An open architecture for defense virtual environment training systems

Abstract

This thesis develops a proposed software system that allows programmers to create virtual reality training environment applications for military (or other) use in which characters and character animation are necessary. Such applications are becoming more necessary to fill a gap in military training due to lack of personnel, time, money, and resources. Creation of virtual environment training applications allows military units to augment procedural training in preparation for live or physically simulated training. In the current environment of lesser training and more military requirements, such augmentation will only serve to benefit unit capabilities. While such systems for developing virtual environment applications are commercially available, those systems are costly in both licensing and usage fees. One of the tenets of the system that this thesis develops is that this system will be free and partially open source, such that programmers can create low cost virtual environment applications for military training, and such that experienced programmers can modify or add to the system in order to improve or enhance its capabilities to meet their needs.