Virtual V8 3D Data Viewer

This page describes a number of the features of our real time 3D trajectory viewer.

The following images are screen displays from various areas of the program, highlighting its specific capabilities. Please click on any of the following images to see a larger display.

The program can accept data from a variety of external sources, including MoTeC data loggers and our ANALYSE motion path analysis software.

Replay performance will depend on the specific computer hardware available. The program relies on a hardware accelerated graphics card (OpenGL compliant) and has been tested at better than 50 frames per second on current computer systems. An older Pentium II system with an Nvidia TNT graphics card can achieve replay rates of about 20 frames per second.

	The program displays vehicle data in the form of a 3D model on the computer screen, moving in real time. Suspension motion is displayed, as is steering position and basic vehicle data (speed, engine rpm, time and current gear).
	An on-screen menu enables the selection of a number of predefined view points as well as providing access to data displays and a number of setup parameters.
	A "driver's eye" view is available, showing the driver's perspective and steering inputs, both at the steering wheel and the vehicle's front wheels.
	This is the vehicle setup screen. It enables a variety of options to be applied. Scaling factors can be applied, and altered, to exaggate the steering and suspension motions for clearer viewing. Static and dynamic vehicle display modes can also be set.
	This is the data display screen. This provides all vehicle data for the current time period. The data can be stepped, frame by frame, to see how parameters are varying.
	The vehicle data can also be displayed in the form of a time chart, showing the data variation with time, for all available data. Separate charts are available for about two dozen different parameters at present.
	If none of the predefined viewpoints suits your requirements, a user-defined viewpoint can be set interactively within the program.
	Viewpoints have been predefined for both the front and rear suspension. Suspension motion is typically scaled to make any movements very obvious. Steering inputs can also be handled in this way.
	Suspension and steering values can have both a scale factor and an offset applied. The suspension motion can also be inverted, to cater for different instrumentation arrangements.
	A suspension travel limit can be implemented. When the suspension exceeds a certain user-defined value (positive or negative) the suspension top link will change colour to indicate this condition has been met or exceeded.
	Force and balance arrows are available to indicate visually the variation of the vehicle's mechanical or aerodynamic balance, and the relative forces on the front and rear axles.