Virtuix Inc., a developer of full-body virtual reality systems, has announced the integration of AI-driven Gaussian splatting technology into its Virtual Terrain Walk system for defense sector training and simulation. This AI-based 3D reconstruction technique transforms real-world environments captured with 360-degree cameras into photorealistic, navigable 3D worlds in hours rather than months, creating immersive battlefield simulations that enhance military readiness.
The Virtual Terrain Walk system combines Virtuix's omni-directional treadmills with Gaussian splatting technology to enable commanders and units to physically walk through geo-specific terrain for mission planning, reconnaissance, and leader rehearsals. Users can walk in 360 degrees without boundaries to familiarize themselves with battlespaces, identify key areas, determine kill zones, place weapons, and mark routes. Virtuix demonstrated this capability in this video, showing how mission areas can be recreated virtually in a fraction of the time typically required.
Jan Goetgeluk, Chief Executive Officer of Virtuix, emphasized the significance of this advancement, stating that creating realistic virtual environments has historically been a slow and labor-intensive process. The integration of AI-driven Gaussian splatting allows the company to scan real-world locations and quickly transform them into photorealistic virtual spaces that warfighters can physically explore, enhancing readiness through immersive simulation.
The system supports collaboration across more than 12 stations locally or across geographies for multi-user mission planning and rehearsals. Conditions can be adjusted, and enemy forces can be layered into simulations to create realistic combat scenarios. Jay Miseli, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, noted that the ability to iterate through scenarios and understand how environmental changes affect outcomes can significantly reduce potential errors on the modern battlefield.
Virtuix has already sold test units to Yokota Air Force Base, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The company demonstrated VTW's capabilities at I/ITSEC, the world's largest annual modeling, simulation, and training conference, alongside partners Cesium and HTC. The demonstration illustrated how AI-based terrain reconstruction combines with geospatial data and immersive VR hardware to support large geo-specific, physically navigable virtual environments.
Beyond defense applications, Virtuix sees opportunities for AI-driven Gaussian splatting in industrial and safety training, real estate visualization, and law enforcement. The company also plans to incorporate the technology into its Omni One at-home gaming system, which has driven a 138% increase in sales since its official launch in late 2024. The Omni One VR treadmill provides fully immersive experiences where players physically move through virtual worlds while burning calories and staying fit.
Virtuix views the integration of AI-driven Gaussian splatting with its omni-directional treadmills as a core element of its long-term growth strategy. The company intends to complement potentially high-volume consumer sales of its Omni One gaming system with high-margin enterprise and defense opportunities, including recurring revenues from software licensing and customized simulation development. Goetgeluk stated that AI-driven 3D reconstruction technologies like Gaussian splatting are foundational to the future of virtual reality, with potential to deliver the full promise of VR across entertainment, enterprise, and defense applications.
