The Evolution of the Virtual Battlespace

Transcription

1 The Evolution of the Virtual Battlespace Mr Peter Morrison Chief Executive Officer Bohemia Interactive Australia

2 Scope Introduction to Bohemia Interactive Training needs that shaped VBS2 Evolution of a training tool From Game to Simulation Case studies The Future of the Virtual Battlespace

3 Bohemia Interactive? Bohemia Interactive Studio (BIS) Formed in Czech Republic, 1999 Real Virtuality Game Engine Operation Flashpoint, 2001 Armed Assault, 2006 Bohemia Interactive Australia (BIA) Formed in 2001, an independent company Real Virtuality Simulation Engine Virtual Battlespace (VBS) 1, VBS2, Virtual Reality Simulation

4 Bohemia Interactive Australia Our Mission: To create affordable simulation platforms that provide vast, dynamic, high-fidelity virtual environments supported by a comprehensive suite of easy-to-use development tools.

5 Bohemia Interactive Australia Achieving our Mission: BIA extends computer game engines through adding functionality, content and simulation hardware relevant to the training needs of military organisations.

6 Problems. Constrained resources Limited budgets Limited number of training areas, and harsh restrictions on the types of training that may be conducted there Logistical requirements Realism of training Real two-way ranges are deadly and simulated solutions can be expensive (i.e. laser-based systems) After-action review limitations at the tactical level Your training audience is changing Soldiers go home and play XBox 360!

7 The Solution: Simulation. But: A capability gap exists between tactical training needs and what typical military sim provides Typical military simulation is: Inflexible Expensive Cannot be easily deployed because of contractor support requirements Needs specialised hardware to run Doesn t look or feel real and soldiers don t relate to it (no immersion) Games could be the answer!

8 The (Initial) Requirements for VBS Primary focus: tactical training and mission rehearsal up to the combat team level, closely integrated with constructive simulation Provide a generic simulation of all weapon platforms for combined arms training Based on a first person computer game, to provide extremely high fidelity virtual environments (important for immersion) Extendable by the customer or the contractor, supporting military formats wherever possible for rapid import of terrain and 3D content

9 The Evolution of VBS2 Australian Defence Force (ADF): Tactical training up to the Combat Team level (mech inf + armour + arty + aviation) Mission Rehearsal for East Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan, Solomon Islands Stimulating command post exercises Development of what-if scenarios and recreation of actual events

10 The Evolution of VBS2 US Marine Corps and US Army: Need for a Virtual Tool Kit for mission rehearsal and mission-specific cultural language training Convoy training in complex urban environments such as Iraq and Afghanistan Tactical stimulation of constructive sim Call for fire training (FO/FAC) A deployable simulation capability

11 The Evolution of VBS2 United Kingdom Ministry of Defence: Training in mounted and dismounted urban warfare (refinement of TTPs, crowd control) UAV operator training and training commanders in employment of sensor systems not yet fielded Convoy training for regular and reserve units Tank gunnery training AO familiarization, vehicle ID

12 Evolution of a Game Engine Entertainment (BIS) 2008 Military Training (BIA) ArmA (2006) Capability enhancements for military organisations VBS2 (2008) OFP (2001) VBS1 (2003) Game Engine

13 From Game to Military Simulation End-User Scenario Authoring Rapid scenario development in the simulation center Run-Time Authoring Rapid, real-time scenario and terrain modification After-Action Review Supports training and analysis (including bookmarks!) Interoperability HLA and DIS compliance to maximize options & flexibility

14 Interoperability The military does not use simulation tools in isolation. VBS2 includes a versatile HLA and DIS gateway that can be used to connect VBS2 to virtual, live or constructive simulations. (Image courtesy of Calytrix)

15 From Game to Military Simulation End-User Scenario Authoring Rapid scenario development in the simulation center Run-Time Authoring Rapid, real-time scenario and terrain modification After-Action Review Supports training and analysis (including bookmarks!) Interoperability HLA and DIS compliance to maximize options & flexibility Rapid (< 1 day) Terrain Import Supports interoperability and mission rehearsal

16 Rapid Terrain Import Critical for mission rehearsal, VBS2 includes a Development Suite that supports rapid import of real-world terrain data. In addition, TerraVista (Presagis) and TerraTools (TerraSim) VBS2 plug-ins are available soon. (Images courtesy of TerraSim)

17 From Game to Military Simulation End-User Scenario Authoring Rapid scenario development in the simulation center Run-Time Authoring Rapid, real-time scenario and terrain modification After-Action Review Supports training and analysis (including bookmarks!) Interoperability HLA and DIS compliance to maximize options & flexibility Rapid (< 1 day) Terrain Import Supports interoperability and mission rehearsal Rapid Development End-user development of content (3D models and terrain) Cost-effective modification of the underlying simulation

18 From Game to Military Simulation End-User Scenario Authoring Rapid scenario development in the simulation center Run-Time Authoring Rapid, real-time scenario and terrain modification After-Action Review Supports training and analysis (including bookmarks!) Interoperability HLA and DIS compliance to maximize options & flexibility Rapid (< 1 day) Terrain Import Supports interoperability and mission rehearsal Rapid Development End-user development of content (3D models and terrain) Cost-effective modification of the underlying simulation IMPORTANT!!!

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20 The VBS2 Framework (Note: Combat Net Radio Simulation is also available)

21 VBS2 in 2008 VBS2 is now a defacto standard in ABCA + NZ Enterprise licenses to ADF, NZDF, USMC, UK MoD, US Special Forces Evaluation site licenses delivered to most major US Army and Canadian battlelabs Site licenses across Europe Industry users include Thales, Boeing, and Raytheon

22 VBS2 in 2008 VBS2 International Military User Group meets at ITEC and I/ITSEC each year VBS2 improvements paid for by one country is received by all VBS2 users VBS2 Training Courses are running continuously in North America and Europe BIA has contracts to continue to improve VBS2 until 2011

23 VBS2 Users: ADF BIA developed real-world, geo-specific terrain areas to support ADF mission rehearsal Iraq (Baghdad Green Zone) East Timor Afghanistan (Tarin Kowt) Solomon Islands Terrain areas are now being modified by the Australian Army in accordance with feedback from troops on the ground

24 Geo-Specific Green Zone Copyright Bohemia Interactive All rights reserved.

25 VBS2 Users: USMC The USMC funded the Virtual Tool Kit (VTK) VBS2 development in 2007, completed in early 2008 Improvements allow end-users to customise VBS2 for mission rehearsal IED defeat Cultural language training Deformable terrain Destructible buildings Thermal imaging BIA is now under contract for VTK2 Three-year development contract

26 VBS2 Users: US Army The US Army employed VBS2 to create videos showing how to correctly construct a vehicle check point (VCP) and respond to threats The Buffalo IED-defeat vehicle was modelled in VBS2 complete with an operable robotic arm

27 VBS2 Users: UK MoD The UK MoD is employing VBS2 to develop a recruitment and individual training tool Geo-specific Warminster Range is under development The entire UK MoD ORBATT has been developed in VBS2 for combined arms training Hundreds of vehicles are simulated including support vehicles All vehicles are fully operable including fire control systems, articulation, mounted weapons etc

28 The Future of the Virtual Battlespace Further integration through the VBS2 API Kynapse and AI Implant Automatic Language Training System (ALTS) Funded improvement of Development Suite PhysX for highly realistic physical simulation Multi-core support Hardware integration to improve virtual training

29 The Future of the Virtual Battlespace

30 Conclusion The VBS2 simulation platform is proven technology used worldwide for tactical training and mission rehearsal VBS2 directly supports operational level training through integration with constructive sim and real-world terrain import VBS2 is a serious games success story thanks to support (funding and guidance) from military organisations worldwide

31 Questions? This isn't replacing live training; it means we're getting better value out of live training. Being able to face crucial decisions in training helps soldiers when they're going to theatre. Maj Tom Mouat, UK MoD I thought it was fantastic. It's outstanding. It's the only type of simulator I've seen like this. I've never seen anything else like it. WO2 Gary Miller, UK MoD It saves a lot of money. It saves a lot of ammo. It saves lives because you don t have the training accidents that do occur. Mike McCaffrey, US Army We all play computer games, but this isn't just a game. It's serious. - Pte Frank Boateng, UK MoD