Article Number: 87 | VC6 | VC5 | VC4 | Post Date: July 10, 2019 | Last Updated: April 12, 2024
When I use the kinematics path feature with lights, the lights won’t move with my car. Is it possible to attach lights to a vehicle if I use a kinematics path? Also, how can I attach a camera to my vehicle if I’m using kinematics?
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Attaching Lights to Vehicles using Kinematics
Yes. The process is similar to attaching cameras to vehicles when kinematics is used. Before proceeding, you may want to review all of the features of the kinematics tool. Note, if you do not follow the procedure below when using the kinematics path feature, you’ll notice that lights will only move with the vehicle after time=0.
Below we have finished our simulation study optimization for this nighttime t-bone crash. Note, we have the simulation beginning just before the moment-of-impact.
Suppose we wish to attach lights to our vehicles while also including pre-impact motion using the kinematics tool. We’ll first need to select our vehicle, then go to Create > Physics > Add Kinematics To Selection.
Do this for both vehicles.
Fine-tune the kinematics path shape and sequences as needed for your case.
Next, left-click on the first bounding box on the kinematics path. You’ll notice the time slide snap to a negative time value. Now that you’ve selected this bounding box, select the lighting tool and begin mounting lights onto the vehicle.
You’ll notice that each light is mounted to the surface of the bounding box and the default front or rear light presets are not automatically selected when mounting lights to the vehicle on the kinematics path. Simply set the various lighting settings, position, and orientation values as needed for your vehicle.
Now when you play your simulation forward, you’ll notice the lights remain attached throughout the vehicle’s motion.
Note that once lights are attached, you are free to refine the kinematics path shape and sequences as needed.
Attaching Cameras to Vehicles using Kinematics
Similarly, to attach a camera to a vehicle where kinematics is used, select the first bounding box on the kinematics path. Next, select Create > Extended Primitives 3D > Camera.
Option 1: Stationary Camera, moving target
Next, to create a stationary camera with target attached to the vehicle, simply hold + left-click once within a bounding box of the target vehicle kinematics object and drag your cursor outside the vehicle’s bounding box and release (VC6 user’s will then need to set the z-position of the camera and left-click again). Right-click to terminate the camera command. You can also reposition the target within the moving vehicle frame.
Option 2: Moving camera, static camera heading
To attach a camera to the vehicle with kinematics, simply hold+left-click within a bounding box object on the kinematics object, drag your cursor outside the bounding box then back in and release (VC6 users will need to set the z-position of the camera then left-click once again). Right-click to terminate the camera command. Now you should see the camera move with the vehicle with the orientation determined by “rotation-local” and position within the vehicle frame by “position-local”.
Option 3: Moving camera moving Target
To fix the camera’s target onto a moving vehicle with the camera attached to a separate vehicle, first select the camera object, then hover your mouse over the target vehicle’s bounding box on its kinematics path, left-click and drag your cursor to the second vehicle bounding box along the kinematics path, and then release (VC6 users will need to set the z-position of the camera then left-click again). Right-click to terminate the camera command. Now your camera is attached to one vehicle while targeted on another vehicle. You should see both the camera and target moving during the kinematics and simulation portions of the project.
Note that once cameras and/or targets are attached to vehicles, you are free to refine the kinematics path shape and sequences as needed.
Tags: kinematics, kinematics path, kinematics tool, lighting, headlights, tail lights, volumetric lighting, cameras, attaching camera, attach camera.
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