DCS AI improvement.

[TED]

First - This is not intended to develop into a rant or unnecessary criticism but hopefully can remain a healthy objective discussion. 

 

So a genuine question and wish, I believe for many is a significant upgrade to the dcs ai. This really struck me lately, as I am predominantly playing sp, campaigns and liberation type play. I really enjoy the dynamic campaign route (another discussion in itself for another time!). I really enjoy this, however the frustration does remain at the very basic level of all ai elements. From wingmen to enemy ground forces. We all know their limitations, but I do feel this kills a lot of immersion and realism as they cannot effectively be used. 

This has driven me personally to dive more into bms, where i was immediately met with a far more effective ai in all aspects. I was very surprised by just how much more this adds to the whole experience and just what was actually possible. With atc able to direct me and even vector me for an ils, to complex instructions for my ai flight and enemy ai that acts in more realistic and even tactical ways. So I now know this is possible.

So how does dcs improve on this? For me it's the single most important thing dcs could implement now. There's no doubt ED has does some amazing things recently and continues to do I'm sure, but without well functioning ai much of these improvements and developments are somewhat wasted. 

I know a lot can be done in mission editor to enable ai to do more coordinated things, but this is extremely time consuming and complicated. Would it not be possible therefore, for ED to program some of this, linking it to better comms menus to trigger ai to act in new and better ways? A more comprehensive wingman/flight menu for example with many more commands and orders than currently exist? I am no expert in coding and programming but would it not be possible using the current framework to have ai react more realistically to a greater spectrum of triggers? 

I know much of this is probably being worked on and it would appear from various threads and polls that this has been ongoing for many years now without yet bearing real fruit. I guess the real question many of us want to know is what is the real progress status on this and how much longer will we have to wait to see these things start to happen? 

So how does all this happen and when? 

Edited March 22, 2024 by BIGNEWY
removed 1.15

[Silver_Dragon]

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ED search simulate the reality, no a game.

ED working on a Dynamic Campaign with the Dinamic Campaign team, from some years ago:

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Dynamic Campaign. Please read our Newsletter for 29 December 2023 where we discuss DCSDC in detail.

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DCS Dynamic Campaign (DCSDC) is one of the most important tasks for the future of DCS as it will add a new and much-demanded evolution/improvement of gameplay for both single player and multiplayer. Rather than mimic past solutions, we hope to set a new standard, one that provides a high level of interaction, authenticity, immersion, and ease-of-use. Our goal is to deliver a system that allows players to create their own dynamic (non-scripted) campaigns that will evolve based on strategic and tactical AI decisions, indirect player influences on AI actions, and direct player influences on the battlefield. This will all leverage existing DCS features such as Voice Chat, new ATC mechanisms, etc. This has been a tall order, and the effort has been underway since 2018 with a small but dedicated team.

Our focus in 2022 was on the creation and testing of General Air Operations tasks. In 2023, we shifted our DCSDC efforts to Ground Operations. This area will break new ground for dynamic campaigns and includes the following tasks:

The creation of a realistic road network system that is based on a new road editor system. This allows units to have appropriate road movement conditions that are tied to the logistics and supply network. This also integrates into the movement of ground unit formations.
A new ground unit formations editor was created that allows for the accurate assembly of units-based levels of command from platoon up to division, with all command levels in-between. Command structures vary based on the country and era, just like the real world and with correct terminology. Unit formations then operate realistically within their larger force structure based on tasking such as road march, meeting engagement, assault, defense, retreat, route, etc.
We addressed ground forces behavior once engaged. This was one of the biggest, most complex tasks. Much of this was dependent upon force tasking, support from neighboring forces, organization of frontline forces, logistics (munitions and fuel), and disposition of enemy forces.
To assist with these items, a new and improved path-finding mechanism was developed that considers both the terrain topography and restrictive zones within it. This allows more sensible routing of formations based on the terrain properties.

In addition to Ground Operations tasks, we continue to work on Air Operations related tasks. For instance, many airfields currently have too few parking spaces available for a large DC. We don’t want to be limited to such limited numbers for large scenarios. To address this, we have developed a new process to expand spawn points for aircraft.

Next, we will finalize ground tasking, increase the level of internal and external testing, and begin work on the important Graphic User Interface (GUI).

 

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Eagle Dynamics Dynamic Campaigns Engine (EDDCE)
2022 saw the completion of all major engineering components of the EDDCE. In 2023 we continue development and testing and making improvements to these components as well as adding new features where needed. We are also enhancing the mechanics in the campaign editor to avoid issues that may arise when the EDDCE is used for different maps. The next big tasks include transferring mission data between player and AI pilots and creating a specific graphic user interface. 

About AI, that making progress by the AI team on some aspects, as building a General Flight models and others behaviors.

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Unit AI Improvements
In 2022 we saw great improvements to the Beyond Visual Range (BVR) and Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) AI for our jet aircraft. Moving forward, we now intend to improve multi-ship BVR and Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) tactics and appropriate AI tactics for World War II aircraft.

For ground units, our primary AI tasks include improved pathing and implementing suppression effects for more than just infantry units.

General Flight Model (GFM) for AI Aircraft
Whilst the updated BFM AI can make a significant difference in how the AI flies, the General Flight Model (GFM) will provide improved flight dynamics for AI aircraft that better constrain the aircraft to true-to-life performance.

GFM is a significant improvement to the Standard Flight Model (SFM) that is based on drag and thrust characteristic trajectories. The SFM can provide a good Center of Gravity trajectory model, but it relies on reliable source data to tune the overall performance that includes the entire flight envelope, sustained and instantaneous turn rate, energy gain, etc.

GFM adds additional short-period aircraft movement by adding our base solid body, contact models and aerodynamic moments. This results in more realistic control displacements during maneuvers that provide more human-like appearances. With GFM, the AI will also encounter wake turbulence.

 

ED has added Multithreating and DLSS on 2023-24 and Vulkan has incoming, and other Graphical features...

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Vulkan for DCS

With the release of multi-threading and DLSS/FSR, the next big core DCS task is the support for the Vulkan Application Programing Interface (API). Multi-threading was a prerequisite to support the Vulkan API backend and enhance system performance/efficiency. 

Much of the Vulkan API work over the past several years has focused on adapting the DCS internal tools to seamlessly integrate with optimized functionality to ensure peak performance. This has been a challenging endeavor to rectify all validation errors, streamlining graphics and processing tasks, improving compatibility with Nvidia, AMD, and Intel hardware and a diverse set of drivers, and creating and refining the groundwork for rendering across multiple threads that will allow even more advanced graphic capabilities.

As we move into 2024, we continue to optimize and refine performance to exceed what is possible with DirectX 11. It is important that we continue to push graphic standards whilst maintaining excellent performance for both 2D, and even more so, VR. 

However, like multi-threading and DLSS/FSR, results will vary between players based on their hardware and settings. 

 

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Graphic Improvements.
In addition to the graphic improvements that the Vulkan API will afford, we will also be making improvements to the Render Graph for better VR performance, new and improved special effects, and further advancements in the FLIR rendering system.

AI ATC has now progress to improve:

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Air Traffic Control. Although we have a solid design to provide an exceptional ATC experience, much of the work in 2024 will involve how we generate the voice dialog and create a much-improved interface.

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Air Traffic Control (ATC)
2022 has focused on the continued development of the Supercarrier ATC system. Following its completion, the next focus will be to bring those advancements to airfields. This is certainly no simple task and will require three unique ATC systems for: western modern day, eastern modern day, and World War II.

A complete redesign of the modern day, western ATC system is underway. In parallel, modern day western radio communications for Flight, Other Flights, AWACS, and Tanker are also being revised.

 

And a long etc...

Edited March 22, 2024 by Silver_Dragon

[BIGNEWY]

26 minutes ago, TED said:

First - This is not intended to develop into a rant or unnecessary criticism but hopefully can remain a healthy objective discussion. 

 

So a genuine question and wish, I believe for many is a significant upgrade to the dcs ai. This really struck me lately, as I am predominantly playing sp, campaigns and liberation type play. I really enjoy the dynamic campaign route (another discussion in itself for another time!). I really enjoy this, however the frustration does remain at the very basic level of all ai elements. From wingmen to enemy ground forces. We all know their limitations, but I do feel this kills a lot of immersion and realism as they cannot effectively be used. 

This has driven me personally to dive more into bms, where i was immediately met with a far more effective ai in all aspects. I was very surprised by just how much more this adds to the whole experience and just what was actually possible. With atc able to direct me and even vector me for an ils, to complex instructions for my ai flight and enemy ai that acts in more realistic and even tactical ways. So I now know this is possible.

So how does dcs improve on this? For me it's the single most important thing dcs could implement now. There's no doubt ED has does some amazing things recently and continues to do I'm sure, but without well functioning ai much of these improvements and developments are somewhat wasted. 

I know a lot can be done in mission editor to enable ai to do more coordinated things, but this is extremely time consuming and complicated. Would it not be possible therefore, for ED to program some of this, linking it to better comms menus to trigger ai to act in new and better ways? A more comprehensive wingman/flight menu for example with many more commands and orders than currently exist? I am no expert in coding and programming but would it not be possible using the current framework to have ai react more realistically to a greater spectrum of triggers? 

I know much of this is probably being worked on and it would appear from various threads and polls that this has been ongoing for many years now without yet bearing real fruit. I guess the real question many of us want to know is what is the real progress status on this and how much longer will we have to wait to see these things start to happen? 

So how does all this happen and when? 

 

Hi Ted, 

first of all thank you for the feedback, I have edited your post as the last part broke our 1.15 rule. 

Regarding AI, we are constantly working to improve, we have many options that can be used with them and this of course increases the complexity of development. We are already working on GFM ( General Flight Model ) improvements and will share more news when we are ready to. And our ground unit AI is also being tweaked and adapted as new features are required or bug fixes are made. 

Work on the dynamic campaign will also bring changes to AI and how they behave on the battlefield. 

It is a constant process and it may seem like it never ends, the truth is it is something we will always be tweaking as new technologies are used and DCS progresses. 

I hope we can share more news in a future newsletter. 

best regards

bignewy

[TED]

My apologies for missing the rule break. Thanks for editing out the bits that were in breach. 

I've been following the news letters and good to see the progress. I hope the post didn't come across as negative. Definitely not the intention. I very much appreciate and enjoy dcs and will continue to do so and support. 

Very pleased to hear there are tweaks in progress. One of the main things that got me thinking about it really was the usage of mission editor and the possibilities of already using that to integrate ai into mission play? Personally I actually really like the current ME format and find it very user friendly, so is there possibility for interim options there with the developers to "build in" ai functionality using that and expanding the current ai commands via comms menu? For example the wingman tactical commands to perhaps command a speed to prevent them excessively burning fuel trying to get into formation, or to drop tanks, status updates, attack profiles etc? 

[BIGNEWY]

15 minutes ago, TED said:

My apologies for missing the rule break. Thanks for editing out the bits that were in breach. 

I've been following the news letters and good to see the progress. I hope the post didn't come across as negative. Definitely not the intention. I very much appreciate and enjoy dcs and will continue to do so and support. 

Very pleased to hear there are tweaks in progress. One of the main things that got me thinking about it really was the usage of mission editor and the possibilities of already using that to integrate ai into mission play? Personally I actually really like the current ME format and find it very user friendly, so is there possibility for interim options there with the developers to "build in" ai functionality using that and expanding the current ai commands via comms menu? For example the wingman tactical commands to perhaps command a speed to prevent them excessively burning fuel trying to get into formation, or to drop tanks, status updates, attack profiles etc? 

please do not worry at all, we welcome all feedback as long as it it constructive which yours is. 

regarding AI commands while in flight with wingmen that would all have to be done via the radio menu, there is certainly room for improvement there, I can mention it to the team, but can not make any promises regarding requested items.