International Newsletter vol.32 2010/6
6.1.2010
FORUM8 Co., Ltd.
----Headlines----

--------New product Introduction and marketing news--------
-UC-win/Road for RoboCar and Joint marketing agreement by and between FORUM8 and ZMP
-UC-win/Road Cluster Option
-UC-win/Road for SaaS
-UC-win/Road SensoDrive Simulator

-------Conferences, training and seminars
-Upcoming conference introduced
-Seminar schedule in Shanghai and Seoul is announced below

Tell your colleagues and acquaintances to become a subscriber. Application form.
 New product introduction-
UC-win/Road for RoboCar(R) Now in development
UC-win/Road for RoboCar plug-in option is an integrated simulation system with car robotics platform scale model car "RoboCar" and real time VR "UC-win/Road".
VR simulation system can be used to control 1/10 electric car scale model on model road. This can be performed by integrating "UC-win/Road", which is the virtual reality soft with well-developed driving simulation function and "RoboCar", which is the car robotics platform mounted robot technology. 

This system allows users to create precision space images, many different styles of traffic environment and scenarios by using virtual space in VR, and experiment with them. It can be used for research development of car robotics including autonomous driving, advanced safety vehicle, and ITS.


visit: UC-win/Road for RoboCar page to see the movie


Running RoboCar(R) in the office


Creating the driving environments and running in VR space can be performed. Case example of UC-win/Road for RoboCar(R)

Setting windows of RoboCar's vehicle performance

Various driving environments and interaction can be supposed

Scale model car powered by robotic technology (ZMP)
RoboCar(R) RoboCar & SDK 2010>> UC-win/Road SDK


Sophisticated environment recognition platform

  • Stereo camera image processing module
    With the built-in stereo camera and image processing module, realize real time image processing and experiments on autonomous motion algorithms inside a laboratory.

  • Infrared distance sensors

    The platform is equipped with infrared sensors that can be used for obstacle detection, parking assistance, etc. Sensors are placed on the front, rear and flanks of the car, users can freely decide of their location.

  • Small size laser range finder
    As an option, a small laser range finder can be mounted on the platform. It is very useful to achieve a real autonomous motion system.


    Structure of the platform


Electric car scale model
  • Electric car system
    As the ECU (Electronic control unit), main controller that controls the motor driver, the main motor and the servo motor for the steering gear. We propose a real electric car system.

  • Wireless remote control
    Using the Wi-Fi module, you can control the model car remotely from a PC or remote controller. It is useful for research that need direct human control of the vehicle.


Use case examples
Test of obstacle avoidance algorithm
Research on autonomous driving

Joint marketing agreement by and between FORUM8 and ZMP
Driving simulator of FORUM8 and Robo car(R), car robotics platform by ZMP will be linked.
FORUM8 and ZMP have agreed on the mutual cooperation to accelerate the development of cars, next generation mobility system and autonomous moving robots.
In the initial phase, "UC-win/Road for RoboCar", VR simulation system is being developed. It links "UC-win/Road", VR software by FORUM8 and "RoboCar (R)", car robotics platform by ZMP.
It allows the simulation of autonomous mobile robots as well as cars for office cleaning and security and conveyance of the plant, both in the virtual and the real environment .
The second phase will involve the development of VR simulation system which can detect the driver's driving posture and driving trend by linking "UC-win/Road" and "e-nuvo IMU-Z", ZMP's 9-axis motion sensor.



UC-win/Road Cluster Option Large scale multi VR

Overview
The standard feature of the current UC-win/Road allows 4 channel displays per PC.
FORUM8 is currently developing UC-win/Road cluster system to increase the number of channels to display screen image.
This system can synchronize multiple PCs and project images to multiple monitors. Increased channels lead to more effective immersion because of the enlarged projection area. The system will be applicable to simulator with 360 degree cylindrical screen, conference room and the simulation in control room. 

Features
  1. Allows easy settings and operations
  2. Flexible system with no limitations to the number and configuration of clustered PCs
  3. All functions of UC-win/Road can be used on clustered configurations
  4. Improved performance on clustered system compared with single PC system
  5. A multi purpose system for various simulations, because all elements are synchronized on the system

 synchronization of flags, fire and smoke, vehicles and snow


Implementing clustered system
Multiple PCs are inter-connected on LAN and one PC calculates for the simulation. The result is sent to other machines for displaying, which processes images. In this system, a machine to perform simulation is called "server" and machines to display images are called "slave machines". The calculation and processing images are performed as follows.
  1. A simulation calculation for each displayed flame

  2. Sends data, which is necessary to show flames to slave machines
  3. While the slave machines process images, the server calculates data, which are necessary for the next flame.
  4. The server can receive data of the next one flame while processing images, when the calculation of the server (3) ends earlier than the processing. This optimization minimizes the influence of data sending/receiving time. Multi cast IP is employed to send data to the slave machines. It minimizes the work load of server machines and networks.
  5. After image processing finishes, the server will perform the next calculation and data sending.

In the cluster system, 1 server machine basically performs simulation and slave machines solely process images. Because of the distributed processing, the system will realize improved performance. Since the former UC-win/Road version processes the calculation in a single thread except for the traffic, it required independent processing of calculation and processing images. As a result of optimized use of multi CPU and multi-core CPU on the standard configuration of the UC-win/Road, we can see the improved performance of 3D trees, flags, clothes, fire and smoke and the animation of MD3 characters.

The data, which server sends to the slave machines, are the information and attribute of moving elements. Each slave machine processes image after receiving data and updating 3D space. Since the amount of information becomes huge when processes complicated shapes such as 3D trees, flags, clothes and rain and snows, it is impossible to send these kinds of data with high speed on network. Therefore, for the processing of these objects, server sends minimum parameters for the calculation and the slave machines processes the calculation.

About the function
Since it has additional functions necessary for clustering based on the standard UC-win/Road, the system has all the features of the standard UC-win/Road. To minimize operations of slave machines, all the operation except for the initial settings can be done on server machines. At the time of simulation, operation is done by server machine and visualization is done by slave machines. The cluster system is operable only with following settings and using function.

Initial setting of slaves slave machine name, network address of server
Server displayed area by slave machines
cut out of slave machines
restart, shut down and data import of slave machines
switching to server/ standard mode or automatic start of server mode
simulation start/ end


Performance benchmark
We benchmarked the performance to check the validity of this system. We have found its improved performance compared with the standard UC-win/Road system and that the number of clustered PC does not affect the performance. In addition, by comparing 4channel configuration of clustered with the standard, we have seen the improvement by 140%. By comparing 15 slave machines and standard 1 channel, we have seen the improvement by 20 %.

 
 Cluster configuration, how to process separately

Future development

The basic function of the cluster system is to realize synchronized display of one virtual reality environment on multiple PCs. The function improves the sense of immersion and the system is applicable to other usage than the improved sense of immersion. For example, single image of VR is broadcasted to people and driving simulation by a number of people in the same VR environment is done, taking the interaction with other people into account.   

UC-win/Road for SaaS 3D VR in a Cloud Computing environment!
Now in development
This system utilizes the general mechanism of SaaS. Users are able to remotely operate inside the UC-win/Road environment that is run by the server and received by the client on a lighter version of the software. UC-win/Road for SaaS has adapted Adobe Flash Player technology, one of the most popular client engines. As well as being an online video streaming service, which is becoming very prominent at the moment, UC-win/Road for SaaS is an interactive real-time VR system.
 Related information
 "Cloud Computing Expo"(May 12th-14th, Tokyo) video report is on "DigInfo News".
"UC-win/Road for SaaS enables 3D VR in a cloud computing environment"
English:
DigInfo  http://www.diginfo.tv/2010/05/27/10-0070-r-en.php
YouTube
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-qm9Tw-c38
Program features




Real time 3D model preview
from remote Web browser

Grand Prix winner of the 8th 3D VR Simulation Contest, 2009
"VR Data for Ohashi Junction of Metropolitan Expressway"
Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited
8th 3D VR Simulation Contest review
Interactive view operation, changing view by mouse dragging




Enabling various kinds of virtual 3D space such as driving and traffic simulation Users can use wide varieties of visual option including fire and smoke, lighting, shadow, weather and etc.


Data share and publication

Publishing VR Model on the Web
  • Open Web Access


    VR Model made by UC-win/Road can be published on the web for anyone to access and follow the project in VR environment. Since VR spaces can be manipulated freely, it will attract interest from wide range of people. By publishing large-scale VR model, which can be easily updated using the functions of UC-win/Road, we anticipate that this system will be a great tool to gather and respond to feedback from clients.

  • Web Seminar and Internet Broadcast

    Web seminars, using only UC-win/Road, will be possible. Using the presentation and simulation features of UC-win/Road, presentations and demonstrations can be given to dozens of online attendees.  The host can operate UC-win/Road on a PC and attendees can access the data using internet browsers. In addition, by connecting the video streaming server which is available separately, broadcasting to large amount of people becomes possible.


  • SaaS Clustering Configuration

    All users can share the same VR environment including traffic conditions, time and weather by using UC-win/Road cluster configuration.


System feature
  • Features

    The following features are available to the users accessing the VR model remotely using the client engine.

    1. Selection of previously-saved viewpoints

    2. Panning using the mouse

    3. Selection of contexts (VR environment settings)

    4. Travel on road and flight paths

    5. Script execution

    Using one PC, acting as the server and running a standard copy of UC-win/Road, the host can set the maximum number of clients, the password and the incoming port number, making it easy to begin and end sessions.


  • Data Transfers

    This program employs HTTP as the server-client communication protocol. The server connects to the Flash client and sends images, and then the client receives operation commands. Image Transfer uses the H263 codec, which is compatible with Flash, and the resolution and the compression can be altered. When the connection speed with the client is slow, the frame rate is automatically reduced so that the image runs smoothly.


  • Server and Cluster Configuration

    Since the number of clients connected to one server is limited, you can configure multiple servers. Multiple servers can be synchronized by using UC-win/Road clustering option.


Related Functions

Functions of UC-win/Road for SaaS can also be used for uses other than for SaaS.
Virtual Camera Devices and DirectShow Filters

These are UC-win/Road real-time video outputs. We developed UC-win/Road Virtual Camera and DirectShow filters so that it can link with other applications that use video capturing devices. The images generated by UC-win/Road are sent to the Virtual Camera, which is interpreted by the OS as a standard camera device. Since these images can be transferred over the network, UC-win/Road and the Virtual Camera can be used on individual PCs. This function enables the following applications:

  • Meetings combined with instant messaging service
    Meetings combined with instant messaging service. Using UC-win/Road Virtual Camera instead of webcams in video-enabled instant messaging programs allows you to send UC-win/Road images.

  • Recording and editing videos
    Since most video editing applications can import video captured by cameras, users can connect directly to video editing applications without using intermediary file using virtual camera and DirectShow filters.

  • Video streaming server
    Images can be obtained remotely using network communications. The obtained data can be processed by the video streaming server using the Virtual Camera device and the Direct Show Filter and broadcasted to a large number of people.


UC-win/Road SensoDrive Simulator Now in development
Combination of SENSO-Wheel and CarSim enables highly realistic driving experience inside UC-win/Road
Main Features and Functions
  1. Haptic Technology

    Realistic feedback can be achieved using SENSO-Wheel, which sends information about the steering and in turn, receives simulation data from UC-win/Road.

  2. Parameter Settings

    Apart from feedback, friction, damping and spring rate can be adjusted

  3. Calibration

    The central position of the steering wheel and its maximum rotation can be adjusted freely.



What is SENSO-Wheel?
  • Function

    SENSO-Wheel is a steering wheel controller with haptic technology, developed by SENSODRIVE.

    The motor inside the steering wheel allows the controller to simulate a realistic feedback of vehicles.


Main Usage Examples
  • Driver Training

    Simulation of Badly Maintained Roads

    Simulation of Tortuous Roads

    Examination for Road Maintenance


CarSim 8.02


CarSim is a simulator that is developed by Mechanical Simulation Corp. that can be used to analyze and evaluate the physical feedback of passenger and small commercial vehicles in various driving and environmental conditions.

Conferences, training and seminars
Up coming conference and trade shows

FORUM 8 will participate following conference

SimTecT2010
Monday 31 May - Thursday 3 June, Brisbane, Australia
http://www.siaa.asn.au/simtect.html

Overseas Training and Seminars

Seminars in Shanghai will be held on the following schedule.

Venue:
Shanghai - Shanghai Seminar room (FORUM8 Technology Development(Shanghai) Co., Ltd) MAP

Seoul : FORUM8 Korean Office, Seoul Address

Seminar Date City
UC-win/Road VR  June 16th , 2010 Seoul
July 8th, 2010 Seoul
UC-win/Road Advanced June 22nd, 2010 Seoul
Engineer's Studio, 
UC-win/FRAME (3D)
 
 
June 3rd, 2010 Shanghai 
July 16th, 2010  Seoul
xpswmm (Road for xpswmm)   July 29th, 2010 Shanghai
Maxsurf  June 24, 2010 Shanghai
OSCADY/TRANSYT   June 8, 2010 Seoul
 July 6, 2010 Shanghai
Multiframe  July 13, 2010 Shanghai
DesignBuilder  July 20, 2010 Shanghai
Participation Fee
Participation Fee Free


For more information and applications, please email us at

mailto:forum8@forum8.co.jp



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