VBS3

VBS3, short for Virtual Battlespace 3, is the third major version of the Virtual Battlespace software series, developed by Bohemia Interactive Simulations. It is a desktop tactical trainer and mission rehearsal software system. The software has been cited as a cost-effective training tool in the "crawl" phase of soldier training.^[1][2][3]

Uses

VBS3 simulates any environment for military training so users can learn how to think, communicate and make decisions in a wide range of scenarios. The Virtual Battlespace series is an industry standard in game-based military simulation and its predecessor VBS2 has been used by the majority of NATO partners for more than five years.^[4]

The software is primarily used for tactical training and mission rehearsal, though VBS3 can be used for a wide range of training tasks. The U.S. Army has accredited VBS3 for training on more than 100 combined arms tasks.^[5] These tasks include entering and clearing a building, conducting an attack, conducting convoy security and more.^[6] The U.S. Army also is incorporating VBS3 into other simulators including its Close Combat Tactical Trainer simulator and Dismounted Soldier Training System.^[7]

The program director of the U.S. Army's Games for Training Program of Record said that "VBS3 brings the user a modernized user interface, improved avatar fidelity, better path planning for AI, new AAR display and capability, multicast networking and many other new features.”^[8]

Components of VBS3

VBS3 comes equipped with several built-in applications that support development training capabilities. These include the following: mission editors, which allow users to add, modify or delete objects before and during game play, and an after-action review module, which allows administrators and users to conduct post-training analysis with the ability to fast-forward or rewind to events; a full development suite, allowing users to create buildings, edit terrains and convert 3D models to the VBS3 simulation environment; a massive content library, including more than 9,000 entities; an HLA/DIS gateway that connects VBS with other military simulations or interconnects many VBS servers together.^[9]

Features in VBS3

VBS3 introduced a number of new and enhanced features and capabilities, according to John Matthews, project director for Army Games for Training at Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO STRI).^[10] These include personalized avatars, more varied terrains and added interoperability.^[11]

Fast-air performance

The performance of VBS3 is an improvement on VBS2. With VBS3, the company implemented new object aggregation technology and smarter object fading to enhance the software's fast air performance capabilities.^[12]

Multicast system

VBS3 is optimized to allow for more participants in larger, more complex scenarios. VBS3's multicast system helps prevent data bottlenecks and delays, reduce the server load and provide faster performance over a local area network. Multicast refers to sending data across a network to several computers at the same time, greatly optimizing the performance of VBS3. With the new multicast system, hundreds of participants can take part in virtual scenarios.^[13]

Terrain development

Using on-the-fly procedural generation, terrains can leverage biotopes, which are groupings of trees, rocks and other vegetation, ultimately enabling faster performance. Terrain features are created by the engine as they are needed rather than storing billions of objects with other terrain data. VBS3 v3.6 can handle large paged terrains of 2,000 km by 2,000 km with faster loading times for massive terrains.^[14] VBS3 v3.6 also supports high-detail insets.^[15]

Physics capabilities

Using Nvidia's PhysX, VBS3 supports physics-based destructible buildings. Any building in VBS3 can have multiple destruct states and VBS3 also supports component destruction.^[16]

Support for large models

The VBS3 engine has been optimized to support the creation of extremely large models with hundreds of rooms, such as the Royal Navy's Type 45 Destroyer.^[17]

Command and control

In VBS3 v3.5, introduced the capability to build order of battle (ORBAT) command hierarchies in the VBS mission editor and command units can be given movement orders which will move the entire formation.^[18]

Helicopter mission simulation

Simulation of the ARH Eurocopter Tiger flight model was improved in VBS3 v3.4 and 3.6. These include improvements to the cockpit system, forward air refueling points, and weapon simulations.^[19]

Requirements

Minimal PC Requirements

OS: Windows Vista / 7 / 8.1 (64-bit)

CPU: Intel Core 2.8 GHz / AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+

GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 / AMD Radeon HD 4870 with 512 MB VRAM, DirectX 9.0c capable

RAM: 4GB

HDD: VBS3 (40GB), Tools (15GB)

Recommended PC Requirements

OS: Windows Vista / 7 / 8.1 (64-bit)

CPU: Intel Core i5-2300 / AMD Phenom II 940

GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 / AMD Radeon HD 7750 with 1024 MB VRAM, DirectX 11

RAM: 8 GB

HDD: VBS3 (40 GB), Tools (15 GB), Custom content (100 GB), SSD storage

Optimal PC Requirements

OS: Windows 7 / 8.1 (64-bit)

CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 / AMD FX-9590

GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 / AMD Radeon HD7950 with 4096 MB VRAM, DirectX 11

RAM: 16 GB

HDD: VBS3 (40 GB), Tools (15 GB), Custom Content (200 GB), SSD Storage

References