Marching In Place: Virtuix’s Omni Mission Trainer Preps Soldiers in Mixed Reality

In Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality News

March 20, 2025 – Virtuix, the developer of the ‘Omni One’ full-body virtual reality (VR) treadmill, has this week revealed the ‘Omni Mission Trainer’ (OMT), a mixed reality (MR) training system consisting of multiple omni-directional treadmills that lets soldiers move physically—walking, running, jumping, and kneeling—without boundaries inside a fully immersive, 360-degree VR environment.

According to Virtuix, OMT can support up to 15 soldiers, enabling team-based training in digital recreations of real-world environments. With OMT, dismounted soldiers, including infantry and special forces, can train together virtually for a range of tactical scenarios, including active shooter responses, mission rehearsal, and move-shoot-communicate drills. 

The system also features an After-Action Review (AAR) tool that allows soldiers and instructors to analyze performance and refine strategies in real-time.

OMT combines Virtuix’s patented omni-directional treadmills with blue-screen technology, surrounding each soldier on an Omni One treadmill with a 360-degree blue screen. When looking through a mixed reality headset, the blue screen disappears and is replaced by a virtual landscape, while the soldier’s hands and other non-blue objects (weapons, equipment) remain visible as in real-life. This allows soldiers to operate inside virtual environments while seeing and using the physical weapons, gear, and equipment that they are holding.

“OMT lets soldiers train as they fight, with full freedom of movement using their authentic equipment, providing a level of operational realism that’s unmatched by any existing virtual training systems,” said Jan Goetgeluk, CEO of Virtuix. “The OMT system provides cost-effective alternatives to live training, enhances training efficiency, and improves the combat readiness of our warfighters.” 

Virtuix stated that OMT is currently functional with a surrogate M4 rifle that looks and feels the same as an actual M4, using electric recoil. The company added that development is underway for M17/18 surrogates, and that additional equipment can be integrated upon request.

Furthermore, Virtuix stated that it is working with partner Haptech to develop drop-in kits that can be used to modify a soldier’s own assigned weapon. These drop-in kits provide sensors for tracking as well as electric recoil, and allow military members to use their own assigned weapons for more realistic training.

The OMT platform can integrate with existing DoD simulation and training systems, including Unity and Unreal Engine. However, VBS is not currently supported. Virtuix also noted that the OMT system utilizes the Varjo XR-4 Secure edition MR headset to ensure full TAA compliance. Additionally, the company noted that OMT has no online connectivity requirements, and can operate without an  internet connection, making it suited to high-security situations and closed-loop network environments.

Virtuix stated that it is currently working with YokoWERX, an innovation cell of the U.S. Air Force, which has already purchased two single-user OMT stations.

“The OMT system is set to revolutionize the military training landscape,” said Adrian Sinclair, COO at YokoWERX. “We look forward to collaborating on the development of this groundbreaking system and pushing the boundaries of military readiness.”

For more information on Virtuix and its newly announced Omni Mission Trainer system, please visit the company’s website.

Image / video credit: Virtuix