VR-Link(TM) is the only third party Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) toolkit commercially available. It provides simulation engineers and virtual world developers with the ability to network hundreds of simulations together through low bandwidth connections.
The toolkit adheres to the Department of Defense's DIS 2.0.3 protocol, and has been selling extremely well to DOD, defense contractors, and academia for the past year. The toolkit is also being integrated into networked arcade games and home video games.
MaK also sells two applications based on VR-Link(TM), a Stealth Vehicle, and Data Logger. The Stealth Vehicle, which uses SGI's Performer(TM), provides an out-the-window 3-D view onto the world terrain, with navigation and flying capabilities. The Data Logger is a network packet recorder which can capture, store, and replay a perfect record of the exercise session.
The predictive algorithms in VR-Link(TM) allow entities on the network to greatly reduce the frequency of rebroadcasts of state. Depending on desired accuracy, each entity requires from 20 to 500 bytes per second to update the world. Military systems have demonstrated over 1000 geographically dispersed entities on ethernet. With compression, 9600 baud modems attached to standard telephone lines can support approximately 10 to 50 players interacting within the same virtual world.
The DIS protocol is self-healing. Players can enter and leave at will without disturbing other participants (other than their appearance and disappearance), and dropped packets don't cause system failure. Since VR-Link(TM) provides each node with an up-to-date external world model, no central server is necessary, and there is no single point of failure.
MaK is currently establishing relationships, and integrating VR-Link(TM), with graphics software vendors such as Sense8, Division, Paradigm, Gemini, and Silicon Graphics (Performer). Once a few suitable graphics packages are integrated, MaK will seek out game makers to develop networked application titles. This will represent a challenge for conventional game makers who are not used to free play environments or multiple participants. Cable TV companies are examining VR-Link(TM) as a possible basis for interactive home-based VR games. MaK is presently designing architectures for a cable-based system.
MaK also performs contract research for the DOD in experimental network protocols. One experimental development, called the Newtonian Protocol, will provide a network force-feedback mechanism. When tactile and force-feedback input devices become commercially available, a network mechanism will already exist in VR-Link(TM) to provide the ability to "touch" remote objects in the virtual world. Another experimental protocol soon to be incorporated into VR-Link(TM) is the Migratory Object Protocol, a mechanism by which nodes can exchange ownership of simulation objects.
For further information: MaK Technologies 380 Green Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 Point of Contact: Warren Katz, (617) 876-8085 wkatz@mak.com,vrlink-info@mak.com
