ARSI is a low cost, Distributed Interactive Simulator (DIS)-compliant simulation that can easily change shape into different vehicles. ARPA will use ARSI to explore the viability of such simulators for training and the research, development, and evaluation of future vehicle concepts. We contend that a single reconfigurable simulator will maintain the required fidelity and be less expensive than a collection of single configuration simulators.

ARSI has five areas of configurability: mechanical enclosure, distribution of simulation functions, crew/vehicle interface, tactical interaction with other vehicles, and scenario / battlefield database. The keys to easy configuration are a flexible "core" from which hardware and software modules can be hung, and emphasizing the use of models whose behaviors are table-driven or parameter-driven. The baseline ARSI program will deliver this "reconfigurable core" and modules for five vehicle configurations: M1A1 Abrams, M1A2 Abrams, M2A1 Bradley, M2A2 Bradley, and HMMWV scout.