vsVIEWER is a 3D scene generator based on different graphic engines (or image generators). It's unique configuration is described in the below diagram.
The free version does not support all protocols nor engines and does not provides libraries.
That means it can be used for general display but cannot be customized with user code.
vsVIEWER comes with a window user interface to setup the terrains, the coordinate system, the 3D models, the selected image generator (IG) and their effects, the screen outputs and the protocols used to communicate with the external simulation software.
The same interface is also capable of controlling the IG during runtime, for example to change the time, add shadows or fog, freeze or resume the simulation, change the camera view, etc.
It does not need to run on the same computer of the IG.
The configuration file is an offline description of the 3D settings and protocols. It is loaded by the graphic engine at initialization. Some are provided as samples for each supported engine and protocol.
This database is normally provided by the end user. It represents all the terrains, models, sounds, effects (...) referenced in the configuration file. This data must exist at IG start as they are loaded either at initialization time or later if needed.
The models used must be supported by the selected IG. Some accept many formats, other very few. vsVIEWER gives some free samples to use for demo purposes.
vsVIEWER has bee designed to support several graphic engines. As the prime intention of the product is to be free to use or very affordable, the engine core must be public available with no or low cost.
The following engine are supported or planned to be:
Some external libraries may be added to the IG for better rendering or to add specific features not supported internally by the engine.
The following addons are supported:
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DI-Guy: human characters and intelligent vehicles, from Mäk Technologies
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Triton: ocean, from Sundog Software
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Silverlining: sky and clouds from Sundog Software
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vsVIEWER provides the library integration only. The licenses much be purchased from addons vendors.
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vsVIEWER listens to the network for data coming from the simulation hosts.
Several protocols are supported. More to come.
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vsData: simple vsVIEWER protocol based on UDP messages. Proprietary standard.
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DIS: Distributed Interactive Simulation. IEEE standard up to version 6
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CIGI: Common Image Generator Interface, standard up to version 3.3; to come
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HLA: based on RPR-FOM; to come
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vsVIEWER does not support all messages or features for the selected protocol. Refer below for each protocol.
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According to the configuration, one window, full screen or several screens can be used for output.
If the IG allows it, one or several views could be defined.
