Coordinate Systems for Display

Several display tools are available for use with the Aerospace Toolbox product. Each tool has a specific coordinate system for rendering motion.

MATLAB Graphics Coordinates

See the Axes Appearance for more information about the MATLAB^® Graphics coordinate axes.

MATLAB Graphics uses this default coordinate axis orientation:

• The x-axis points out of the screen.

• The y-axis points to the right.

• The z-axis points up.

FlightGear Coordinates

FlightGear is an open-source, third-party flight simulator with an interface supported by the blockset.

• Flight Simulator Interface Example discusses the toolbox interface to FlightGear.

• See the FlightGear documentation at www.flightgear.org for complete information about this flight simulator.

The FlightGear coordinates form a special body-fixed system, rotated from the standard body coordinate system about the y-axis by -180 degrees:

• The x-axis is positive toward the back of the vehicle.

• The y-axis is positive toward the right of the vehicle.

• The z-axis is positive upward, that is, wheels typically have the lowest z values.

AC3D Coordinates

AC3D is a low-cost, widely used, geometry editor available from https://www.inivis.com. Its body-fixed coordinates are formed by inverting the three standard body coordinate axes:

• The x-axis is positive toward the back of the vehicle.

• The y-axis is positive upward, that is, wheels typically have the lowest y values.

• The z-axis is positive to the left of the vehicle.