OpenSimulator Interoperability with DRDC Simulation Tools: Compatibility Study
Abstract
This compatibility study examines potential interoperability between OpenSimulator, a free,server-based 3D virtual world simulator, and a set of DND/CF simulation tools. Interoperabilityis assessed in four areas: simulation operation, terrain models, 3D models, and human factorstools. Simulation technologies assessed for compatibility are the DIS and HLA simulationprotocols, the Unity game engine, the VBS2 serious game, SmartMarine 3D and SmartPlant 3DCAD applications, the HumanCAD anthropomorphic articulation simulator, and the IPME taskmodelling and crew simulator. OpenSimulator does not use DIS or HLA, so it is not currentlyable to directly interface with any simulator that uses these industry standards. Terrain datacompatibility is limited by the RAW format used by OpenSimulator. Unity is able to provide therequired height-map portion of the terrain while VBS2 cannot produce a compatible terraincomponent directly. The set of DND/CF tools that use model-based assets can, in most cases, beconverted to the COLLADA format which OpenSimulator is compatible with. HumanCAD alsohas the ability to export model formats that can be converted to COLLADA. IPME cancommunicate over TCP/IP connections and so an interface to OpenSimulator could be developed.Overall, OpenSimulator is compatible with the set of DND/CF tools examined in terms of itsability to re-use 3D model content originally developed for these tools. Some compatibility existswith respect to re-use of terrain data. But there is marginal to no compatibility with respect tooperating OpenSimulator using the tools studied.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2014
- Accession Number
- AD1000851
Entities
People
- Evan Harris
- Mark Swartz
Organizations
- CAE Inc.