Virtual Prototypes introduces customizable commercial-off-the-shelf simulation framework.

MONTREAL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 27, 1995--Virtual Prototypes Inc. (VPI) Friday introduced STAGE 1.0, a flexible, commercial-off- the-shelf (COTS) development environment to facilitate the creation of aerospace and defense simulation and training applications.

STAGE is the first customizable COTS simulation framework designed to easily integrate models and simulations in a common, distributed tactical environment, for real-time training and decision- support systems.

``STAGE represents the first true COTS product for developers of military simulators and trainers,'' stated Pete Swan, product manager for VPI's simulation products. ``STAGE shortens the time it takes to build complex simulation and training systems, by providing the tools and the framework to generate customized simulation and training applications.

``STAGE allows users to quickly prototype a simulation environment and then integrate high fidelity simulations of equipment subsystems to test the effectiveness of different equipment concepts within existing or new tactical doctrine.

``Tactical scenarios consisting of target motion, interaction and detection mechanisms can easily be defined using an intuitive GUI. In addition, user-specified high fidelity simulation models can be easily integrated through the openness and flexibility of STAGE.''

Release 1.0 of STAGE is designed to perform on the full range of Silicon Graphics workstations. Application development is accomplished via a powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI). Rapid prototyping of a fully functional simulator is possible using the simulation models provided with STAGE, such as vehicles, facilities, physical environments, weapons and sensors.

However, once the prototype simulator has been validated, the STAGE models can be readily supplemented or replaced by higher fidelity, application specific, third-party models. In addition, external simulations can be easily linked in with the STAGE environment.

STAGE includes a complete graphical Database Editor (DE) which conforms to the data structures of the base STAGE models. However, a powerful, unique and intuitive tool, the Development Interface (DI), allows developers to customize the data structures and user interfaces of the DE to incorporate third-party models.

No programming is required for this customization, and all code necessary for the integration of the new data structures into STAGE is automatically generated by the DI.

The run-time portion of STAGE allows scenarios to be previewed, validated, initialized and executed as needed.

STAGE is used by a broad base of applications developers and engineers to create engineering simulators to model, stimulate and prototype operational systems; by trainers who need an instructional tool to create custom scenarios; by researchers who want a rapid method of simulating systems in an operational scenario; and by operational research analysts who are investigating new tactics and strategies for wartime situations.

STAGE is a proven product which has been successfully used to integrate simulators for a wide variety of military and aerospace applications, including the training of naval tactical teams, on-board systems operators and electronic warfare teams; tactical simulations for weapons evaluation, doctrine development, and operational research; engineering simulation for avionics development, human factors design analysis, console design, command and control system design and development; wargaming simulation; and air traffic control simulation for the development of airspace/ airport procedures and systems.

STAGE can be tightly integrated with two other VPI products -- VAPS and FlightSIM -- to create an extended simulation toolset. VAPS is a mature and powerful product for building, prototyping and simulating real-time, interactive, human-machine interfaces (HMIs). The development of an HMI is done graphically with a set of powerful editors supporting an object-oriented development approach.

This allows users to intuitively draw objects, specify data driven animation, connect displays to application data, and specify event/response behavior, FlightSIM is a highly flexible and reconfigurable tool for flight procedure trainers, human factors research, and avionics design applications.

By using the more than 150 available parameters and graphs, a flight environment can be configured for any fixed-wing aircraft. When coupled with VAPS, users can simulate an out-the-window scene with an animated head-up display. Through simple point-and-click menu operations, users define the engine, aerodynamics, aircraft control, and world parameters.

With the addition of aircraft devices such as a joystick, throttle and pedals. FlightSIM provides a realistic user-definable environment.

STAGE is available immediately as a competitively priced off- the-shelf product.

Virtual Prototypes was founded in 1985 and is a leading supplier of software tools for the development of simulation systems for aerospace and defense, and real-time interactive graphical applications in the aerospace, defense, transportation, medical, energy, telecommunications, and instrumentation industries.

With headquarters in Montreal, VPI has offices and distributors throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

CONTACT: Virtual Prototypes Inc., Montreal

Pete Swan, 514/341-3874 or 800/361-6424 (voice)

514/341-8018 (fax)