Ford Motor Upgrades VIRTTEX Driving Simulator With Quantum3D Independence IG Solution

Independence Upgrade Provides Enhanced Performance, Image Quality, and Special Effects While Employing More Open Standard Technologies

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, April 26 -- Quantum3D(R), Inc., a leading provider of COTS, open-architecture, realtime visual computing solutions for the Visual and Sensor Simulation Training (VSST) and Embedded Visual Computing (EVC) markets announced today at ITEC that Ford Motor Company has upgraded the image generator in its VIRtual Test Track EXperiment (VIRTTEX) Driving Simulator at Ford Research Laboratories in Dearborn, Michigan to an Independence(TM) 2500 IG Solution. Previously, Ford had employed AAlchemy(R), a prior generation Quantum3D IG Solution. Independence 2500 is on display at the Quantum3D ITEC Stand No. D17.

Ford selected Independence as part of a comprehensive visual system upgrade for the VIRTTEX Simulator, which is used by Ford engineers to assist in automobile design, safety analysis, performance analysis, and human factors research. The Independence(TM) 2500 IG Solution features NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R)FX 4000 Graphics Subsystems configured in a unique System Level Parallel Rendering Architecture that provides enhanced performance on complex scenes and enables Ford to take advantage of the system's advanced features including anisotropic filtering for more realistic road surfaces, shader-based rendering for enhanced lighting effects, and Boston Dynamics DI-Guy(TM) for realistic human simulation. In addition, the upgrade provides Ford with the opportunity to enhance VIRTTEX system's use of open standards, including the Common IG Interface (CIGI) standard for host interfaces and gigabit ethernet. Previously, Ford used a proprietary host protocol and reflective memory interfaces. As part of its upgrade to Independence, Ford is also migrating from SoftIG(TM) to Mantis(TM), Quantum3D's state-of-the-art realtime scene management software suite that provides industry-leading performance and features with optimum efficiency for outstanding image quality and sustained 60 Hz frame rate performance.

"Ford VIRTTEX has been a showcase customer for Quantum3D since the early days of AAlchemy. We are very pleased that Ford has continued to rely on Quantum3D solutions for its critical R&D," said Ross Q. Smith, Quantum3D co-founder and president. "By moving to Independence, Ford will be able to conduct more detailed and precise virtual environment experiments that will benefit the driving public while saving on the expense and danger of test track experimentation. VIRTTEX is a great example of how visual simulation can help saves lives while also helping companies improve their ROI."

About Quantum3D

Quantum3D develops and markets realtime, open architecture IG solutions, embedded graphics subsystems, development software and support services for the VSST and EVC markets and is the exclusive supplier of NVIDIA(R) graphics technology for the embedded military and aerospace visual computing market. Quantum3D is a privately held company headquartered in San Jose, CA, with development centers located in Phoenix, AZ, Huntsville, AL, and Orlando, FL. For more information about Quantum3D and the Quantum3D family of COTS, open-architecture, realtime visual computing solutions, please see www.quantum3d.com.

NOTE: Quantum3D, AAlchemy and Independence are registered trademarks and SoftIG and Mantis are trademarks of Quantum3D, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.