U.S. Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and Congressman Jack Bergman (R-MI), House Armed Services Committee, visiting Serious Simulations as part of their survey of modelling and simulation capabilities in Florida.

67 Years of GOOD DESIGN® – the oldest and the most prestigious Global Awards Program for Design Excellence and Design Innovation

For six decades since its inception, The Chicago Athenaeum continues the organisation of the program to create an awareness about contemporary design and to honor both products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing that have chartered new directions for innovation and pushed the envelope for competitive products in the world marketplace. Good Design® was founded in Chicago in 1950 by Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., Eero Saarinen, and Charles and Ray Eames. Mort Goldsholl also created the iconic Good Design logo in 1950.

The emphasis of the GOOD DESIGN® program is on quality design of the highest form, function, and aesthetics a standard beyond ordinary consumer products and graphics. The Chicago Athenaeum’s GOOD DESIGN® program forwards the ideals of a design process that embodies product excellence and endurance and strong public identity.

The Peripheral Vision Immersive Display (PVID Pro) is a Virtual Reality (VR) headset which is breaking new ground in design and performance, and arguably provides the most realistic VR experience to date. 

The PVID Pro is a professional grade electronic display headset, and is designed primarily for military, industrial or other professional VR-based serious training, as well as world class VR entertainment experiences in theme parks and other venues. 

The technology comprising the PVID Pro is unique, and is the world’s first and only wireless, extremely wide field of view, high resolution head mounted display in a rugged yet attractive package. Dual 1920×1080 displays with high grade optical lenses enable a 130 degree field of view, allowing true human peripheral vision in the virtual world, and stereoscopic overlap of lenses for true 3D virtual graphics. 

Most importantly, the headset is completely wireless, thanks to Serious Simulations’ proprietary technology, which reduces latency to mere microseconds, for a very realistic experience including full and unencumbered human movement. 

The headgear tightens quickly and snugly with just one adjustment knob, fitting virtually any person’s head. The headset has built-in LED light strips which serve a variety of functions in training or entertainment, including visual signals to inform the operators/instructors of the users’ place in the scenario so that they may assist or interact with the user. 

The full headset flips up easily to allow the user to have eye to eye conversations in the real world, or just take a breaks. Another innovation is a very open bottom to the unit. This lack of a full enclosure allows individuals to subconsciously reference the actual ground which helps immensely in warding off disorientation or “simulator sickness”. It also enables users’ to see their actual hands and feet when needed. 

The PVID Pro exhibits a space age look, while maintaining low weight by utilization of carbon fiber, which is unique in the industry to date. 

The PVID Pro VR Headset is truly an unprecedented innovation in Virtual Reality. It was designed by Peter Solomon Design and Serious Simulations.

Our product’s design award link is:   https://chi-athenaeum.org/electronics-2017/2017/12/12/pvid-pro-2016-2017/

Above:  Human motion tracking data is mapped to a VBS3 avatar in real time – 3rd person view is visible in the monitor

Serious Simulations LLC was founded in June 2014 by Christopher Chambers, as a Veteran Owned Small Business.  The company was formed specifically to further the use of high quality, human motion based, virtual reality training for a variety of skills including Dismounted Infantry, Law Enforcement, Commercial and Industrial training, and location based entertainment.

Industry Unique Inverse Kinematic Plug-in is Available for VBS 3 Users

The Serious Simulations Inverse Kinematics Solver was developed to fill a gap in the military simulator market.  Given the preponderance and long term adoption of Virtual Battlespace game software for professional grade training, Serious Simulations realized that there existed no code available on the market for the real time animation of VBS3 avatars.  Serious Simulations devoted great effort and time to create a plug-in that successfully animates avatars in VBS3 in real time.

The plug-in uses human motion tracking data (currently optically tracked rigid bodies) to control the motions of the avatar within VBS3.  It accomplishes full avatar motion by blending the rigid body tracking data with VBS3 avatar animation data.  In one version of the plug-in, the tracked data controls the upper body of the avatar while using VBS3 standard or custom animation data to control the lower body and blend them seamlessly and in near real time.

The plug-in utilizes VBS Fusion calls within its plugin to call for controls of the avatar.

Software

The plug-in is currently designed to utilize common software used in individual/small group simulation.  (Other classes and brands of tracking solutions are also in design for broader application of the plug-in to customer solutions.)

NaturalPoint Inc.’s “Motive” software

This is the rigid body tracking software.

Motive captures the rigid body information affixed to the trainee and sends that information to the SSIK.

Virtual Battle Space 3

This is the simulation engine.

The plug-in was designed specifically for VBS3 and is the only known true Inverse Kinematic solution for VBS3.

The plug-in was built in VBS 3.5 and has been updated and tested successfully in VBS 3.9.2

Rigid Bodies

The current standard design of the IK solver uses eight (8) rigid bodies for upper body VBS3 avatar control, which provide a solid tracking and animation solution for low latency, low camera count, simulators.  The plug-in can be adapted for larger systems and different types of cameras, as well as full body tracking, and more or less rigid bodies.

Business inquiries:

Serious Simulations has used and demonstrated its IK solver successfully since 2015, and has licensed its IK solver for a substantial military program for dismounted infantry simulation.  The company is actively seeking additional partners and licensees for the product, especially in light of the current US renewed interest in developing a dismounted infantry simulator. 

Serious Simulations is proud to be a Veteran Owned Small Business

Orlando, Fla. (October 20, 2017) – Orlando-based Serious Simulations has been awarded a research and development contract with Melbourne-based Aeronyde Corporation to produce a wireless augmented reality (AR) head mounted display as part of key control technology for unmanned and robotic aerial vehicles.

Under this contract, Serious Simulations will use its current and soon-to-be-announced patented wireless video techniques for the custom design of a series of wireless augmented reality headsets.  The first prototype is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

Aeronyde Corp, a privately funded start-up in the Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) sector, sought out Serious Simulations for this project due to the company’s extensive experience in wireless virtual reality technology. Aeronyde’s intent is to shift Command and Control models for UAS to AR-based devices. Aeronyde UAV fleet supervisors and end-users (emergency responders) will be immersed into an innovative human-machine interaction platform. Emergency responders and DoD personnel will have access to live video-stream for enhanced situational awareness, real-time autonomous asset management and on-the-go fleet voice-control, supplemented by Aeronyde remote fleet supervisors for precision maneuvering. Serious Simulations’ patented wireless video technology has been enabling commercial virtual reality head mounted displays to shed their tethers without increasing the negative effects of latency.  (Latency is a delay in presenting video or simulation imagery on the physical display, which can reduce the effectiveness of training or operations.)
“Our team will integrate a ubiquitous user interface into autonomous fleet operations”, says Edgar Munoz, CEO of Aeronyde Corp. This transparently immersive UI is a critical element of our full-service model. Commercial UAV industry is transitioning from infancy to global standardization efforts. For faster market adoption and seamless training in UAS operations, our AR device is the logical development path. It allows for full mobility due to our modular and miniaturized hardware design, increased productivity and effectiveness with hands-free systems management, enhanced environmental awareness with real-time HUD data delivery and backend systems connectivity. Serious Simulations will introduce their proprietary video processing techniques, which will allow us to begin in-field testing with local and out-of-state law enforcement, fire departments and EMS. It is critical to involve end users in the development process – they have all the answers.”

“We are redefining several areas of the unmanned vehicle marketplace, and sought out Serious Simulations to lead the development of one of the most critical components – the wireless AR display,” says Alexander (Sasha) Bilous, President and CTO of Aeronyde Corporation. “This groundbreaking hardware will give the controllers, operators, and leaders who contract with us the absolute best means of rapidly digesting video, audio, and diagnostic data, while still engaging in their real-world situations. Interacting with autonomous aerial platforms in fusion with ground and marine assets will never be the same. Although virtual reality HMDs are great tools for simulation training and conceptual development, there is not much practical application for personnel in the field. VR is being adopted rapidly, which is in line with Gartner’s Hype Cycle prognosis; but due to VR’s operational constraints Augmented Reality can and will dominate Enterprise-level user experience.

For Serious Simulations, which has several contracts for military simulator hardware, this new contract represents another entry point into commercial uses for its technology. As the nation becomes more connected, the Smart Cities initiative will revamp municipal digital infrastructures. AR-based voice-enabled interaction with IoT devices is the natural evolution of human-machine interaction of tomorrow.

“Augmented reality device adoption rates for military, commercial, and entertainment purposes are generally predicted to far outpace the growth of virtual reality devices, so this wireless AR headset helps us to make a bold step into that market.  This will be a terrific leap forward in visualization of a variety of data.  We expect that our work will help to expand the use of AR technology across the board,” said Christopher Chambers, CEO and founder of Serious Simulations. “This is a terrific opportunity to collaborate with Aeronyde Corporation in pioneering this young industry.”

Under this contract, the company will grow its AR capabilities and has plans to add full-time and sub-contracting positions.

For more information media should contact:

Christopher Chambers, Serious Simulations, 407-538-1927, cchambers@serioussimulations.com
Alexander (Sasha) Bilous, Aeronyde Corp, 224-619-6903, Sasha.Bilous@aeronyde.com

About Serious Simulations, LLC:  Serious Simulations LLC, an Orlando based Veteran Owned simulation business, designs immersive training systems using custom made hardware and software components for specific skill training needs, combined with motion tracking systems, wireless communications devices, wireless display technologies and commercial game engines. It produces wireless video technology and wireless head/helmet mounted displays (HMDs) with very high resolutions and wide fields of view.  The industry-leading wireless HMDs, and wireless VR add-ons, are available separately or as components of Serious Simulations’ professional grade VR training systems for military, police, emergency responders, and professional grade entertainment experiences.  The company is a partner in the Open Source Virtual Reality (OSVR) network. For more information, visit our web site at www.serioussimulations.com .   Inquiries:  info@serioussimulations.com.
About Aeronyde Corporation: Aeronyde Corporation is an Autonomous Aerial Systems (AAS) company that is currently building the safest and most reliable unmanned traffic management (UTM) system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Based on Florida’s Space Coast, Aeronyde aims to deliver a turnkey UAV service for emergency responders and disaster relief. The firm has achieved rapid growth by means of private foreign investment and collaboration between major industry stakeholders, including: Regulators, Academic institutions, UAS industry leaders, and, most importantly, the general public. Adoption of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) platforms depends wholeheartedly on the public’s acceptance of the technology. Aeronyde’s UTM system pairs with their platform for intelligent UAVs to bring order to the chaos and ensure public safety is addressed prior to the Commercial UAS industry boom. In collaboration with IBM, Aeronyde will introduce AI to enhance machine learning of their robust UAVs. The Live Inspection and Surveillance (LISA) platform will be capable of safe urban operation and commercial use. Through data collection and partnerships with numerous state and private stakeholders, Aeronyde is building the future of Autonomous Aerial Systems. “We are committed to ensuring public safety and the responsible management of a new era of flight. The Sky’s No Limit”.

For more information, visit our web site at www.aeronyde.com. Inquiries:  info@aeronyde.com