AI LIVING WORLD ("TRAFFIC INJECTION") IS IN "EARLY PREVIEW" MODE

SAYINTENTIONS.AI PARTNERS GET EARLY ACCESS TO PREVIEW NEW FEATURES THAT ARE NOT YET READY FOR RELEASE.

If you want early access to AI Living World ("Traffic Injection"), please consider becoming a SayIntentions.AI partner. All proceeds from our Partner Program go directly to funding new R&D initiatives, such as this. More Details Here.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• A MESSAGE FROM BRIAN (Please read this).
• Q: This is an "Alpha Release". What does that mean?
• Q: When will this be available to all SayIntentions.AI Premium subscribers?
• Q: Will this be available to Entourage customers, or OpenSky customers?
• Q: Can I live-stream and/or record / publish videos of myself using it?
• Q: How does this compare to the previous version of traffic called "Traffic Phase 1"?
• Q: Where does the traffic data come from?
• Q: Why can't you use live real-world traffic, from ADS-B data?
• Q: What model-matching system is used?
• Q: What features are included?
• Q: What are the limitations I should be aware of?
• Q: ATC just assigned me a runway that will give me a tail-wind and won't let me change it.. OR -- I filed for a particular runway in my simbrief flight plan. Why did ATC change it?
• Q: Help! I'm waiting in line behind lots of airplanes for takeoff.
• Q: I want more fine-tuned control over the traffic settings
• Q: Why are you silencing the radio calls if my plane hasn't moved for 10 minutes?
• Q: Do I need to have chatter on?
• Q: Will I experience a drop to my FPS?
• Q: I'm having a problem with the traffic injection and need support. Who do I contact? 
• Q: What simulators are supported?
• Q: What should my MSFS Settings Be?

A MESSAGE FROM BRIAN (Please read this).

Our "AI Living World" (Traffic Injection and Sequencing) is easily one of the most challenging and ambitious projects ever undertaken in flight sim. As is customary of our brand, many of the techniques we're using to create immersion and realism have never been attempted before. We're pushing the limits of the simulator and the limits of AI in some very interesting and exciting ways.

We're following our usual development model with this. 

1. Deploy an early prototype that's not yet feature-complete, but demonstrates "proof of concept" -- this is done with our partner-level customers.
2. Carefully observe how it's working, and gather feedback.
3. Rapidly react to that feedback and release updates as often as possible (even as much as multiple times per day).
4. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat, until we've added all the necessary functionality and the product is reasonably stable.
5. Move to beta.

This model of rapid feedback and quick, iterative development has served us well, and will be the same model we use for traffic. However, it's a model that the flight sim community often fails to understand, as many are accustomed to "shrink wrap" products that are mostly finished at launch time. This is not that.

In other words, this is an early, unproven, immature product that will rapidly improve.

Q: This is an "Alpha Release". What does that mean?

In the world of software development, Alpha means that the total feature-set is not yet complete, and the product doesn't yet function correctly. (Once Alpha is complete, we move to beta, which is when all of the mechanics are in place, but we're just sorting out bugs).

We anticipate moving to beta in a few months.

Q: When will this be available to all SayIntentions.AI Premium subscribers?

Once we feel like it is "feature complete" and reasonably stable, we'll open it up to all premium subscribers. I promise we will move as fast as we can!

Q: Will this be available to Entourage customers, or OpenSky customers?

We will bring a limited version of this to Entourage and OpenSky at some point in the future, but the scope and timeline are still being decided.

Q: Can I live-stream and/or record / publish videos of myself using it?

Because the product is not yet feature-complete, and does not actually work, we insist that you don't live-stream it, or record videos at this time.   

We want to make sure that when people start comparing our product to other available traffic injection systems out there, that the comparisons are fair and balanced. Once the product is ready for general launch, we'll allow content creators to contrast and compare.

Again, this is an early preview -- and that preview experience is intended only for SayIntentions.AI partners. It is too early for reviews. Please wait for those until we find it stable enough for release to all Premium users.

Q: How does this compare to the previous version of traffic called "Traffic Phase 1"?

This is a total re-write from the ground up and includes all planned phases.  The new stuff no longer uses any "historical data" from our own network, and relies exclusively on real-world flight data, and 100% AI generated voices.

Q: Where does the traffic data come from?

All traffic data is based on real-world flight-schedules. However, to accommodate the need for sequencing, not all real world aircraft are being injected. (There would be no room for you).

Q: Why can't you use live real-world traffic, from ADS-B data?

The approach we've taken provides exactly the same feel as "live, real-world traffic" because we've modeled real-world flight schedules. However, using real-world flight data is not practical for several reasons:

1) The data is not available for most parts of the world.

2) Real world live traffic is already tightly sequenced, which means there's often no room to sequence in another aircraft. (You).

3) Our own ATC can't sequence traffic be controlled by another ATC.

4) We wanted to retain the ability for pilots to change their weather, and have the injected traffic shift appropriately.

5) We wanted to retain the ability for pilots to change their in-sim time, and have the injected traffic match what the airport would feel like at the in-sim time.

Q: What model-matching system is used?

We currently recommend installing the FSLTL base model package as a free option with many great models and liveries to draw from. This should give you a really nice model-matching experience overall. 

If available, we can also utilise the default MSFS 2024 traffic models and JustFlight's FSTraffic. In the future we will support AIG and as well as dynamic mapping of content in your community folder to be used for model matching. 

Our model-matching algorithm is based on neural AI and should perform exceptionally well.

Note: You do NOT need the FSLTL Injector. We inject the traffic via the SayIntentions application.

Q: What features are included?

A: Here is a brief summary of what we've released so far:

• All visible traffic is based on real-world traffic schedules, real-world gates, and real-world routes.
• Each aircraft is their own AI entity.
• Each aircraft is controlled independently by ATC.
• All aircraft (including yours) are equal in the eyes of ATC.
• Traffic flows adapt to custom weather and custom in-sim time changes.
• Radio calls are AI-generated, and use our AI premium voices.
• Wherever possible, pilot accents should match the accent of the airline. (Example: British Airways pilots should have British accents).
• Gates are injected with static aircraft models that should match real-world parked aircraft.
  
• You can see AND hear every airplane that is injected, assuming you're tuned to the same frequency they are. (COM1 and COM2 are both fully functional).
• You will see injected traffic on TCAS and any other MSFS tools.
• Traffic is injected AND contextual for every controlled airport world-wide.
• You will receive radar service traffic advisories for injected traffic.
• Traffic density, radius, etc is all controlled by a SINGLE slider setting. Turn it up if you want more, turn it down if you want less.
• Because we use real world traffic schedules, the amount of traffic also factors in the size of the airport and the time of day.
• Pilot voices are AI generated clones of SI customers who have given their permission. Each voice has been hand curated to sound as realistic as possible.
• Where possible, we've made it so that the accent of the pilot matches the airline. (Lufthansa, for example, should use pilots with German accents). This is harder than it sounds, and will be a constant work in progress.
  

Q: What are the limitations I should be aware of?

The most obvious things you will notice that are missing are:

• Sequencing still requires a significant amount of work. It will improve daily at first, and as it gets better, we'll slow down the updates until eventually we're focussed more on bug fixes. We expect this could take us years to perfect.
  
• En-Route Traffic Is Not Yet Available: It will be coming in a few days.

• We do not yet have enough voices available to do complete "accent matching", but the library is growing rapidly, as more customers donate their voices.
  
• You will not hear other aircraft talk to clearance or ramp control. (The cost of the voices is a significant factor, and in order to avoid raising our prices, we have to be somewhat selective about what you hear).
• GA / VFR traffic is not yet supported. This is coming.
• No VFR pattern-work sequencing or pattern-work injection. This is coming.
• If your airplane hasn't moved for 10 minutes, radio calls will be silenced until your flight commences. (Again, this is to prevent runway costs of AI voice generation).
• This is not yet fully compatible with SkyNet. You can run the two at the same time if you want, but there is no "awareness" of multiplayer traffic from an ATC or traffic injection perspective. (This is coming).
• SU2 Beta is NOT compatible. Please use SU1.
  
• Living World traffic is not synchronised between SkyNet users, so each user will see their own traffic. This iteration is meant for "single player use"

Q: ATC just assigned me a runway that will give me a tail-wind and won't let me change it.. OR -- I filed for a particular runway in my simbrief flight plan. Why did ATC change it?

In real life, operational directions at major airports are shifted only when winds reach significant thresholds. Takeoffs and landings with small tailwinds at large airports are common.  Shifting operational directions is a decision airports don't take lightly, and typically only do so when forecasts call for sustained winds of 10-15kts for several hours. 

Smaller airports are more likely to change directions base on shifts in wind.

We model this as best we can. And with inbound and outbound traffic, it's now more important than ever that ATC be allowed to reject a request for a specific runway. 

Q: Help! I'm waiting in line behind lots of airplanes for takeoff.

Pretty immersive, right?!

Q: I want more fine-tuned control over the traffic settings

Our design philosophy is "minimal is best". More checkboxes and more settings are a departure from that philosophy. We will continue to evaluate what level of "settings complexity" is optimal for this product.

Q: Why are you silencing the radio calls if my plane hasn't moved for 10 minutes?

The cost of generating the premium AI voices needed to make the traffic experience as immersive as possible is eye-watering. This ensures that people aren't just setting it and leaving it running all day, while the "meter runs". 

In other words, we create AI ATC for flight simulation purposes. Other activities, such as plane-spotting, are cost prohibitive and not something we can offer at this time.

Q: Do I need to have chatter on?

A: No.  Please go to your SayIntentions app, then settings, and turn off ALL chatter options.

Q: Will I experience a drop to my FPS?

Yes. Any time a computer is handling 3D object rendering or animation, it consumes CPU and GPU cycles. This is unavoidable. However,  as it relates specifically to traffic injection and sequencing, we've offloaded most of the heavy lifting to our cloud infrastructure. (Voice generation, sequencing math, route calculations, etc.).

The net result is that the FPS impact from our traffic injection should be the minimum possible with MSFS.

If you are experiencing too much FPS impact, we recommend turning the settings down.

Q: I'm having a problem with the traffic injection and need support. Who do I contact? 

At this time, there are many known issues. We ask that if you are having problems, you please just turn it off, instead.

Q: What simulators are supported?

A: MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024 Only, at this time.  X-Plane support may come at a later date. (Please understand that the cost to build the sim-specific capabilities needed for traffic injection are enormous, and a minimum number of users is required on the platform in order to offset those costs).

Q: What should my MSFS Settings Be?

You'll want to disable ALL MSFS built-in traffic, as well as remove/disable any add-ons that are injecting traffic.

In MSFS 2020, under Options menu :

• General Options, Data, Data Connection, Live Real-World Traffic : Off
• General Options, Data, Data Connection, Multiplayer : Off
• General Options, Traffic, Aviation Traffic, Aircraft Traffic : Off
• General Options, Traffic, Airport Life, Ground Aircraft Density : Off (0)

In MSFS 2024, under Settings menu : 

• General, Online, Aircraft Traffic Type:  Off
• General, Online, Air Traffic in Career: Off
• General, Online, Multiplayer:  Off
• General, Online, Show Multiplayer Aircraft in close proximity:  Off
• General, Graphics, Global Rendering Quality, Traffic Airport Quality:  Off 
• General, Graphics, Global Rendering Quality, Air Traffic:  Off

You also need to remove/disable ANY other add-ons that may be injecting traffic.

Q: I'm a partner. How do I get access?

Partners can fill out the access-request form by clicking here:  https://portal.sayintentions.ai/portal/request_traffic/

Once you agreed to these special terms, you can enable traffic with a slider in the application settings, preview tab.