Prime contractor / Projects

The High Fidelity Runtime Database Engine (HFRDE) SBIR is a U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s, Simulation and Training Technology Center (RDECOM-STTC) research effort that seeks to provide terrain formats and services to specialized applications such as mobile or embedded devices. Dignitas Technologies is the prime contractor along with subcontractor Applied Research Associates (ARA). This effort is a Phase II SBIR, with matching (Fast Track) funds.

Live and Embedded applications must often correlate with the real world, requiring terrain skin and feature detail far beyond the capabilities of current Synthetic Natural Environment (SNE) representations. In addition, live and embedded applications often have limited processor and memory resources, whereas most modern SNE implementations require high-end desktop machines to initialize. HFRDE will research next generation terrain formats and services that will marry correlation with the real world with excellent performance. HFRDE will research approaches to several key technical criteria:

High Resolution: Support sub-1m geometry terrain (e.g. for geo-pairing) and arbitrarily complex feature data that can scale efficiently. This allows extreme detail where needed, e.g. modeling of speed bumps on roads or branches of trees.

Lightweight: compact; services will run on hand-held devices.

Adaptable: allow each application to store and use only what is needed, e.g. an LOS engine should not have to store route data.

Easily Modified: support rapid run-time updates from raw data. For example, this would support Future Combat System (FCS) requirements to respond to environment changes on the fly.

Just-In-Time Availability: Dynamic data integrated incrementally as CPU cycles permit.

Efficient: fast service responses on low-end processors.

HFRDE will investigate technologies to support a wide range of specialized applications, including hand-held applications, embedded computers, and C4I devices.
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The Automated Generation of Underground Structures (AGUS) Phase II SBIR is a U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command’s, Simulation and Training Technology Center (RDECOM-STTC) research effort that is developing a process for the automatic generation of underground structures for use in both visual and non-visual formats. Dignitas Technologies is the prime contractor with subcontractor Applied Research Associates (ARA). The Team Dignitas approach is based upon reuse of the Urban and Underground Model Generator (U2MG) combined with a strong focus on support for major Army programs.

During the Phase I effort, Team Dignitas analyzed and documented tunnel connector issues, upgraded U2MG to operate within a Constructive simulation terrain format, coordinated and documented the detailed needs of key Army programs, and developed a prototype plug-in for a Virtual simulation to generate transportation tunnels. In addition to the specific needs identified for Army programs, Dignitas identified next generation functional capabilities that could provide long-term benefit.

The AGUS approach is built on three key principles:

• Build upon existing technology Underground and Urban Model Generator (U2MG).
• Consider real program needs from end-to-end (not just database generation).
• Developing Government Purpose software that can be immediately transitioned to use on real programs with no licensing or tools costs.

Team Dignitas is not just looking at underground structure generation. Such a limited focus will result in capabilities that cannot immediately benefit war fighter training because of limits to run-time functionality. As a result, we have considered generation needs, format needs, run-time functionality, and the practical aspects of technology transition.

Team Dignitas has not approached the problem in a way that is best suited to a specific toolset or a company-specific technology; instead, the focus is on how to develop the technology in a way that fits immediately into existing Army programs. The programs represented the “front line” of training applications, where technology is directly applied to war fighter training. It is through transition into existing programs that research efforts can provide the greatest value to the Army.

The technical goal is to clearly identify program needs and to establish connections with real world programs that need additional functionality in the area of underground structures. In parallel with this end-to-end “target program” focus, Team Dignitas is enhancing U2MG and integrating the developed capabilities into existing programs.
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Synthetic Natural Environment (SNE) represents the natural and man-made world in which military simulations occur. SNE assures that simulated entities comply with real-world effects, such as resting on the ground and seeing only those opponents that are not blocked by intervening features. SNE, in short, puts the physical world around the simulated entities. This natural and man-made environment is, of course, subject to change in the real world. Combat engineers dig defensive trenches, artillery creates craters, and airstrikes destroy buildings. Such changes are often called dynamic terrain, a term covering both terrain skin (the ground) and features (buildings, trees, roads, etc.).

Dignitas Technologies is working to improve dynamic terrain and features functionality in virtual programs through our Dynamic Terrain SBIR, which is funded by PEO-STRI. Dignitas is joined by teammate ARA. With this SBIR, Team Dignitas is focusing on meeting SE Core functional needs while collaborating with other related research efforts.

Team Dignitas’ key Phase I technical accomplishments include:

• Placement of arbitrary visual holes in buildings
• Dynamically constructed visual models for placed features
• Integration of a physics engine for damage assessment
• Identification of key architectural decision points and criteria
• Capture of key dynamic terrain issues and solutions for SE Core

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