Background
The US Air Force has selected Texas-based developer Virtuix for AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I funding to advance its Virtual Terrain Walk (VTW) platform for military mission planning and leader rehearsals. The award supports development of a capability the company describes as a new category of immersive mission-rehearsal technology.
How Virtual Terrain Walk works
VTW uses AI-driven 3D reconstruction to convert ordinary camera footage of real-world locations into photorealistic virtual replicas, reportedly within hours. Warfighters then enter those geo-specific environments in virtual reality and can physically walk, run, and maneuver across the terrain they expect to operate on. Unlike traditional mission-planning tools built around static maps, VTW lets personnel rehearse and familiarize themselves with battlefield conditions before deployment.
Hardware and software
The system pairs an immersive VR headset with Virtuix's Omni One omnidirectional treadmill, which allows users to move in any direction without physical boundaries. The platform is designed for collaborative use, supporting distributed teams during shared mission-planning and tactical decision-making sessions. Virtuix's locomotion technology is protected by a portfolio of US patents.
Adoption and outlook
The Phase I award builds on Virtuix's growing defense footprint. The company has reported sales and deployments across the US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, including Omni One units at the US Air Force Academy and the US Military Academy at West Point, and is leading development of a VR infantry training system for the US Marine Corps Training and Education Command. AFWERX SBIR awards offer a pathway to larger Phase II and Phase III contracts. Company leaders, quoted below, framed the selection as validation of rising demand for AI-enabled immersive training across the defense sector.
