Unigine 2.21: animation and AI for simulators

Unigine 2.21: New Animation Tools and Optimization for Simulators

Unigine 2.21 has been released following the July 2025 update. The engine is geared toward developing simulators for aviation, oil and gas, digital twins, BIM projects, smart city systems, games, and benchmarks. This version introduces an animation system with a visual editor, enhancements for AI integration, and templates for aviation simulators.

Key New Features in Animation and Editing

The new animation system includes a visual logic editor that simplifies creating complex sequences. Editor tools have been refined for better usability: workflows optimized, plugins added for playing video into textures, viewing PDFs, and connecting to SQL databases.

The DataBridge system enables data exchange with support for Python, C++, and C#. This allows mid- and senior-level developers to integrate the engine into existing pipelines without rewriting code.

Performance Optimization and Rendering

Comprehensive optimization covers CPU, GPU, RAM, VRAM, and loading times. Cluster rendering has been implemented for scenarios with complex lighting, which is critical for high-load simulations. The renderer has been enhanced with visual effects: new shaders and post-processing added.

Integration with AI, ROS, and Project Templates

Integration processes with AI tools have been improved: APIs added for ML models, pipeline automation. ROS 2 support updated, including Jazzy Jalisco with an expanded sensor set (LiDAR, cameras, IMU).

New project templates:

• Airplane and helicopter simulators;
• VR scenarios for MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul);
• UAV modeling with realistic physics.

These templates accelerate prototyping for aviation applications.

New SDK Editions and Plugins

Introduced Entertainment edition for game development and Academic Research for scientific projects. Plugins extend functionality:

• Video textures for dynamic environments;
• PDF viewer for runtime documentation;
• SQL integration for working with databases in simulations.

Key Takeaways

• The new animation system with visual editor simplifies creating interactive scenarios;
• Optimization reduces hardware load, speeding up loading and rendering;
• DataBridge and ROS 2 integration suit robotics and autonomous systems;
• Aviation templates cut down setup time;
• New SDK editions broaden accessibility across sectors.

The overall scope of updates positions Unigine 2.21 as a production-level tool for simulators and real-time applications.

— Editorial Team