Ground Vehicle

A ground vehicle allows you to add a predefined route to a 3D object, image label, text label or virtual object. Using this feature you can add motion to your 3D World. You can set the object’s motion path by setting a group of waypoints, or by connecting the object to an external set of files containing the object’s waypoints. Using the external file feature you can update the object’s location in real time by updating the content of the route files.

Ground vehicles get pitch and roll angles according to the terrain surface under the object while it moves. 

To Create a New Ground Vehicle

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

2.       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.

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

4.       For Text Label enter the desired text string.

5.       Set the other parameters for the object.

6.       Choose Use External Route file, under the “External File Options”. Choose “Yes” to link the object to an external set of files containing the waypoints or “No” to set the object’s route by placing waypoints in the 3D World.

7.       If Use External Route is set to “No”:

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

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

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

·    When you close the Properties Sheet, the ground vehicle begins moving along the route you have defined.

8.       If Use External Route is set to “Yes” fill the parameters under the “External File Options” group in the Properties Sheet.

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

Object’s Parameters:

Appearance:

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

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

Object Options:

§         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 the Text Label object type is selected.)

§         Background Color – Select the color for the ground 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 ground 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 ground 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:

This group of parameters is enabled only when choosing “No” for the Use External Route File parameter.

§         Altitude Method – This parameter is set to “Relative to terrain” and cannot be changed. Way points altitude is set at a specified height above the ground

§         Altitude – During the creation of the route this parameter determines the altitude above ground 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 ground vehicle turns between the waypoint.

§         Circular Route – Determines if the ground 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 above ground for the selected waypoint.

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

External File Options:

This group of parameters is enabled only when choosing “No” for the Use External Route File parameter. See: “Using External Coordinate File” under this chapter for further information on how to create and control the coordinate files.

§         Use External Route File – Determines how the route is defined. Choose “No” to set the object’s route by placing waypoints in the 3D world or “Yes” to link the object to an external set of files containing the waypoints.

§         Coordinates File Name – Enter the URL for the .gp0 file containing the coordinates.

§         Object ID – Enter the identification number for the File Object, as defined in the file.

§         Time Interval – Enter the refresh time for the File Object, in seconds. This parameter determines how often TerraExplorer Pro updates the position of the object from the file.

General:

§         Show In Basic – Determines if the ground 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 ground vehicle in the 3D View.

§         Default Viewing Distance – Determines the viewing distance of the camera from the ground 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 ground vehicle disappears.