DI-Guy Frequently Asked Questions

Below are the questions people most frequently ask about DI-Guy. If you have a question you don't see addressed here, please email us at diguy@diguy.com and we will be happy to provide an answer.

Running and Integrating DI-Guy
What is DI-Guy?
What sort of applications use DI-Guy?
What are the key benefits of using DI-Guy?
What kind of computer do I need to run DI-Guy?
What visual simulation products does DI-Guy work with?
Can I use DI-Guy in an application I develop myself?
How much work is it to integrate DI-Guy into my system?
How many DI-Guy characters can I run at one time
Does DI-Guy work with DIS and HLA?
Does DI-Guy work with ModSAF/OneSAF/JSAF?
What is the relationship between DI-Guy, DI-Guy AI, and DI-Guy Scenario?

Characters and Motions
How many characters come with DI-Guy?
Can I add and modify models?
Can I add and modify motions?
Can I directly update DI-Guy's joint angles in real time?
What kinds of equipment can I put on the soldier character?
Can DI-Guy give me reachability information?
Does DI-Guy have inverse kinematics?
How many polygons does the DI-Guy model have?

Licensing DI-Guy
What is the difference between a Development License and a Runtime License?
Is there Customer Support for DI-Guy?
Where can I buy DI-Guy and DI-Guy Scenario?

What is DI-Guy?
DI-Guy is software for human simulation. It includes an SDK for compiling and linking to existing applications, DI-Guy AI for artificial intelligence, and DI-Guy Scenario, an application for authoring and visualizing. DI-Guy includes:

• Extensive library of human motions
• 3D human models, with photorealistic texture and multiple levels of detail
• wide and deep C++ SDK API
• High-performance run-time motion engine
• 3D graphics display applications and examples
• Authoring tools
• Artificial Intelligence

What sort of applications use DI-Guy?
DI-Guy is used for:

• Ground and urban combat training,
• Mission planning
• Peacekeeping and Crowd Control training
  
• Cultural training
  
• Law-enforcement training
  
• Driving, tank, and flight simulators
  
• Urban visualization
• Flight Deck Training
• Emergency Response Training

What are the key benefits of using DI-Guy?

• It's easy to integrate into your software
  
• It provides hundreds of human characters with realistic, life-like behavior
  
• Thousands of motions with smooth realistic transitions between motions
• It works in real-time and is fully interactive
  
• It is COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) software
  
• It supports DIS/HLA distributed simulations
  
• It is cross-platform, with support for Windows, Linux, running OpenGL, DirectX, OpenSceneGraph, and Vega Prime (not all combinations).
• Customizable and Open
• High performance

What kind of computer do I need to run DI-Guy?
DI-Guy runs on off-the-shelf PCs and laptops running Windows or Linux. The computer should have a dedicated video card, we recommend a card with at least 256 megs of video ram.

What visual simulation products does DI-Guy work with?
DI-Guy works with Raydon BARE, Presagis Vega Prime; MAK VrVantage; Quantum3D Mantis; Rockwell Collins EPX, FlightSafety Vital 10, Alion XIG and MetaVR Virtual Reality Scene Generator. If you want to use DI-Guy in a simulation environment that is not on this list, give us a call -- we're integrating with new simulation environments all the time. See our partner's page for links.

Can I use DI-Guy in an application I develop myself?
Yes. DI-Guy was specifically designed to embed in user-developed applications. It has a well-defined API designed to make it easy to incorporate DI-Guy and get humans running quickly in your software. DI-Guy plugs easily into OpenGL, DirectX, VegaPrime and openSceneGraph applications.

How much work is it to integrate DI-Guy into my system?
It takes most users about 1 to 2 days for the initial integration of DI-Guy into an application. (Some users get it working in under an hour!)

How many DI-Guy characters can I run at one time?
The answer depends on several factors, such as your processor, 3D graphics hardware, terrain model, LOD settings of the characters, and the desired frame rate. Typically somewhere around 1000 characters you start to hit some limits and need to implement performance measures to maintain framerate.

Does DI-Guy work with DIS and HLA?
DI-Guy was designed from the ground up to support DIS and HLA. The soldier character has behavior specifically designed to support the Lifeform Entity State PDU. The DI-Guy API has helper functions for converting data from PDUs or from HLA RPR into standard DI-Guy commands. DI-Guy also has functions that simplify using it with VR-Link, MAK's product for DIS and HLA networking. We have developed the DI-Guy FOM, a set of extensions to the HLA RPR FOM that provides high-performance DI-Guy networking in HLA.

Does DI-Guy work with ModSAF/OneSAF/JSAF?
Yes. DI-Guy users can visualize OneSAF, DISAF, JSAF and other related simulations with DI-Guy enabled stealths and viewers. DI-Guy Scenario interoperates with OneSAF and its varients, as well as with MAK's VR-Forces and Lockheed-Martin's Export CGF.

What is the relationship between DI-Guy, DI-Guy AI, and DI-Guy Scenario?
All three products use the same core human simulation technology and are entirely compatible. DI-Guy operates through an API, the DI-Guy API, and is designed to be embedded in user applications. DI-Guy Scenario is a stand-alone that is operated through a graphical user interface, allowing users to create scenarios working directly in the 3D terrain model. Scenarios created in DI-Guy Scenario can be loaded and run by DI-Guy embedded within your applications. DI-Guy AI is a module that runs on top of both DI-Guy Scenario and DI-Guy AI.

How many characters come with DI-Guy?
DI-Guy Scenario comes with hundreds of distinct, unique human characters, including soldiers, landing signal officers, plane captains, first responders equipped with gas masks and MOPP gear, and male and female civilians who walk, jog, portray hostages, or gather around having a conversation. DI-Guy Scenario uses industry standard Collada and OpenFlight® models, so you can modify existing characters or create your own. Our DI-Guy team stands ready to build new characters to your specifications, if you desire. DI-Guy also comes with hundreds of vehicle models, animal models, and props.

Can I add and modify models?
Yes. DI-Guy includes instructions and guidelines for adding your own Collada and OpenFlight models for humans, vehicles, and props.. You can also modify models that come with DI-Guy.

Can I add and modify motions?
Yes. Use the DI-Guy Motion Editor to modify existing DI-Guy motions, animate new motions, or import from external motion applications or mocap sessions.

Can I directly update DI-Guy's joint angles in real time?
Yes. DI-Guy includes function calls to modify or set the joint angles of the models.

Can DI-Guy give me reachability information?
No, DI-Guy is not an ergonomics package.

Does DI-Guy have inverse kinematics?
No, but DI-Guy Motion Editor lets you create new motions using IK.

How many polygons does a DI-Guy model have?
DI-Guy has several models for each character that range in detail from 2500 polygons down to 38 polygons. The software uses level-of-detail (LOD) switching to adjust the models to the viewing condition to optimize graphics performance. The user is free to assign the LOD for any character and thereby tailor performance for their application.

What is the difference between a Development License and a Runtime License?
A Development license allows the user to create new DI-Guy applications, including compiling and linking to the DI-Guy API and running the resulting programs. Once an application is created, a runtime license permits the user to run their application on additional computers. Runtime licenses cost less than full licenses, and volume discounts are available.

Is there Customer Support for DI-Guy?
Yes. Greg Kaufman is our support specialist and is ready 24/7 to help you with all your DI-Guy needs. We encourage our customers to purchase maintenance that includes enhanced telephone and email support as well as complete access to software upgrades. We also offer a range of engineering services including character creation, motion creation, scenario creation, integration support, and custom application and user interface support.

Where can I buy DI-Guy and DI-Guy Scenario?
Within the U.S., call us at 617-868-5600, or send email to sales@DiGuy.com. For international sales, please contact the reseller in your country, or send us an email.