Objectives
The experience that the Technical Centre for Simulation of Renault's Vehicle Engineering Development has gathered through its participation in European projects such as Prometheus, TRaCS (TRuck and Coach Simulator) and CARDS (Comprehensive Automobile R&D Simulator) has been the base for the development of the SCANeR© II comprehensive driving simulation software system.
SCANeR© II is a set of application software allowing the user to build either a light or heavy vehicle simulation. SCANeR© II brings a full set of simulation tools, ranging from database creation, to real-time interactive simulation and to replay and post-processing.
Application areas include vehicle and road traffic R&D as well as driver training.
Software description
User oriented
- SCANeR© II offers an interface for user's proprietary modules
- The user can add new view points, additional driving stations and intelligent traffic
- The user invests only in the modules needed for the target application
- SCANeR© II is scalable according to available computational power
Modular Software
Distributed architecture
- Ethernet based communication back-bone.
- Multi-platform (WindowsTM, Linux®)
- Centralised, user-friendly, supervising application
SCANeR© II visual module runs on several 3D API (supporting OpenGL®) and displays environmental world and traffic, and if needed, virtual cockpit and corresponding animated cockpit elements.
The module can be interfaced with a head motion tracker to generate HMD-compatible stereo images as well as vehicle-related or fixed observer-related 3D views.
Based on Renault's extensive experience in vehicle dynamics, SCANeR© II dynamics model is based on multi-body analysis and real world measurements. The configuration capability allows to simulate the complete range of cars and trucks behaviours. The dynamics model is interfaced with an advanced road surface definition based on Bezier patches and including variable adherence, noise and road-type factors.
Beyond the accurate driving simulation environment, SCANeR© II provides supervision and analysis tools. The experimenter (or teacher) has a view of the vehicle and simulation data through real-time update of dials and maps. A driving session can be recorded and replayed. The scientist has access to the recording of vehicle behaviour and environment data (traffic, road infrastructure) of interest to experiments.
The supporting database structure of the simulation software (road network, road surface, 3D view of the world) is configurable through specific or commercial database tools.
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Application areas
- Vehicle systems ergonomics and safety studies (ACC, ABS, multimedia interface),
- Vehicle Behaviour (handling, power train),
- On board system safety studies,
- Perceptional studies (navigation, orientation),
- Accident-prone situations studies,
- Vehicle architecture,
- Basic and advanced driver training,
- Road infrastructure (crossings, horizontal and vertical signalisation).
Configurable software
SCANeR© II standard set of parameters can be modified by the user.
Main features
- Traffic set-up and intelligent vehicles behaviour
- Accurate vehicle dynamics (car or truck)
- Driving station interface
- Motion platform simulation strategy
- Surrounding environment and virtual driving cockpit
- Visual animation of the virtual driving station behaviour
Traffic generation is at the heart of SCANeR© II with a comprehensive traffic generation engine handling all types of road infrastructures (motorways, main and secondary roads).
An intuitive graphical interface allows to set-up traffic conditions and complex events beyond a back-ground traffic scenario, to fit the application.
The traffic generation is using a generic environment description database (TRaCS public format)
User group
Audi (Germany), CTAG (Spain), Fraunhofer (Germany), Hyundai (Korea), Japan Automobile Research Institute (Japan), Nissan (Japon), Peugeot (France), SINTEF (Norway), University of Minnesota (USA), University of Napoli (Italy), Renault-Volvo Trucks (France), Michelin (France), Transport Research Laboratory (UK), University of British Columbia (Canada), University of Coventry (UK), University of Marseille (France), Magna (Canada), etc….
Cooperation Agreement
Renault has signed a cooperation agreement with Oktal, the European Leader in the domain of driving simulation for the commercialization of Scaner II in 1997. Since 2005 Scaner II is in co-developement between Renault and Oktal. www.scaner2.com
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