Air Vehicle

An Air Vehicle allows you to add a predefined route to a 3D object, image label, text label or virtual object. You can set the object’s motion path by setting a group of waypoints and selecting the type of flight model of the object between the waypoints.

Air vehicles get pitch and roll angles according to the altitude differences between the waypoints, regardless of the terrain surface.

To create a New Air Vehicle and a New Route

1.       Select the Air Vehicle icon from the Toolbox “Dynamic Objects” tab (icon #2), or use the Create Menu.

2.       Select the Motion Type for the object. Choose from “Airplane”, “Helicopter” or “Hover”.

3.       Select the Object Type. Choose “3D Model” to add an imported 3D model, “Image Label” to add an image label, “Text Label” to add a text label, or, “Virtual” to add a virtual object.

4.       For “3D Model” and “Image Label” types select the model or image file.

5.       For Text Label enter the desired text string.

6.       Set the object’s other parameters.

7.       With the cursor in the 3D Window, click the mouse to define the first waypoint of the air vehicle’s route.

8.       Use additional mouse clicks to add waypoints to the path.

9.       When you have finished adding waypoints to the path, right-click the mouse to complete the route.

10.    After creation, you can change the parameters of the air vehicle and the route using the Properties Sheet.

11.      When you close the Properties Sheet, the air vehicle starts moving along the route you have defined.

Object’s Parameters

Appearance:

§         Name – Type the description or name of the air vehicle. This text appears in the Information Window as the name of the object.

§         Activation Action – Type the action to perform when selecting the air vehicle from the Information Window. 

Object Options:

§         Motion Style – Determines the style of motion of the air vehicle. You can choose from Airplane, Helicopter or Hover.

·         Ground Vehicle – The object is a Ground Vehicle. See: “Ground Vehicle” in this chapter for further information on the Dynamic Ground Vehicle object.

·         Airplane – The object sets the pitch angles during the flight according to altitude differences between the waypoints. It also rolls while turning between the waypoints.

·         Helicopter – The object leans forward with a fixed pitch angle of –15 degrees. It also rolls while turning between the waypoints.

·         Hover – The object always keeps the pitch and roll angels set to zero.

§         Object Type– Determines the type of object. Choose “3D Model” to add an imported 3D model, “Image Label” to add an image label “Text Label” to add a text label or “Virtual” to add a virtual object.

§         File Name – For 3D Model and Image types select the associated file. In the “File Name” field, type, or browse, a path to an .x, .xpc, .flt or .fpc for 3D models, or, .bmp, .jpg, jpeg or .gif for Image labels.

§         Text – Determines the text to be used if the Object type is a Text Label.

§         Font – Click on the Edit button to open the Character Format Dialog Box. Select the required font type, size, color and style. (This option is available only if Text Label object type is selected.)

§         Background Color – Select the color for the air vehicle’s background. Click in the field to open the Color Palette. (This option is available only if the Text Label object type is selected.)

§         Background Type – Determines the type of background for the air vehicle. Select Transparent, Opaque or None. (This option is available only if the Text Label object type is selected.)

§         Scale – Determines the dimensions of the air vehicle object.

·         For Text Label object type, the scale determines the dimensions, in meters per pixel, of the label. The maximum character height is the Font Size times the Scale value.

·         For Image Label object type, the scale determines the dimensions, in meters per pixel, of the label. The maximum label size is the image size in pixels times the Scale value.

·         For 3D Model type, the scale determines the dimensions, in meters per pixel, of the 3D model. The actual size of the model in the 3D World is the size of the model in its internal coordinate system times the Scale value. (i.e. if the model has a width of 5 units and the scale is set to 10 meters per pixel, the width of the object in the 3D World is 50 meters.)

§         Flip Texture – Flips the horizontal mapping of the model’s textures.

Route Options:

§         Altitude Method – Sets the altitude method to be used for the Aerial Vehicle way points:

·         Select “Relative to Terrain” to place the way point at a specified altitude above the ground.

·         Select “Absolute” to place the way point at a specified altitude above the terrain database vertical datum base ellipsoid.

§         Altitude – During the creation of the route this parameter determines the altitude, as defined in Altitude Method, of the next waypoint. After you have finished placing all the waypoints on the terrain, you can use this parameter to set a new altitude for the entire route.

§         Speed – During the creation of the route this parameter determines the desired speed at the next waypoint. After you have finished placing all the waypoints on the terrain, you can use this parameter to set a new altitude for the entire route.

§         Acceleration – Determines the acceleration and deceleration speed of the object. The object tries to reach the defined speed at each waypoint by accelerating or decelerating according to this parameter.

§         Turn Speed – Select the rate at which the air vehicle turns at the waypoints.

§         Circular Route – Determines if the air vehicle restarts its route when it reaches the end point. If a circular route is selected the object closes the route by connecting the last waypoint to the first waypoint.

Way Points:

§         Selected Point – Select the point you wish to edit. The selected point is highlighted on the 3D View.

§         Point X – Enter the X-coordinate for the selected waypoint.

§         Point Y – Enter the Y-coordinate for the selected waypoint.

§         Point Altitude – Enter the altitude, as defined in Altitude Method, for the selected waypoint.

§         Point Speed – Enter the speed for the selected waypoint. The object tries to achieve this speed once it reaches the waypoint, under the limitation of the acceleration

External File Options:

This group of parameters is enabled only when choosing “Ground Vehicle” for the Motion Style.

General:

§         Show In Basic – Determines if the air vehicle appears in the Information Window when the file is viewed with the TerraExplorer Basic viewer.

§         Message – Shows the number of the message associated with this object. To create a new message or update an existing message, open the Create Message Dialog Box by clicking in this field and selecting Edit.

§         Tool Tip – Type a ToolTip text to appear when the mouse cursor is placed over the air vehicle in the 3D View.

§         Default Viewing Distance – Determines the viewing distance of the camera from the air vehicle. This distance is used as a stop mark for any “Fly-to” or “View Object” operation. It is also used when selecting to edit the object from the Information Window.

§         Max. Visibility Distance – Sets the distance from the camera at which the air vehicle disappears.