Simulink and Motion Cuing

Hello,

I am interested in integrating a laser scan from a Faro 3D x330 scanner of a stretch of road with buildings, with a motion cuing program. The intent is to recreate a real environment synthetically, then access the environment virtually in a simulator, similar to the way race tracks are now scanned for research and development of vehicles. I am looking to enter the environment in a vehicle that reacts the actual road conditions while surrounded by the visual scenery from the laser scan. It is possible to fly through the scan for the architectural construction benefits, but I am looking to travel through it the same way, just in a vehicle, or simulator.

Has anyone ever accomplished this? Is it possible? Would it take a tremendous amount of time? The scan can be performed and loaded fairly quickly.

I appreciate the input.

Answer 1

[Jan]

Hi,

AFAIK, laser scan point clouds can be used for virtual model alingment, not yet for complete virtual (or CAD) model creation.

If you want to use some virtual reality model in connection with a dynamical model, it is important that the dynamical model uses the same, usually parametrized, model for its internal computations.

Example - a vehicle dynamics model contains also a "road model" in order to be able to keep the vehicle on the road during the simulation (there is also a "driver model") to achieve that. The road can be (in a simple case) defined by the road centerline, width and lateral inclination in every point on the centerline.

Your task could be accomplished perhaps as follows:

- Recognize between the "road surface" and the "rest" - road environment / background parts of the point cloud

- Fit the "road surface" to some parametric model that can be used by your dynamic model

- In the virtual reality environment, use the fitted parametric model together with the unprocessed "rest of the point cloud" as the environment

Good luck,

Jan

[TSS]

Hi,

Thanks for your time first of all, please forgive my lack of experience; if I understand you, a static point cloud could not be converted to a dynamic environment, so it would need to be combined somehow to function correctly and avoid any separation of the images?

There is an online racing program called iracing which allows people access to the tracks they scanned. The background is not as sharp or crisp as with a point cloud, so I was wondering how I could improve it and build on the idea. I have also read how professional racing teams collect/ scan tracks, then using the scanned information as a tool to prepare drivers when access or weather in limited. I am not certain what tools they use or their methods of collection, but it is possible to reproduce a road that is within 2mm.

What I am trying to do is replicate a stretch of road in a real city, where the surroundings are actual and familiar to the driver. I would like to use this model as a training tool for drivers education. I would like to build a template, then introduce different driving challenges we face day to day to show the risks related to distracted driving. I feel the program can be used as conduit to deliver the education as a visual representation of the curriculum, versus the traditional textbook with pictures. I feel that a student would benefit greatly by experiencing situations behind the wheel.

Again, I appreciate your time, thank you.