.
Night Lighting: VBS Blue IG features improvements to support night vision modes. Explosions, flares, illumination rounds as well as other lighting effects from battles can now be rendered in VBS Blue IG. Infrared (IR) lighting, including IR illumination, is now supported. CIGI has been extended to allow for the creation of light objects and illumination effects present in VBS3 will now display in VBS Blue IG.
Cultural Lighting: VBS Blue IG now supports cultural lighting including omni light, spotlight, elliptical spotlight and the option to enable flares. The 18.3 releases of TerraTools from TerraSim (a BISim company) and VBS IG SDK enable fine control over the full array of lights listed above.
Multiple Cloud Layers: VBS Blue IG features multiple cloud layers defined through CIGI or by VBS3. For each layer you can set the height, thickness, and density.
CIGI Kill States: VBS Blue IG now supports catastrophic, mobility, and firepower kills broadcast through CIGI.
Smart Scaling: VBS Blue IG includes Smart Scaling to better represent the visual acuity of the human eye. Configure scaling factors through the VBS Blue IG settings interface or develop a custom plugin through VBS IG SDK.
VBS IG SDK Updates
Accompanying the VBS Blue IG updates, BISim has also provided a new set of APIs with the release of VBS IG SDK v18.3. VBS IG SDK allows integrators and developers to customize and extend VBS Blue IG by providing a framework and suite of tools including Gears Studio, BISim’s new integrated development environment.
VBS IG SDK v18.3 includes a new API for creating custom sensors, enabling developers and integrators to simulate advanced sensors such as night vision goggles or thermal imaging devices. VBS IG SDK also features new APIs for integrating helmet-mounted displays and other VR input devices, controlling multiple windows and viewports, and creating and controlling particle effects. The release includes new sample plugin and source code demonstrating basic SDK concepts.
About Bohemia Interactive Simulations
Founded in 2001, Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) is a global software company at the forefront of simulation and training solutions for defense and civilian organizations. Our mission is to harness the explosive potential of technology to revolutionize training and simulation. BISim utilizes the latest game-based technology and a large, experienced in-house team of engineers to develop high-fidelity, cost-effective training and simulation software products and components for defense applications.