Method and apparatus for determining virtual visibility
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsRobert Neil Britten-Austin, John Sanderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for determining virtual visibility is disclosed. The method includes modeling at least one object in a virtual space and plotting at least one surface from a first predetermined location relative to the at least one object within the virtual space. The method further includes identifying at least one interference between the at least one object and the at least one surface. The method still further includes determining a first characteristic of the at least one interference and determining if the first characteristic is within a predetermined range.
Claims20
A method for determining interferences within a sight path of a vehicle operator comprising:
- executing a computer executable program stored within a memory of a computer to perform the following:
- modeling at least one object that represents a vehicle in a virtual space and plotting at least one surface from a first predetermined location to a perimeter relative to the at least one object within the virtual space;
- identifying a first and second intersections between the at least one object and the at least one surface;
- projecting a first and second datum curve through the first and the second identified intersections, the first and second datum curves being tangent to the first predetermined location and defining a first minimum chord along the perimeter therebetween;
- identifying at least one interference between the at least one object and the at least one surface based on the first minimum chord;
- determining a first characteristic of the at least one interference;
- and
- determining if the first characteristic is within a predetermined range.
A design environment for evaluating a sight path of a vehicle operator comprising:
- a computer;
- a virtual space;
- and
- a computer executable program configured to:
- model an object that represents a vehicle at least partially based on user inputs within the virtual space,
- project a surface through the model within the virtual space from a first predetermined location to a perimeter, and
- identify in the virtual space first and second intersections between the model and the surface, and
- project first and second datum curves respectively through the first and second identified intersections, the first and second datum curves being tangent to the first predetermined location and defining a minimum chord along the perimeter therebetween, and
- identify at least one interference between the object and the surface based on the minimum chord,
- determine a first characteristic of the at least one interference, and
- determine if the first characteristic is within a predetermined range.
A method of determining visibility of a sight path of a vehicle operator, comprising:
- executing a computer executable program stored within a memory of a computer to perform the following:
- generating a model within a virtual three-dimensional space, the model being indicative of a first object that represents a vehicle;
- generating a surface from a first predetermined location to a perimeter within the virtual three-dimensional space, the surface being indicative of a sight path from a given perspective;
- identifying first and second intersections between the first object and the surface;
- projecting a first and second datum curve respectively through the first and second identified intersections, the first and second datum curves being tangent to the first predetermined location and defining a first minimum chord along the perimeter therebetween;
- approximating a first portion along the perimeter unviewable from the given perspective relative to the first object at least partially based on the first minimum chord;
- identifying at least one interference between the first object and the surface based on the first minimum chord;
- determining a first characteristic of the at least one interference;
- and
- determining if the first characteristic is within a predetermined range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.