cemek\research\lapn\3D vehicle models
3D vehicle models
To present the results, obtained from the mathematical model of driving dynamics, the only effective way is the animation in virtual 3D environment. The vehicles and other objects involved in an animation have to be presented in way that they can be recognised from every point of view in every time frame of animation. This can be achieved by modelling each vehicle as its 3D geometrical model. The goal with this task is achieving balance between complexity of a vehicle model, which should be kept as low as possible to meet the requirements of real time animation, and its ressemblance to the real vehicle. Therefore the vehicles are modelled in a way that emphasizes their characteristic features while attempting to simplify the non-characteristic ones.
The base for modelling are photographs of vehicles from which 3D geometry is created by means of photomodelling software. This model is edited and converted to a format, suitable for use in animation, by means of conventional 3D CAD software.
VRML2 has been chosen as the final format of 3D vehicle models. VRML2 specification is publicly available and enables simple animation. An animation core has been made that enables view of the scene from different viewpoints (which includes the driver's view). To connect the mathematical model with the display in virtual 3D environment we have used ParallelGraphics Cortona SDK to develop a programme interface 3D-Drive that automatically generates animations based on mathematical model output data.
3D-Drive enables direct comparison between animation and digital video of the measurement, which provides for qualitative analysis of the simulation results.
3D-Drive can export animations as digital video that can be used in presentations and demonstrations.
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ISO 3888 Lane Change |
Double "S" curve |
MB W463 on a paved road |
Sideways parking Top view .bik (1023 kb) Driver's view .bik (1853 kb) |
3D-Drive is described in the article Ambrož, M.; Krašna, S.; Prebil, I.; "3D road traffic situation simulation system", Advances in Engineering Software, vol. 36, iss. 2, pp. 77-86, February 2005, ISSN 0965-9978, (doi: 10.1016/j.advengsoft.2004.07.007).
A logical successor to 3D-Drive is i3Drive, a software for interactive 3D simulation of wheeled vehicles with up to four axles on an arbitrary terrain. It provides means to adjust vehicle characteristics, which enables accurate modelling of existing vehicles. The simulated vehicle can be controlled with various input devices from a standard keyboard to vehicle cockpit mock-ups. A demo version with a limited feature set is available for download by request.
Just as 3D-Drive, i3Drive can export animations as digital video.
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| Four axle truck driving on an uneven terrain .bik (4385 k) |
Big Fitsch with four-wheel steering on a ramp .bik (2589 k) |
Six-wheel armoured vehicle on a test track .bik (2256 k) |
i3Drive is described in the article Ambrož, M.; Prebil, I.; "i3Drive, a 3D Interactive Driving Simulator," Computer Graphics and Applications, IEEE , vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 86-92, March-April 2010 (doi: 10.1109/MCG.2010.29).
i3Drive can be connected to haptic interfaces. Together with RoboLab at Faculty of Electrical engineering a prototype consisting of an active seat and a force-feedback steering wheel has been built and tested. It is described in more detail in the article Ambrož, M.; Kamnik, R.; Prebil, I.; Munih, M.; "System for interactive scientific driving simulation with haptic information," Advances in Engineering Software, Volume 45, Issue 1, March 2012, Pages 239–251, (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.advengsoft.2011.10.001).
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