System and method for virtual interactive design and evaluation and manipulation of vehicle mechanisms
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPaul Joseph Stewart, Aaron West, Pietro Buttolo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for virtual interactive design and evaluation and manipulation of a vehicle mechanism using a haptic-user interface is provided. The system includes a computer system and a haptic interface operatively in communication with the computer system, whereby the haptic interface includes a haptic end effector device for transmitting information between a user and a digital model as the user interactively creates, modifies, and evaluates kinematic and dynamic properties of the vehicle mechanism using the haptic end effector device.
Claims18
A system for virtual interactive design and evaluation and manipulation of vehicle mechanisms comprising:
- a computer system, wherein said computer system includes a memory, a processor, a user input device and a display device;
- a computer generated digital model of a vehicle mechanism stored in said memory of said computer system and having at least one control handle;
- and
- a haptic-user interface operated by a user that controls position, orientation, and force feedback between the user, said computer generated digital model, and said computer system, wherein said haptic interface includes a haptic end effector device being grasped by the user for transmitting information between a user and said digital model, wherein the user interactively creates, modifies, and evaluates kinematic and dynamic properties of the vehicle mechanism using said haptic end effector device and said at least one control handle.
A method for virtual interactive design and evaluation and manipulation of vehicle mechanisms using a haptic-user interface, said method comprising the steps of:
- importing a digital model of a vehicle mechanism for evaluation using a haptic end effector device operatively connected to a haptic-user interface operated by a user that controls position, orientation, and force feedback between the user, the digital model, and a computer system;
- determining whether a user is signaling a mode change for the digital model;
- determining the mode change if the user is signaling a mode change of the digital model;
- getting a position of the haptic end effector device into a coordinate reference frame for the digital model if the user is not signaling a mode change of the digital model;
- determining whether a control handle on the digital model is close enough to the haptic end effector device;
- executing the mode change if the control handle is close enough;
- applying an attraction force to the control handle if the control handle is close enough;
- determining whether the user is terminating the session;
- and
- terminating the session if the user is terminating the session.
A method for virtual interactive design and evaluation and manipulation of a vehicle mechanism using a haptic-user interface, said method comprising the steps of:
- importing a digital model of a vehicle mechanism for evaluation using a haptic end effector device operatively connected to a haptic-user interface operated by a user that controls position, orientation, and force feedback between the user, the digital model, and a computer system;
- setting a mode equal to evaluate;
- determining whether the user is signaling a mode change for the digital model;
- changing the mode if the user is signaling a mode change of the digital model;
- getting a position of the haptic end effector device position into a coordinate reference frame for the digital model if the user is not signaling a mode change of the digital model;
- mapping the position of the haptic end effector device into CAD space of the digital model;
- finding the closest control handle on the digital model;
- determining whether the closest control handle on the digital model is close enough to the haptic end effector device;
- determining whether the user is signaling intent to activate the control handle if the closest control handle is close enough;
- determining the mode change and executing the mode change if the user is signaling intent to activate the control handle;
- applying an attraction force to the closest control handle if the closest control handle is close enough;
- updating graphics of the digital model;
- determining whether the user is terminating the session;
- and
- terminating the session if the user is terminating the session.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.