Controllab has automated its workflow for collision detection. This video shows the results from our latest project for Tata Steel.
In steel crane simulators there are a lot of objects that interact through collisions; crane hooks colliding with lifting eyes, ladles colliding with the ground, etc. To simulate the collision physics correctly, a number of steps are taken:
- Define and import the shapes of the objects that can collide.
- Detect the point on these shapes where objects make contact.
- Calculate the impact force of the contact.
- Calculate the resulting object motion as a function of the impact forces.
- Show the resulting motion in 3D.
Three years ago we had to write manual code for each of these steps. This is a lot of work and limited the amount of collision objects that we could handle. Step-by-step we have been working on the automation of this workflow.
This video shows where we are right now: We import CAD files in Blender, define collision shapes and from there everything is automated. Data is exported to 20-sim and Unity, and models are generated. We only have to run a simulation for visual verification.
We are now building crane simulators with hundreds of collision objects running in real time. See the video Steel Sim VR for an impression.
This technology is useful for all kinds of cranes and machines. With it we can develop and test control software (HIL simulation) or build training simulators.
Want to know more? Click here to contact us!