Rigid body proxy for modeling in three-dimensional simulation
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorRichard Gary McDaniel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Modeling is provided in three-dimensional simulation. Proxies are used as virtual rigid bodies to create (22) reusable part files. A custom physics object is defined (22) in the part file using the proxy to allow for control of object behavior, such as control of the rate of spinning of a spindle of a motor. By overriding (28) the part file with the proxy, links to up or owner part files may be made. Changes to physics properties in the different instances of proxies may be made without requiring or resulting in the same change to the other instances. The proxy acts as a virtual rigid body that may or may not move during simulation. The proxy body may be replaced with a rigid body from the assembly when both reference the same geometry object.
Claims20
A method for modeling in three-dimensional simulation, the method comprising:
- within a simulation processor, creating a parameterized first proxy body as part of a part file, that acts as a proxy for elements of the part file associated with rigid body behavior;
- instantiating, by the processor, the part file containing the parameterized first proxy body multiple times in a model of an assembly;
- propagating properties defined in the parameterized first proxy body, by the processor, of a first physics object to the multiple instantiations of the part file, the properties being settable differently for different ones of the instantiations and modifying the first physics object for a first instantiation of the multiple instantiations during the simulating, the modifying being performed during a runtime of the simulating after a start of the simulating and prior to a completion of the simulating, wherein the first physics object defines mass, movement, velocity, and/or articulation of a first rigid body;
- defining, by the processor, in an assembly the first rigid body;
- associating the first rigid body with the parameterized first proxy body through an encapsulated relationship with shared referenced objects;
- and
- simulating, by the processor, the assembly as a function of the multiple instantiations of the part file and the respective properties, wherein while the simulation is running tracking respective property changes of the multiple instances, wherein references to the first proxy body are replaced with the first rigid body if the first rigid body is associated with the first proxy body's geometry and no rigid body replacement is created for the first proxy body that is static during the simulation.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for modeling in three-dimensional simulation, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
- storing a part file including a proxy body and associated physics and geometries;
- using the part file multiple times for different instances of a corresponding part in an assembly wherein at least one of the different instances references the part file in another instance higher in a hierarchy of part files of the assembly;
- defining the physics of the proxy body for each use of the part file for the different instances separately by defining a proxy override for a first instance of the part during the simulation, modifying the physics of the proxy body for each use of the part file during runtime of the simulation;
- replacing during the simulation, a proxy body corresponding to the first instance of the part with a rigid body if the rigid body is associated with a geometry of the corresponding proxy body, and wherein no rigid body replacement is performed for a proxy body that is static during the simulation;
- and
- controlling, with the defined physics, each instance separately.
A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein data representing instructions executable by a programmed processor for modeling in three-dimensional simulation, the storage medium comprising instructions for:
- placing multiple instances of a part in the three-dimensional simulation, each part comprising a part file with a physics object wherein at least one of the different instances references the part file in another instance higher in a hierarchy of part files of the three-dimensional simulation;
- defining properties representing an interface to the physics object in the part file of the part by proxy;
- and
- maintaining values of the properties for the different instances of the part separately during the three-dimensional simulation by defining a proxy override for a first instance of the part during the simulation, modifying the properties for each of the different instances during runtime of the simulation;
- and
- replacing during the simulation, a proxy body corresponding to the first instance of the part with a rigid body if the rigid body is associated with a geometry of the corresponding proxy body, and wherein no rigid body replacement is performed for a proxy body that is static during the simulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.