The latest version of AI.implant (version 5.5) adds a new capability to help manage the large amounts of data that can be produced by Terra Vista with the introduction of navigation context runtime streaming. Working in conjunction with the terrain tiles and multi-edge meta-connections, streaming allows tiles to be loaded or unloaded from memory during the simulation. Once loaded, each tile is dynamically stitched with the neighboring tiles for smooth transitions between all areas of the terrain database. Following the typical flexibility of AI.implant, tile management can be handled automatically by the simulation engine or can be done through the API for complete control. It also allows users to manually create a streamed area through the AI.DE user interface or by selecting a simple option in the Terra Vista output compiler.
When leaving streaming management to AI.implant, tiles are loaded or unloaded based on the presence of characters on the tiles or in proximity of these areas, as determined by user-configurable parameters. It is also possible to specify if tiles should be unloaded once all characters have left the area and to choose if tiles should be streamed inline during the simulation or as a background task. In the end, this new feature will enable users to create high-fidelity characters that navigate large environments while still leaving breathing room on their computing resources.
Streamed areas is only one of many new features available in AI.implant 5.5 and I will explore more of them in an upcoming article.
