At the time this brochure was published (1992), the current high-end systems of the day were Crimson and SkyWriter. Later, Onyx was released along with RealityEngine2, etc. See the main SGI index for further information, eg. RealityEngine in Visual Simulation (Technical Overview) and the original brochure for IRIS Crimson.

RealityEngine

Host Integrated Computer Image Generator

RealityEngine sets a new standard of price/performance for low cost image generation. Combining high performance, exceptional image quality, real-time host capability and a highly flexible development environment. RealityEngine leads the way in the next generation of low cost visual systems.

Image Quality

RealityEngine supports full screen, sub-sampled anti-aliasing at high frame rates. Combining this with a 32 bit Z buffer ensures complete hidden surface removal. This not only produces exceptional image equality, but enables unrestricted database design and freedom of moving model control. Directional light shading and full color smooth shading enable textured scenes of remarkable realism. Image quality is exceptional for low light and sensor simulation with provision of 12 bit per component color capability.

Performance

RealityEngine is designed to meet the challenging performance requirements of image generation. The highly optimized architecture is tuned to generate high quality, anti-aliased, textured images at a selectable range of fixed frame rates in a multichannel configuration. RealityEngine, with the IRIS Performer simulation software, implements object processing, load control and performance streamlining. RealityEngine generates up to 7000 textured antialiased polygons per pipeline at 30Hz, resulting in scenes with high depth complexity and detail, new to this class of low-cost visual system.

Texture Capabilities

RealityEngine is a system designed to excel in texture capability. Size, efficiency, capacity, performance, configurability and quality arc the key texture features of RealityEngine. A standard 4MB of on-line texture memory enables up to 380 simultaneous on-line 128 x 128 mip-mapped textures. The texture memory can be re-mapped under software control and supports a maximum 1024 x 1024 texel map size. All textures can be mapped with R,G,B and Alpha components, with up to 48 bits per texel, providing true photomap texture capability. The system is tuned to process trilinear mip-mapped anti-aliased textured pixels at peak performance. This ensures smoothly anti-aliased, realistic images regardless of eyepoint orientation. Enhanced speed and distance cues are provided by the use of new texture functions such as DetailTexture and SharpTexture.

Exceptional image quality, real-time performance, multiprocessor host capability and an open architecture makes RealityEngine the cost effective choice for low-cost image generation applications.

Image generators are typically designed to perform to a rigid specification. It is natural, however, for requirements to change over time. This presents a need to evolve the system beyond the initial installation. With conventional image generation systems this can often be difficult. RealityEngine provides the solution. With a hardware subsystem and software development environment designed for image generation, RealityEngine provides access to real-time visual system technology that is fully extensible.

(image courtesy of Hughes Training Inc.)

Highly Flexible Environment

RealityEngine is highly configurable. Channels can be organized to efficiently meet visual requirements, ensuring the lowest cost and highest performance. The system is configurable not only prior to but also following installation. Supporting up to 4 high resolution (1280 x 1024) outputs with independent eyepoints and a display output of 372K to 5.2 million displayable textured, pixels, the system can be configured to drive 1 to 12 channels from a single system chassis. Display line rates are fully definable, either from a set of standard line formats or as user defined custom outputs.

(image courtesy of Paradigm Simulation)

Host Functionality

RealityEngine is not only an image generator but also can address the host functions of the simulation. The multi-processor RISC CPU subsystem and real-time operating system offer a computation environment that can address the vehicle dynamics, data acquisition and system control functions normally handled by a separate computer. The HI-CIG (Host Integrated Computer Image Generator) approach minimizes integration, support and connectivity issues ensuring a more cost effective approach and reducing system build time.

A wide variety of third-party simulation packages are available for RealityEngine enabling rapid, flexible solutions to simulation applications.

IRIS Performer provides high performance, rapid development, rich functionality and future portability. It consists of a rapid rendering library, image generation environment and a number of sample simulation applications. IRIS Performer maximizes throughput using multiprocessor task partitioning, efficient database traversal and highly optimized graphics rendering. It provides dcterministic, real-time control of the visual system without the constraints imposed by traditionally rigid image generation system design.

Special Effects Development and Control

Special effects have become an increasingly important element of visual systems. IRIS Performer provides the ability to access and define a range of unique special effects. Many visual effects can be difficult to implement due to their reliance on underlying hardware or microcode. IRIS Performer provides easy access to functions such as point lights and weather effects. Because IRIS Performer permits access to the full functionality of the graphics subsystem it is also possible to integrate additional custom developed effects for specific requirements.

(image courtesy of Software Systems, Inc.)

Database Modeling - In Control of Your Own World

IRIS Performer loads databases in a predefined format for real-time processing and display. IRIS Performer can be configured to access different database formats (MultiGen database format is standard). Using third party software, modelling can he performed on the same system as the image generation, making RealityEngine highly cost efficient. This enables the user to develop and modify database files quickly, immediately seeing the changes reflected in the visual system, reducing development times and costs.

Applications

Flight Simulation

The ability to configure low cost multi-channel configurations with high update rates, quality anti-aliased point lights, weather and atmospheric capabilities, makes RealityEngine an attractive choice for low cost flight simulation image generator applications.

Maritime Applications

RealityEngine is highly cost effective for multi-channel configurations making it ideal for marine simulation. The system's ability to handle complex special effects also enables the solution of challenging but important cues such as sea state simulation.

Space Applications

In space, unique special effects are required, such as reflection mapping, accurate lighting and shadows. RealityEngine provides these with the ability to extend the system capabilities to address future requirements.

Ground Based Simulation

Low cost, high performance, configurability and inter-system network capabilities make RealityEngine ideal for ground based team training environments. Silicon Graphics also provides systems for solutions in the host, modelling, planning and debrief applications.

Driving Simulation

Extensive texture capability and dynamic scene management makes RealityEngine suitable for driving simulation applications. Reconfigurable line rates and multiple channel capability also make the installation highly flexible.

Virtual Reality

As simulation is used more extensively for interactive real-time visualization across the range of market segments, RealityEngine provides the realism, interactivity, and price-performance that is required to address this blend of visualization and simulation.

Features

3D Texture

This advanced and highly flexible feature can be used to address a series of complex special effects. Texel values are defined in a 3 dimensional coordinate system. Textures are then extracted from this volume by defining a 3D plane that intersects it. The resulting texture that is applied to the surface is thus the intersection between the volume and the plane. The orientation of the plane is completely user definable.

One example of how 3D Texture could be used is in implementing an animated texture sequence. The texture volume would be defined as a series of consecutive images, making up the animation. The volume is then intersected in the direction of the arrow, extracting each animation frame in sequence. Automatic blending between consecutive images ensures smooth animation.

Detail Texture

In order to enhance speed and distance cues when close to a surface, DetailTexture automatically blends in a predefined texture to existing textured polygons. This secondary texture is user defined and can be full color. An extension to this function is SharpTexture, that automatically sharpens the texture edges when the eyepoint is close-to, providing greatly improved image definition without the use of higher resolution textures.

Projected Texture

RealityEngine supports 3D texture projection. The ability to project textures in 3D space enables a number of useful special effects: Steerable spotlights of definable lobe shape, shadow projection onto 3D surfaces and environmental reflection onto textured surfaces are just a few examples.

Specifications

• A flexible image generation system for low cost flight, ground, space, maritime and virtual reality applications

  
  

• 1 to 4 hi-resolution (1280 x 1024) outputs/system

• Up to 12 independent channels per system with individual eyepoints

• Up to 320 million anti-aliased, trilinear mip-map textured, Z buffered pixels per second fill rate per graphics pipeline

• Up to 5.2 million displayable pixels per system

• User definable display line rates

• Separate NTSC or PAL composite video output standard

  
  

• Up to 32-bit Z-buffer - fully integrated with anti-aliasing

• Coplanar surface support

• Texture decal support

  
  

• Over 7000 polygons/pipeline @ 30 Hz

• Polygons textured, anti-aliased and Z-buffered

  
  

• Photomap texture

• 4MB texture capacity standard

• Programmable texture map sizes from 2 x 2 to 1024 x 1024 texels

• Trilinear mip-map capability

• 3D texture

• DetailTexture

• SharpTexture

• Up to 380 128 x 128 mip-mapped textures

• From 4 to 48 bits per texel

• Lighting and smooth shading blended with texture

• Dynamic texture projection

• Environment mapped texture

  
  

• Up to 16 sub-sample anti-aliasing

• 8 or 12-bits per color component

• Lighting, shading, reflection, Z-buffering, anti-aliasing and translucency all combinable on same surface

  
  

• Database traversal, culling and rendering

• Fade level of detail

• Overload management

• Frame rate control

  
  

• Height above terrain

• Collision detection

• Range finding

• Line of sight

  
  

• Environment mapping

• Steerable landing light lobes

• Shadow casting

• Texture animation

• Articulation and geometry animation

• Horizon glow

• Support for extended special effects

• Directional Shading and Lighting

• 8 Configurable light sources, material properties control

• Full color interpolation on surfaces

• Lighting functions definable: ambience, diffusion, specularity, shininess, emissivity, position and color

  
  

• > 100 simultaneous moving models (6 DOF)

• All models Z-buffered and anti-aliased at sub-pixel level

  
  

• Fog, haze, clouds

• Tunable fog functions

• Time of day

  
  

• 83ms @ 30 Hz update and 60 Hz refresh

  
  

• Standard 21" multisync monitor

• Digital video capability

• Selectable display resolutions from VGA to HDTV

• Genlock

• Separate composite video output standard

• Custom line rates

  
  

• Up to 4096 levels of translucency

• Alpha to coverage function allows translucency, Z-buffering and anti-aliasing simultaneously

  
  

• IRIS Performer: Simulation development library enables flexible and rapid application development

• Debug and performance tuning tools

• Multi-processing tools

  
  

• Raster-based light point support

• Brightness and size vary with distance

• Independent lightpoint fog control

• 3:1 trade off with polygons

• Directional lights

• Strobes, beacons, flashing and rotating lights

  
  

• Up to 8 multi-processing RISC CPUs

• 30 - 286 MIPS and 5 - 70 Mflops [this will be for the R3000]

• REACT real-time system kernel

• Interrupt latency of < 200 microseconds

• 4 to 6 VME slots

• High speed disk and peripheral I/O support

• Up to 256 MB of system memory

• ADA language support

• Secure O/S - Trusted IRIX (Security level B1) available

  
  

• Multiple color maps enable support for different sensor types

• Custom outputs configurable to suit display device

  
  

• Optional digital audio board

• Programmable audio library

  
  

For more information please call:

U.S. 1 800 800 SGI 1 (7441)
U.K. 0 800 440 440
Australia 008 802 677

Corporate Office

2011 N. Shoreline Boulevard
Mountain View, CA 94043
(415) 960-1980

Copyright 1992 Silicon Graphics, Inc. All rights reserved. Silicon Graphics, IRIS and the Silicon Graphics logo are registered trademarks, and RealityEngine and IRIS Performer are trademarks of Silicon Graphics, Inc. MultiGen is a registered trademark of Software Systems Inc. Specifications are subject to change without notice.