Some questions my project :safety assessment for drivers

livra_depp

hi guys,

I must say million of thanks to Sketchup software, since I have no experience in 3D modelling and animation.

My project will be a Friendly Interface Program for safety assessment when driving on expressway.
It will look like a Visual Basic form containing
**- a Combo box to input driving speed => output is the 3D virtual driving on expressway (special geometry) with other highway's components ( cars, people .. ) must have animation.

some accident scenarios such as if any obstacle appears from a certain distance, the driver is driving at certain speed, will he stop on time or accident happen ? ...**

I try Sketchup, but my prof wants the cars and people moving with certain speeds to support accident's risk estimation, not rendering as I thought. As far as I know, Sketchyphysics can help me this part. But can we use Ruby to make the program 100% outside Sketchup/ Sketchyphyics platform ? < sorry, I'm a dude >

Another reason I intend to use Sketchyphysics, since my prof wants the driving scene not be from perspective view ( like you fly on the road ). I think what he wants is something like Racing game, so you have the experience of driving on road, not flying. So can add a car-interior-look model to do that? ( my explanation is not clear, hope you can get what I mean )

The last question: my 3D expressway scenery should be made in Sketchup or Sketchyphysics environment to meet all requirements ?

Please enlighten me on these, I'll meet my prof tmr. I love this forum so much, and really addicted to this project. Something unforgettable in my last year of being an undergraduate

Thanks a million time and Cheerz,
Livra

CPhillips

There really isn't anyway to make a car move at a certain speed. You could try fiddling with a motor until the car appeared to move as fast as you want but there is also no way to really measure it. Same think with braking and stopping distance. And also one other factor you didn't mention mass.
SketchyPhysics is a glue layer between Sketchup and the Newton physics engine written in c++. It would not be possible to have pure ruby version.
You can have a car interior and put the camera in it. There are several examples of that on 3dwarehouse.

I dont know if I understand the last question. But my guess is you would want to make any 3d geometry in Sketchup. As for SketchyPhysics doing the simulation thats up to you. But it sounds like you want something that will accurately and measurably simulate real world events.

chrisglasier

@livra_depp said:

I try Sketchup, but my prof wants the cars and people moving with certain speeds

Interesting question! I want to ask another, any answers to which may be helpful to both of us. It is this:

Given that models made in Sketchup use full size dimensions and animation can be effected with javascript timeOut functions in a webdialog, is it possible to reduce the speed on screen in line with the scaling used by SU to display all of the model? (The webdialog can be hidden or not)

This would be useful for me to emulate, say, tower crane lifting cycles.

Good luck with your project!

Chris

PS Have a look at the video here:
http://www.sketchucation.com/forums/scf/viewtopic.php?f=180&t=10443#p69219

CPhillips

Sorry, I don't understand the question.

chrisglasier

@cphillips said:

Sorry, I don't understand the question.

Yes, I am beginning to doubt my own sanity. I'll try and find an answer, then, if successful, rephrase the question!

Sorry,

Chris

chrisglasier

@chrisglasier said:

@cphillips said:

Sorry, I don't understand the question.

Yes, I am beginning to doubt my own sanity. I'll try and find an answer, then, if successful, rephrase the question!

Sorry,

Chris

What I was getting myself confused about was how to deal reasonably

accurately with timeOut or setInterval methods and the interplay of

multiple movements of objects each with a different speed.

The answer I guess is to set the most important movement to a speed

that suits the display and intent, and then adjust the others by

factors calculated from real world speeds - travels/durations.

Sorry again!

Chris

CPhillips

I think I understand a bit better. But probably no. The fact that everything is controlled by a black box physics engine means that precise timing isn't really possible.

chrisglasier

@cphillips said:

I think I understand a bit better. But probably no. The fact that everything is controlled by a black box physics engine means that precise timing isn't really possible.

Then I guess I, and possibly Livra, will have to go with javascript - shame really, SketchyPhysics seems much more exciting!

Thanks

Chris