Virtuality Roadmap
April 2024 Update
The previous version of the DTL system has been re-branded DTL Free and is available on Gumroad. DTL Pro has since been developed and will be sold on Gumroad. DTL Pro introduces an entirely new way of rebuilding the skeleton so that the converted figure is 100% Unreal Engine compatible. For more details, please see the DTL page.
February 2023 Update
The DTL system is finally ready for release. For more details, please see the DTL page.
September 2022 Update
The Digital Actor project has evolved into a character conversion system that optimises Daz3D character for animation in Unreal Engine 5. The system is a scripted export process spanning three applications (Daz3D, Maya and Unreal Engine). The exported characters, once imported into Unreal Engine, are optimised for animation and use simple neural networks (Radial Basis Function driven Posedrivers) to maintain body shape during animation. For more details, please see the 'Digital Actor' page.
March 2022 Update
During the course of development of V2V a highly configurable digital actor has been produced. The digital actor is a heavily customised Daz3D character that has been imported into Unreal Engine via a custom pipeline developed over the last year. A highly accurate foot IK system has been developed that allows for any animation sequence to be played on rough ground, slopes, stairs and other uneven surfaces. A custom, full body IK system for animating avatars in VR has also been produced. Facial blendshapes can be programatically controlled via the UE blueprint to allow a range of emotional expressions. Custom 'look at' funtionality has also been implemented, thus producing a fully controllable digital actor that can be used for compelling VR experiences, games and cinematic shorts (aka cut-scenes). Please see the 'Digital Actor' page for more details.
December 2021 Update
A working alpha version of V2V has been produced. Three point avatar animation / locomotion has been implemented and multi-user tests have been performed on a local network. A variety of virtual environments designed to showcase V2V's use cases are in various stages of production. A public release of the open source beta version is expected during Q3 of 2022.
February 2021 Update
Having been let down by two different foreign agencies to do the programming work for V2V, the decision to learn Unreal Engine in-house has been taken. Unreal Engine is large, complicated software, so it is anticipated that a period of at least one year will be required to achieve a working version of V2V.
December 2020 Update
Extensive research into the neural network and other animations systems currently available has been completed. It has been found that the neural network based animation systems are not yet ready for production. As a result, Virtuality is shifting focus for generating income whilst the neural network technology makes the transition from acedemia to commercialisation.
Next project announcement: Virtuallity is to build a VR based, peer-to-peer meeting hosting application on the Unreal Engine platform. The project description and design brief can be found here
July 2020 Update
The dance studio Virtuality was previously using has been rented, renovated and upgraded. The studio is now a permanent fixture.
December 2019 Update
The first shoot for creating the first animation software package has been completed. The data cleaning, solving and retargetting has also been completed. The data has been used to create a software package for the Motion Matching For Unity animation system. Unfortunately, issues with the motion capture data prevented the final result from being saleable.
November 2019 Update
Recent developments in the 3D character animation industry have been factored into Virtuality's mission. A Motion Matching system has been made available on the Unity assets store, and Unity themselves have announced a release date for the alpha version of Kinematica, a system that uses both Motion Matching and neural networks to animate characters.
As a result of the two above developments, we are now concentrating entirely on leveraging the company's motion capture system to create animation sofware packages suitable for use by Motion Matching systems and for training neural networks used by systems like Kinematica.
May 2019 Update
Following government agencies approval, David Wooldridge (MD) has been granted a SMART Visa (type S), enabling him to live and work unhindered in Thailand for the next two years.
The initial R&D phase of the proposed project can now commence...
Planned Projects
Virtuality plans to engage in the following projects:
- Create a VR based, peer-to-peer meeting hosting application on the Unreal Engine platform (V2V project)
- Set up a 50-camera motion capture studio ✓
- Create digital assets for sale within games development platforms
- Research neural network and motion matching systems for driving 3D character animation ✓
- Create educational virtual reality experiences (details to be decided)
- Provide training and opportunity for Thai nationals (details to be decided)
- Provide facilities for educational purposes (details to be decided)
Current Situation
The following tasks are ongoing:
- Re-commencing work on the V2V Virtual Reality meeting application
- Investigating the sales potential for the recently completed Digital Actors project
Developing high quality digital actors for use in Unreal Engine projectsLearning Unreal Engine and associated technologies to enable future in-house development of future projectsRecruiting online developer for V2V project (unable to find competent agency)Producing animation dataset for Motion Matching For Unity animation system (shelved)Research and develop optimal animation data format for next generation animation systems (complete)Continuing research on Neural Network solution for character animation controlSearching for land suitable for building studio that fits BOI requirements (none found at current location)Gathering information and preparing accounts to fix mistakes made by previous accountantProduce a set of promotional female animations (not allowed under BOI conditions)Temporally install motion capture system in local dance studio (complete)Undertake trip to Bangkok to meet with BOI to discuss studio build requirementsWaiting for result of second SMART Visa type 'S' applicationWaiting for application for permission to build a studio from the BOI (denied)- Waiting for refund of import duty on motion capture equipment
Waiting for delivery of Qualisys motion capture systemLooking for accountant in Surat Thani capable of handling BOI accounting (None found in Surat Thani)Waiting for result of SMART Visa type 'S' application (denied)Looking for a shipping agent trained in the use of the eMT systemWaiting for completion of company setup (Tax registration)Waiting for completion of company setup (Foreign Business Certificate)Waiting for completion of company setup (Create and register company)Looking for law firm to set up BOI company (None found in Surat Thani)Waiting for project approval from the BOIPreparing application for BOI approval of project (Started September 2017)