BOHEMIA Interactive Simulations

VBS®4 provides a comprehensive virtual desktop training environment with whole-earth rendering for tactical training, experimentation, and mission rehearsal, and performs as a powerful simulation host for any IG. VBS4 includes whole-Earth data and supports training at any location on the virtual globe.

The VBS4 workflow steps the user through Prepare - Execute - Assess phases, facilitating fast and effective skills enhancement. In VBS4, users create “Battlespaces” that are a collection of terrain edits, mission plans, scenario files and after-action reviews. Each Battlespace is centered on a specific location on the virtual Earth. Scenarios can be modified in real time and replayed in the After-Action Review for lessons learned. VBS4 scenarios can be fully constructive (AI controlled), fully virtual (human controlled) or a mix of both.

*VBS4 includes all VBS3 capability and support all VBS3 use cases.

Increase the Speed of Scenario Creation

VBS4 includes VBS Plan, a new mission planning capability that creates massive time savings for instructors and administrators by allowing them to draw static plans on the 2D and 3D maps using standard military symbols, and then execute those plans at an entity level in VBS4.

Generate and Edit Terrains Faster

VBS4 includes VBS Geo, a new intuitive WYSIWYG editor that allows users to import, create and modify terrain. The interface enables users without formal training to quickly and easily edit terrains. Users can add, move and rotate objects on the terrain, raise or lower terrain, edit roads and other linear features, quickly draw new forests and edit surface detail, and immediately leverage these terrain changes in VBS4 scenarios.

Next Generation AI to Reduce the Need for Human Operators

BISim aims to reduce human intervention in simulation exercises through its VBS Control deterministic and doctrinal AI that is fully integrated with VBS4 and the new mission planning component.

VBS4 includes the following pre-built AI behaviors:

Convoy AI: reliable ETA, react to ambush, navigate tight urban spaces

Military AI: a set of “waypoint replacements” for improved military AI, both infantry and vehicles

Pattern of Life: civilian and traffic “clutter”

VBS4® offers an enormously broad range of features which fully supports 200+ training use cases. VBS4 Bundle offers a number of premium features that expand VBS4’s capabilities even further - advanced CAS and radio features, overlay sharing and runtime Microsoft Bing terrain data support. Further features will be added in future releases, accessible to all VBS4 Bundle customers on active support.

VBS Close Air Support (CAS)

VBS Close Air Support (CAS) provides a simulated Air Operations Center (AOC) for VBS4, accessible via the VBS Plan interface, to set up and enable Close Air Support (CAS) training. It enables units to practice the correct procedures and event sequences when requesting and executing Close Air Support with fixed and rotary wing aircraft. VBS CAS features include:

New “spline-based” deterministic aircraft flight models, allowing precise control of aircraft and re-routing
No fire and no fly zones support with event reporting
After Action Review (AAR) support for assessing trainee performance
Integration with broader VBS Plan capability (maneuvers, fire missions) to facilitate combined arms planning

VBS Radio Pro

VBS Radio Pro is included in the VBS Bundle. VBS Radio Pro is also available independent of the Bundle.

Microsoft Bing Terrain Data Support

VBS4 Bundle’s Bing support allows customers to use a Microsoft Bing API* key to stream Bing data into VBS4. This provides high detail Bing map satellite and 3D photogrammetry data that can be directly used in simulation as shown here.

*API key must be acquired directly from Microsoft.

VBS® Blue IG provides high-fidelity and high-performance rendering from space down to blades of grass. It offers unlimited view distances with ground detail unmatched by any other simulation. VBS Blue IG provides a baseline global terrain that is procedurally enhanced from real-world data, offers users the option to blend procedural terrain with satellite imagery or high-resolution terrain, and even enables users to override the procedural terrain to use satellite imagery and other data directly.

No New Formats Needed

VBS Blue IG offers a modular architecture that separates a high-performance, whole-earth rendering engine from a global terrain database concept. Rather than introduce a new compiled terrain format, a plug-in architecture allows multiple industry standard formats to be passed to the renderer, allowing integrators to respond quickly and offer effective simulation solutions.

VR/AR Ready Out of the Box

VBS Blue IG supports Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality uses with greater than 90hz refresh rates. It is perfectly suited for commercial-off-the-shelf VR head-mounted displays like the Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Open VR-supported devices for fast-motion flight simulation and motion platforms.

Use on Any Simulator

VBS Blue IG can be used across individual part-task trainers, VR/AR solutions and full-motion simulators with multiple synchronized displays. Using the Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI) standard, VBS Blue IG integrates with existing host software including VBS4 and VBS3. TerraTools from TerraSim, a BISim company, makes it easy to add new high-resolution terrain areas and custom data sets to VBS Blue IG.

VBS® IG SDK allows developers to customize and extend VBS® Blue IG by providing a framework and suite of tools. It includes a library of APIs and source code allowing developers to customize virtually every aspect of VBS® Blue IG and produce custom applications. The APIs form a modular plug-in architecture that enables developers to integrate third-party technologies effectively and efficiently.

Whole Earth Rendering for Any Simulator

VBS® IG SDK includes the VBS Blue IG runtime for development. VBS Blue IG provides high-fidelity and high-performance rendering from space down to blades of grass for all training domains. Using the Common Image Generator Interface (CIGI) standard, VBS Blue IG integrates with existing host software including VBS4 and VBS3. TerraTools from TerraSim, a BISim company, makes it easy to add new high-resolution terrain areas and custom data sets to VBS Blue IG.

VBS® Simulation SDK includes a library of APIs and source code allowing developers to customize virtually every aspect of VBS® 4 and produce custom applications. The APIs form a modular plug-in architecture that enable developers to integrate third-party technologies effectively and efficiently. It also includes our state-of-the-art AI behavior toolkit, VBS® Control Editor.

A Proven Development Platform

The VBS Simulation SDK includes licenses of the VBS4 runtimes. VBS4 is BISim’s easy-to-use, whole-earth virtual and constructive simulation. VBS4 can drive multiple IG channels as a high-fidelity simulation host. VBS4 meet hundreds of training use cases from individual warrior tasks to battle drills to large-scale collective exercises.

TerraTools®, the industry-leading terrain generation software from TerraSim, is used to rapidly develop high-fidelity, geo-specific environments for simulation, training and experimentation. Develop and export a single terrain project to multiple runtime formats for correlated terrain in training exercises that connect different simulations.

Import and Export Different Data Sources

Import and export a wide range industry-standard elevation data, satellite imagery, and vector data. TerraTools also supports import of many 3D model formats common to simulation and gaming. Export optimized virtual environments to visual, constructive, and serious game runtime applications.

Built-in Viewing and Editing Tools

Use built-in tools to simplify project creation; create, edit, and view geospatial data; edit and view textures and models; and preview the environment as you transition from source data to the final terrain output.

Mantle Enterprise Terrain Management (ETM)® is a custom-built platform based on proven COTS components and expert design/development services for creating simulated terrain for training, mission rehearsal, visualization and terrain analysis. A Mantle ETM installation delivers a cloud-capable¹ custom terrain pipeline that works with your data, processes, servers, and runtimes, integrating with your existing terrain capabilities or delivering a full end-to-end solution from scratch.

¹Cloud is not required, Mantle ETM can also run on an internal network

Making terrain for high fidelity simulation is difficult and challenging. Searching out good source data, building correlated terrain for multiple runtimes, synchronizing data between different simulation clients, storing the vast amount of source data, utilizing classified and other restricted data, editing data “on the fly”. Historically, these challenges have resulted in separate specialist teams building terrain data disconnected from the point-of-need users together with high costs and long lead times to obtain the required finished terrain. Mantle ETM solves these challenges.

VBS® Radio is the in-game voice communications system for VBS®4. VBS Radio offers user friendly setup of global, side, group and direct speech communication channels with filterable voice playback for After Action Review. It features unlimited channels and distance-based degradation that can also be influenced by weather effects in the simulation.

VBS Radio Pro enables radio and direct voice communications between users in VBS4 training exercises with unlimited channels and filterable voice playback for After Action Review. VBS Radio Pro features include:

Unlimited radio channels and types
Configurable radio network presets, enabling users to customize channel names, colors, icons and enable saving and loading of radio networks per mission
Radio degradation that can also be influenced by weather, distance and terrain obstruction