Main Content

Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle

Implement controllable 6DOF vehicle 3D environment

Since R2022b

  • Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle Block

Libraries:
Vehicle Dynamics Blockset / Vehicle Scenarios / Sim3D / Sim3D Vehicle / Components

Description

Note

Simulating models with the Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle block requires Simulink® 3D Animation™.

The Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle block implements a controllable 10DOF vehicle in the 3D simulation environment, with a vertical DOF for each wheel and 6DOF for the chassis.

To use the Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle block, ensure that the Simulation 3D Scene Configuration block is in your model. If you set the Sample time parameter of the Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle block to -1, the block uses the sample time specified in the Simulation 3D Scene Configuration block.

The block input uses the vehicle Z-down right-handed (RH) Cartesian coordinate system defined in SAE J670[1]. The coordinate system is inertial and initially aligned with the vehicle geometric center:

  • X-axis — Along vehicle longitudinal axis, points forward

  • Y-axis — Along vehicle lateral axis, points to the right

  • Z-axis — Points downward

Tip

Verify that the Simulation 3D Scene Configuration block executes before the Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle block. With this sequence, the Unreal Engine® 3D visualization environment prepares the data before the Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle block receives the data. To check the block execution order, right-click the blocks and select Properties. On the General tab, confirm these Priority settings:

  • Simulation 3D Scene Configuration0

  • Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle-1

For more information about execution order, see Control and Display Execution Order.

Ports

Input

expand all

Normalized steer angle, specified as a scalar. SteerCmd corresponds to the minimum and maximum range of the steering angle as determined by the Front wheel max steer angle and Rear wheel max steer angle parameters, respectively.

Normalized acceleration torque request to the vehicle powertrain, specified as a scalar. The exact response is characterized by the engine, transmission, and other vehicle parameters.

Normalized deceleration torque request to the vehicle braking system, specified as a scalar. The exact braking response is characterized by the engine, transmission and other vehicle parameters.

Gear input, specified as either 1, -1, or 0.

  • 1 – Forward shift gear

  • -1 – Reverse gear

  • 0 – Neutral gear

If you select manual shift mode, then the vehicle shifts according to the signal, but the values listed still apply. Any input set that does not correspond to a valid gear is ignored.

Output

expand all

This port is optional.

Bus signal containing these block values.

SignalDescriptionValueUnits
InertFrmCgDispXVehicle CG displacement along the earth-fixed X-axis

Computed

m
YVehicle CG displacement along the earth-fixed Y-axis

Computed

m

ZVehicle CG displacement along the earth-fixed Z-axis0m
VelXdotVehicle CG velocity along the earth-fixed X-axis

Computed

m/s

YdotVehicle CG velocity along the earth-fixed Y-axis

Computed

m/s
ZdotVehicle CG velocity along the earth-fixed Z-axis0m/s
AngphiRotation of the vehicle-fixed frame about the earth-fixed X-axis (roll)0rad
thetaRotation of the vehicle-fixed frame about the earth-fixed Y-axis (pitch)0rad
psiRotation of the vehicle-fixed frame about the earth-fixed Z-axis (yaw)

Computed

rad
BdyFrmCgVelxdotVehicle CG velocity along the vehicle-fixed x-axis

Computed

m/s
ydotVehicle CG velocity along the vehicle-fixed y-axis

Computed

m/s
zdotVehicle CG velocity along the vehicle-fixed z-axis0m/s
AngBeta

Body slip angle, β

β=VyVx

Computed

rad
AngVelpVehicle angular velocity about the vehicle-fixed x-axis (roll rate)0rad/s
qVehicle angular velocity about the vehicle-fixed y-axis (pitch rate)0rad/s
rVehicle angular velocity about the vehicle-fixed z-axis (yaw rate)

Computed

rad/s
AccaxVehicle CG acceleration along the vehicle-fixed x-axis

Computed

gn
ayVehicle CG acceleration along the vehicle-fixed y-axis

Computed

gn
azVehicle CG acceleration along the vehicle-fixed z-axis0gn
xddotVehicle CG acceleration along the vehicle-fixed x-axis

Computed

m/s^2
yddotVehicle CG acceleration along the vehicle-fixed y-axis

Computed

m/s^2
zddotVehicle CG acceleration along the vehicle-fixed z-axis0m/s^2
AngAccpdotVehicle angular acceleration about the vehicle-fixed x-axis0rad/s
qdotVehicle angular acceleration about the vehicle-fixed y-axis0rad/s
rdotVehicle angular acceleration about the vehicle-fixed z-axis

Computed

rad/s
DCM

Direction cosine matrix

Computed

rad
ForcesTiresFrntTiresLftFx

Front left tire force along the vehicle-fixed x-axis

EstimatedN
Fy

Front left tire force along the vehicle-fixed y-axis

EstimatedN
Fz

Front left tire force along the vehicle-fixed z-axis

EstimatedN
RghtFx

Front right tire force along the vehicle-fixed x-axis

EstimatedN
Fy

Front right tire force along the vehicle-fixed y-axis

EstimatedN
Fz

Front right tire force along the vehicle-fixed z-axis

EstimatedN
RearTiresLftFx

Rear left tire force along the vehicle-fixed x-axis

EstimatedN
Fy

Rear left tire force along the vehicle-fixed y-axis

EstimatedN
Fz

Rear left tire force along the vehicle-fixed z-axis

EstimatedN
RghtFx

Rear right tire force along the vehicle-fixed x-axis

EstimatedN
Fy

Rear right tire force along the vehicle-fixed y-axis

EstimatedN

Note

Tire forces are no longer explicitly available from Unreal Engine as a result of Epic Games® transition from PhysX® to Chaos Physics. The values calculated for the tire forces are approximate estimates.

SignalDescriptionVariableUnits
MtrMtrSpd

Applied drive shaft angular speed input

ωi

RPM

TransTransGearCmd

Commanded gear

Ncmd

N/A

TransGear

Engaged gear

N

N/A

Vehicle CG velocity along the vehicle-fixed x-axis, in m/s.

Vehicle CG velocity along the vehicle-fixed y-axis, in m/s.

Rotation of the vehicle-fixed frame about the earth-fixed Z-axis (yaw), in rad.

Vehicle angular velocity, r, about the vehicle-fixed z-axis (yaw rate), in rad/s.

Parameters

expand all

Chassis

Specify the vehicle type. This table provides links to the vehicle dimensions.

Vehicle type SettingVehicle Dimensions
Muscle car

Muscle Car

Sedan

Sedan

Sport utility vehicle

Sport Utility Vehicle

Small pickup truck

Small Pickup Truck

Hatchback

Hatchback

Box truck

Box Truck

Dependencies

Selecting Custom enables parameters that allow you to import a custom mesh for your vehicle.

Select the color of the vehicle.

By default, when you use this block in your model, the block sets the Name parameter to SimulinkVehicleX. The value of X depends on the number of Simulation 3D Physics Vehicle and Simulation 3D Vehicle blocks in your model.

Initial vehicle position, specified as a 1-by-3 array, in m. Array elements are values along the Coordinate system parameter X-, Y-, and Z- axes, respectively.

Initial vehicle rotation, specified as a 1-by-3 array, in rad. Array elements are values about the Coordinate system parameter X-, Y-, and Z-axes, respectively.

Vehicle mass, in kg. This value does not include the wheel masses.

Offset in center of mass, specified as a three-element vector, in meters.

Scaling of inertia tensor, specified as a three-element dimensionless vector.

Height of chassis used to calculate drag force, specified in meters.

Vehicle drag coefficient, dimensionless.

Longitudinal lift coefficient, dimensionless.

Path to custom mesh file.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Custom.

The vehicle track width refers to the distance between the wheels, or the axle length, specified in meters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Custom.

Wheel base, in meters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Custom.

Front wheel radius, in meters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Custom.

Front wheel width, in meters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Custom.

Rear wheel radius, in meters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Custom.

Rear wheel width, in meters.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Type to Custom.

Powertrain and Driveline

Powertrain

Motor torque indices, in N·m. You can use these pre-transmission values to represent either an electric motor or a conventional engine.

Data Types: double

Motor speed breakpoints, in rpm.

Data Types: double

Max powertrain speed, in rpm. If you select an automatic transmission option, this value also corresponds to the normalized shift points used in the upshift and downshift logic.

Data Types: double

Powertrain rotational inertia, in kg·m2.

Data Types: double

Powertrain damping at full torque request, in kg·m2/s.

Data Types: double

Powertrain damping at zero torque request in gear, in kg·m2/s.

Data Types: double

Driveline

Implement rear wheel, front wheel, or all wheel drive.

Front to rear torque split ratio, dimensionless.

1 indicates 100% torque to the front. 0 indicates 100% to the rear.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Drivetrain type to All Wheel Drive.

Implement an automatic or manual transmission.

Note

You must provide a GearCmd input even if Transmission type is set to Automatic.

Gear number vector, dimensionless.

Data Types: double

Gear ratios, dimensionless.

Note

You must provide at least one negative ratio for reverse gear. You must also provide a neutral ratio where the length of the array corresponds to the number of forward gears plus two, one for reverse and one for neutral.

Data Types: double

Upshift speed, in rpm.

Downshift speed, in rpm.

Minimum powertrain speed, in rpm.

Time taken to complete a shift, specified as a scalar, in s.

Data Types: double

Final drive ratio, dimensionless. This value is the post transmission ratio, typically found in a differential or final drive gearbox.

Data Types: double

Efficiency factor, dimensionless.

Steering and Brakes

Steering

Steering type, specified as Ackermann or Linear.

Outside to inside steer angle ratio, dimensionless.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Steering type to Linear.

Front wheel max steer angle, in radians. This value is the absolute angle which the front wheels turn with a -1 or 1 steer command input signal.

Data Types: double

Rear wheel max steer angle, in radians. This value is the absolute angle which the rear wheels turn with a -1 or 1 steer command input signal.

Data Types: double

Maximum steering ratio breakpoints, dimensionless. This value is the gain by which the steering command is affected by the vehicle speed brake points.

Data Types: double

Steering ratio speed breakpoints, in m/s. This value is the vehicle forward speed break points used by the steer ratio gains.

Data Types: double

Brakes

Maximum front wheel torque, in N·m. This value is the maximum braking torque applied to the front wheels corresponding to the normalized DecelCmd input.

Data Types: double

Maximum rear wheel torque, in N·m. This value is the maximum braking torque applied to the rear wheels corresponding to the normalized DecelCmd input.

Data Types: double

Select this parameter to enable handbrake input.

Data Types: Boolean

Enable this parameter to have the handbrake affect the front wheels.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable handbrake input.

Data Types: Boolean

Enable this parameter to have the handbrake affect the rear wheels.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable handbrake input.

Data Types: Boolean

Maximum front wheel hand brake torque, in Nm.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Front wheels affected by handbrake.

Maximum rear wheel hand brake torque, in Nm.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Front wheels affected by handbrake.

Suspension, Wheels and Tires

Suspension

Front suspension force offset, specified as a three-element vector, in meters.

Maximum front suspension compression or jounce, specified as a scalar, in meters. Jounce is the upward movement or compression of suspension components.

Front suspension preload force, in N.

Front suspension spring rate, in N/m.

Maximum front suspension extension or rebound, specified as a scalar in meters. Rebound is the downward movement or extension of suspension components.

Damping ratio of front suspension, dimensionless. Damping ratio is the coefficient of the damper at its peak level, where the vehicle is in a completely stable state.

Front anti-roll effect, dimensionless.

Rear suspension force offset, specified as a three-element vector, in meters.

Maximum rear suspension compression or jounce, specified as a scalar, in meters. Jounce is the upward movement or compression of suspension components.

Rear suspension preload force, in N.

Rear suspension spring rate, in N/m.

Maximum rear suspension extension or rebound, specified as a scalar, in meters. Rebound is the downward movement or extension of suspension components.

Damping ratio of rear suspension, dimensionless. Damping ratio is the coefficient of the damper at its peak level, where the vehicle is in a completely stable state.

Rear anti-roll effect, dimensionless.

Wheels

Select this parameter to enable anti-lock braking.

Data Types: Boolean

Select this parameter to enable traction control.

Data Types: Boolean

Tires

Front cornering stiffness, in N/rad.

Front slip modifier, dimensionless.

Rear cornering stiffness, in N/rad.

Rear slip modifier, dimensionless.

Nominal friction scale, dimensionless.

Data Types: double

Light Controls

Select whether to control the vehicle headlights. Use the enabled parameters to set the light parameters, including headlight intensity.

Dependencies

Selecting this parameter:

  • Creates the input port Light controls.

  • Enables these light parameters.

    LightsLight Parameters
    Headlights

    • Headlight color

    • High beam intensity

    • Low beam intensity

    • High beam cone half angle

    • Low beam cone half angle

    • Left headlight beam orientation

    • Right headlight beam orientation

    Brake lights

    Brake light intensity

    Reverse lights

    Reverse light intensity

    Turn signal lights

    • Turn signal light intensity

    • Period

    • Pulse width

Headlights

Headlight color, specified as a normalized 1-by-3 vector of RGB triplet values.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: int8 | uint8

High beam intensity, in cd.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Low beam intensity, in cd.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

High beam cone half angle, in rad.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Low beam cone half angle, in rad.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Pitch and yaw orientation of the left headlight beam orientation in the Z-down coordinate system, specified as a 1-by-2 vector, in rad. The first element of the vector, [1,1], is the pitch angle. The second element of the vector, [1,2], is the yaw angle.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Pitch and yaw orientation of the right headlight beam orientation in the Z-down coordinate system, specified as a 1-by-2 vector, in rad. The first element of the vector, [1,1], is the pitch angle. The second element of the vector, [1,2], is the yaw angle.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Brake Lights

Brake light intensity, in cd/m^2.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Reverse Lights

Reverse light intensity, in cd/m^2.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Turn Signal Lights

Turn signal light intensity, in cd/m^2.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Turn signal light period, in s.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Turn signal light pulse width, specified as a percent of the period.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, select Enable light controls.

Data Types: double

Sample Time

Sample time, Ts. The graphics frame rate is the inverse of the sample time.

Ground Truth

Select this parameter to return location and orientation.

Data Types: Boolean

Select this parameter to return nominal vehicle state feedback.

Data Types: Boolean

References

[1] Vehicle Dynamics Standards Committee. Vehicle Dynamics Terminology. SAE J670. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers, 2008.

[2] Technical Committee. Road Vehicles — Vehicle Dynamics and Road-Holding Ability — Vocabulary. ISO 8855:2011. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization, 2011.

Version History

Introduced in R2022b

expand all