Quantum3D is readying an OpenGL ES rendering engine for its human-machine interface (HMI) toolsuite. The IData ES engine lets engineers deploy real-time 3D interfaces such as moving maps and unmanned vehicle control applications on embedded devices such as Linux PDAs, cell phones, avionics devices, and vetronics (vehicle electrical, electronic, and computer) systems.

(Click for larger view of a moving map interface develped with IData)

Quantum3D's IData HMI tools target the VSST (visual and sensor simulation training) and EVC (embedded visual computing) markets, and the OpenGL ES rendering engine was announced at an AUVSI (Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International) event this week in Baltimore. According to Quantum3D, the engine enables low-cost devices such as Linux PDAs to run digital moving maps, command and control applications, mission planning and rehearsal, and unmanned vehicle control applications.

Quantum3D says IData ES “extracts maximum features and performance from the target platform,” enabling the same HMIs developed with the company's IData tools for desktop, workstation, or embedded RTOS environments to be deployed on highly embedded OpenGL ES environments with limited graphics capabilities, such as PDAs, cell phones, portable gaming devices, GPS systems, and other handheld systems.

IData modules compatible with IData ES include:

• 3D embedded realtime 3D scene manager
• MP digital map
• IData live video display

Quantum says its IData toolsuite is the first HMI tool to support OpenGL ES (embedded subset), a royalty-free embedded graphics API maintained by the Khronos Group, a member-funded industry promoting open standard, royalty-free APIs for dynamic media authoring and playback on a wide variety of platforms and devices. IData ES supports OpenGL ES 1.0 Common and Common Lite (fixed or floating point) profiles, as well as versions 1.1, 1.2, and the OpenGL ES Safety Critical 1.0 profile, the company says.

Quantum3D President Ross Q. Smith said, “Quantum3D is thrilled to be in the vanguard of efforts to deploy state-of-the-art tools that enable our customers to bring advanced visual computing technology to the front line for military and first responders.”

Availability

IData ES will become available in Q3, 2005, Quantum3D says, with support for embedded Linux, Windows CE, and other real-time operating systems.

 
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