Extending DIS for individual combatants

The domain of DIS (distributed interactive simulation) military training simulators has recently been expanding to the level of individual combatants. After gaining some experience with an individual-level simulator, we have identified several areas of the DIS protocol that need to be expanded or changed to accommodate individual humans. In the entity state Protocol Data Unit (PDU), some information in the entity type and appearance fields should be replaced with detailed upper body, limb and weapon position information. An intelligent human figure animation algorithm should be used to dead reckon the lower body. Weapons and other objects should gain status independent of the entity through the use of a modification of the destructible entity protocol. Finally, the Fire PDU should indicate the scatter pattern and direction vector of a burst.<>