Working with TruTargets
- David Organista
TruTargets are realistic 3D-simulated people built into DART MAX. Each TruTarget can perform complex actions such as moving, shooting, and reacting to the trainee's actions, allowing trainees to interact with a variety of lifelike characters. Unlike flat targets and reactive targets, TruTargets can be assigned realistic human-like qualities and functions, such as hand equipment and facial expressions. This customization ensures that each training session is unique and tailored to the specific needs of The trainees.
Using TruTarget Zones
Start by going to the library, clicking on the “TruTargets” folder, and selecting a TruTarget of your choice. Drag and drop the TruTarget from the library into the viewport. I will use the “Brian” TruTarget.
All TruTargets come with 6 different built-in body zones that can be set up to react to shots differently. For each zone, you can assign how many shots it takes for the TruTarget to appear wounded and also how many shots it takes for it to appear dead. These number of shots to the corresponding zones will trigger a default animation of being wounded and dying respectively.
By default, TruTargets representing adults have these zones configurations:
Head and Neck: Hits To Wound: 0. Hits To Kill: 1.
Chest: Hits To Wound: 1. Hits To Kill: 2.
Abdomen: Hits To Wound: 1. Hits To Kill: 2.
Pelvis: Hits To Wound: 0. Hits To Kill: 1.
Arms: Hits To Wound: 1. Hits To Kill 0.
Legs: Hits To Wound: 1. Hits To Kill 0.
TruTargets representing youth have these zones configurations:
Head and Neck: Hits To Wound: 0. Hits To Kill: 1.
Chest: Hits To Wound: 0. Hits To Kill: 1.
Abdomen: Hits To Wound: 0. Hits To Kill: 1.
Pelvis: Hits To Wound: 0. Hits To Kill: 1.
Arms: Hits To Wound: 1. Hits To Kill 0.
Legs: Hits To Wound: 1. Hits To Kill 0.
Additionally, shooting the TruTargets at different zones will by default produce different audio. You can customize both the default number of hits and the default audio respectively. Click and drag on the hit boxes to adjust the number within them or type the desired number of hits within the box. For audio, click on the “Load Audio” box to find or replace the audio.
Press the “Alt” key and click on the viewport to preview shots.
Adding Waypoints
To make the TruTarget walk across our view, first, click on the motion button in the tool bar to activate the waypoints. Click on the white cross at the end of the path to add a new waypoint.
While in motion mode, adjust the waypoints' positions with the directional arrows by toggling them in the tool bar. Adjust the travel time from waypoint to waypoint from the ”travel Time” box in the control panel.
To make the TruTarget travel to the direction you want, go back to settings mode by clicking on the settings button in the tool bar. Here, click on the rotational transform icon to make the rotational controls visible within the selected TruTarget.
Then, rotate the TruTarget so that it travels in the direction where you want it to go. I rotated my TruTarget so that it travels from left to right (Rotate Z to -90° in object transform).
Finally, in order to make the TruTarget face the direction it’s traveling, go back to motion mode, go to object transform within the side panel and make sure that “Rotate Z” is set at 0 for each waypoint. You can toggle between waypoints by clicking on the “select Waypoint” arrows in the control panel. Preview the motion.
Adding Hand Equipment & Handling
You can make your TruTarget carry a variety of items including a pistol. rifle, knife, phone, or flashlight. Keeping the waypoints we made previously, and making sure our TruTarget is selected in motion mode, click on the “Hand/Equipment” box within the control panel and select an item for your TruTarget to carry. By default, this option is set to “Empty.” I have selected the “Rilfe” option.
Since we have assigned our TruTarget to carry an item for just 1 waypoint, the TruTarget will discard the item when in the other waypoints. To make sure it keeps the item, select the same item for all waypoints and go to preview. You should see your TruTarget walking with the item you chose for all waypoints.
To assign how to use the item, you can choose between the options given within the “Actions” box from the control panel. By Default, the TruTarget will simply hold the item until it reaches a waypoint with a different hand/equipment. This is labeled by the “Hold” option.
To assign an action with the item, click on the actions box and select an option according to the item you chose. For example, for the rifle item, I could make the TruTarget hold it ('Hold'), Aim with it ('Aim'), shoot twice with it ('Shoot' (2)), 4 times ('Shoot' (4)), or 8 times ('Shoot' (8)). select an option according to your item and go to preview. You should see your TruTarget walking and using the item you chose.
Adding Motion Animation & Facial Expressions
If you want to add an additional motion or pose, you could do so within the “Motions” box in the control panel. Here, you have the option to make your TruTarget stand (default), crouch, appear wounded, surrender while standing, surrender by kneeling, appear to be killed, or have a conversation.
Note that some of these motions will stop your TruTarget from reaching its next waypoint. For example, when your TruTarget reaches a waypoint with “Surrender Standing”, it will drop its item, stand still, and raise its arms, all without going to the next waypoint.
Finally, you can add a facial expression to your TruTarget for 1 or all waypoints. Click on the “Expressions” box within the control panel and select an option of different emotional states. You can choose from “Normal” (default), “Happy”, “Sad”, “Angry”, “Fear”, and “Surprise.”
I have chosen for my TruTarget to surrender while standing when it reaches the last waypoint and for it to be surprised when it does.
To achieve similar results, you can go to the first waypoint and set the motion to standing so that it walks to the next waypoint. Next, set the expression to normal so that its expression stays neutral until it reaches the next waypoint. Go to the next/last waypoint, select a surrender motion and change its expression.
Go to preview when you are satisfied with your selections.
