BISim™ releases powerful upgrades to VBS4 and VBS Blue IG
More than 800 new capabilities are included in the latest releases of the training software.
July 9, 2024
The latest 24.1 upgrade for BISim’s leading products, VBS4 and VBS Blue IG, is a significant update that introduces hundreds of extra capabilities designed to improve training outcomes for defense forces worldwide.
The updates bring numerous enhancements that address the evolving needs of defense training and simulation such as:
Delivering affordability through VBS Builder Edition:
VBS Builder Edition makes it easier for developer partners, from small businesses to large systems integrators, to rapidly build simulation solutions on VBS and deploy them for immediate use. At $300 per seat per year, VBS Builder Edition reduces cost and technical barriers, enabling developers to delight their customers rapidly and iteratively.
VBS Builder Edition makes it easier for developer partners, from small businesses to large systems integrators, to rapidly build simulation solutions on VBS and deploy them for immediate use. At $300 per seat per year, VBS Builder Edition reduces cost and technical barriers, enabling developers to delight their customers rapidly and iteratively.
Enhanced AI capabilities:
BISim's Control AI becomes the default and only AI system in this VBS4 release. Customers can expect to see improvements to every aspect of AI behaviors in all domains, including more complex and reliable behaviors, while reducing administrator workloads. The update includes new waypoint types and associated behaviors, automatically converting old AI waypoints when loading existing battlespaces. See the technology brief from ITEC 2024 for more information about these improvements.
BISim's Control AI becomes the default and only AI system in this VBS4 release. Customers can expect to see improvements to every aspect of AI behaviors in all domains, including more complex and reliable behaviors, while reducing administrator workloads. The update includes new waypoint types and associated behaviors, automatically converting old AI waypoints when loading existing battlespaces. See the technology brief from ITEC 2024 for more information about these improvements.
Improvised drone munitions:
Munitions can be dropped from the drone or configured to detonate on impact when the drone hits an object. This new capability can be combined with a new First-Person View (FPV) drone with a new flight model to accurately represent the use of weaponized drones deployed in current conflicts.
Munitions can be dropped from the drone or configured to detonate on impact when the drone hits an object. This new capability can be combined with a new First-Person View (FPV) drone with a new flight model to accurately represent the use of weaponized drones deployed in current conflicts.
Built-in benchmark tool:
The tool runs a set of automated stress tests on every component of your computer while also capturing data about your specific hardware configuration. The tool then produces a simple text file summarizing the results and indicating potential issues and detailed results that can be used for further analysis. Customers can use it to test hardware suitability or provide detailed information to BISim's support team.
The tool runs a set of automated stress tests on every component of your computer while also capturing data about your specific hardware configuration. The tool then produces a simple text file summarizing the results and indicating potential issues and detailed results that can be used for further analysis. Customers can use it to test hardware suitability or provide detailed information to BISim's support team.
Geo terrain editing:
In Geo, VBS4’s built-in terrain editing tool, customers can create bridges with customizable length, width, and shape and select from several procedural styles to create AI navigable crossings. Buildings can also be procedurally created and modified from simple outlines drawn directly on the terrain.
In Geo, VBS4’s built-in terrain editing tool, customers can create bridges with customizable length, width, and shape and select from several procedural styles to create AI navigable crossings. Buildings can also be procedurally created and modified from simple outlines drawn directly on the terrain.
Global airfields download:
The download adds 8,951 procedurally created airfields using real-world data. Each airfield includes taxiways, tarmac, heliports with the correct line-markings, and common Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approach lighting systems such as runway, taxiway, tarmac, and PAPI lights.
The download adds 8,951 procedurally created airfields using real-world data. Each airfield includes taxiways, tarmac, heliports with the correct line-markings, and common Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) approach lighting systems such as runway, taxiway, tarmac, and PAPI lights.
Configuration Patch Builder (CPB) export:
Added last year, the CPB allows customers to explore and modify any configuration parameters of any model within VBS4's huge content database to create custom variations of the default content shipped. In this release, users can now export all the configuration parameters from VBS4 in a single batch export into a CSV format where they can be modified externally. Once modified, the configurations can be re-imported into CPB to create a custom VBS4 configuration.
Added last year, the CPB allows customers to explore and modify any configuration parameters of any model within VBS4's huge content database to create custom variations of the default content shipped. In this release, users can now export all the configuration parameters from VBS4 in a single batch export into a CSV format where they can be modified externally. Once modified, the configurations can be re-imported into CPB to create a custom VBS4 configuration.
Missile and rocket trails:
New particle effects were added, accurately representing the smoke emitted from a rocket or missile. This allows trainees to more accurately pick up the visual signature of a launch and track the munition's travel direction.
New particle effects were added, accurately representing the smoke emitted from a rocket or missile. This allows trainees to more accurately pick up the visual signature of a launch and track the munition's travel direction.
Simulation of BONUS rounds:
This release adds a simulation of BONUS, an artillery-launched, fire-and-forget munition in which the carrier shell separates to deploy two sensor-fuzed munitions that search for targets within a given footprint. The BONUS round can be accessed via the Fire Direction Centre (FDC) and other conventional munitions.
This release adds a simulation of BONUS, an artillery-launched, fire-and-forget munition in which the carrier shell separates to deploy two sensor-fuzed munitions that search for targets within a given footprint. The BONUS round can be accessed via the Fire Direction Centre (FDC) and other conventional munitions.
Performance improvements to VBS Blue IG:
This release offers more than 30 new performance improvements in the core IG engine, including enhanced rendering and visual parity between VBS4 and VBS Blue IG. These improvements enable seamless integration in simulators that use VBS4 as a simulation host and VBS Blue IG as an image generator.
This release offers more than 30 new performance improvements in the core IG engine, including enhanced rendering and visual parity between VBS4 and VBS Blue IG. These improvements enable seamless integration in simulators that use VBS4 as a simulation host and VBS Blue IG as an image generator.
VBS continues to evolve to meet the demanding training needs of the US and its allies, and the new 24.1 features further expand the number of supported use cases. The latest AI and drone capabilities are critical to practice lessons learned in the Ukrainian conflict.
All users will also have access to features previously included in the VBS4 Bundle, including Microsoft Bing mapping and the ability to share VBS Plan layers between users. The new releases are now available to download via the Customer Portal.