Walkthrough Design software

[Inerested]

Hi All
Just wondering if any of the design software that I have read so much about ( newbie here) allows you to design a boat ....but also allow you to walk through it. Much like the computer games quake, doom, half-life etc. I know that some software allows you to do walk throughs but I wasnt sure if applications like Rhino allowed you to do it.

I guess that the reasons why I was curious about it, was that if you could do walk throughs and interact with elements of the design, such as opening a cupboard door, or turning on lights etc.
As a person who plays computer games and knows that gamers can create maps and interact with elements of the map. I thought that if a designer could interact with elements of their design then it would enable the designer to give clients a more realistic feel to the design , instead of the traditional top down / side view 's or 3d interpretations. Or perhaps even to resolve potential trouble spots such as maintainence in bilge bays, or that galley cupboard that always seems to be in the way.
Could anyone enlighten me if design software can do this? or am I being unrealistic.
Thanks

I think we'll see more advanced modeling and rendering and walkthru's or at least 360 views used as a selling tool for larger boats, but remember that it takes a lot of time to build such a model.

Drawings are an efficient way to represent an idea, and likewise with perspectives and exterior or select interior models, but when you're talking about a rendered interactive model with opening doors and with materials mapped to everything, you're talking about a lot of extra work still... essentially building the full boat in longhand rather than just working out the formula necessary to create it. Also as far as using the walkthru to solve problems, I think most of the problems would actually be worked out in building the model, not necessarily in walking through it. Finally remember that, except for very large and megayachts, the interior spaces of most cruisers and motoryachts is broken up into many small spaces, so this doesn't necessarily lend itself to a great walkthru view of every space - maybe it would be ok.

My opinion would be that it's coming, but it's not here quite yet. And the software will most likely be general architectural or general modeling software rather than marine specific, with the hull form imported and then the interior rendered / animated using rendering and animation software which is created for a larger market (right now probably 5k or more to do the job right)

[Gades]

A couple of years ago, at the "SURV V: SURVEILLANCE, PILOT AND RESCUE CRAFT" conference, held at Southampton by RINA, one of the companies showed us a nice presentation of a Pilot Boat. It included a walkthrough; but I don't know how interactive that was.

So, if two years ago it was being done, for sure you can do it now. It's just way too time consuming.

[Polarity]

There are a couple of add ons for Rhino that claim to provide walk through - cant see why it would be too difficult.

http://www2.rhino3d.com/resources/


Paul

[tspeer]

Not a exactly walkthrough, but I've found a useful way to visualize the interior is to put the hull shell and interior structure in different CAD layers. Then you can simply de-select the hull to strip away the skin and show what's inside. You can easily see all the small storage areas, etc., and see how everything relates.

[Gades]

Originally posted by Polarity
There are a couple of add ons for Rhino that claim to provide walk through - cant see why it would be too difficult.
Paul

Originally posted by Fernando
It's just way too time consuming.

Well, I think that once you've got a proper 3D modelling, it'd be worth to get a walkghrough. But, getting the modelling is too much time. You have to make sure that it's a small percentage of the total, so that you can justify it (IMO).

Another thing with current software and current human-to-computer interfaces, building up the level of detail necessary for a walkthru (detail of every cabin, head, etc.) will make the model very difficult to work with. If you did discover anything at all major that a customer wanted to change like changing the configuration of the cabins, it would mean a lot more time to remodel and retexture the highly detailed and bulky model. It takes a lot of time to build up the hierarchy of layers in the model, and even then, the more detailed the model, the more time it takes to sift through each and every detail to make any major change.

[Mike D]

Hi Inerested

Don't even think about it (unless you win the Lottery).

The walk-through design software requires a 3-D model definition that is extremely time-consuming to prepare. There is nothing yet available for home-use and it will be years before it comes onto the market.

This is not your typical Windows software on a desk-top. Think of Sun or HP work-stations and hi-definition 27" monitors or bigger. But here's a start if you want to browse;
http://www.bodrum-bodrum.com/vorteks/arsenal/papers.htm just slide your mouse over the selections near the top of the screen and the various menus drop down. It is an excellent site for shipyards and big design houses/consultants and the shape of things to come for boats.
Michael

[Inerested]

Thanks Mike. I did suspect that if there was any software out there that it would cost the GDP of a small country. The link gave me a look in on how the other half live.

[WPLANE]

We were thinking the same thing around the office-wouldn't it be nice to do a real time walk through of your Rhino models? Well one of our engineers is also a software developer and he got to work on it. As of now he has developed the basic module which exports models directly from Rhino including material properties, etc. The program is extremely small in size and works like a video game, so you can literally move around inside or outside your model in real-time. It's pretty cool, but still in its infancy. Right now he's adding additional features such as texture mapping and "eye height snapping" which can be toggled on and off to provide a more realistic "walk" through.
When he's finished he will post the software on the Rhino site and I'll let you guys know, probably a few months away. I think he's planning on selling the viewer for a pretty reasonable price, around 50 bucks.
Tim

[Mike D]

I am truly amazed at the power and the adaptability of modern software despite it still being only at the baby-crawling stage.

Some of the rendered images that are popping up in every nook and cranny are a tremendous marketing aid and clients are demanding it as part of the natural process.

When I think of a walk-through I mean the client selecting the route, not a guided tour arranged by the developers. Just imagine walking around inside a holographic image. Or looking at a projection showing me where to fasten a pipe hanger or a cable tray. Some light interference trickery when the thing's in the right place.

Small boats are alien to me, I like to stand in the wheelhouse, for example, of something about 600 feet long. Look around, ask to change the size of windows. Re-arrange a few things. Tour a few cabins.

Walk into the engine room and look around, see things about 25m way, say 80 feet, in any direction. See the machinery, walk alongside a piping system and put out my hand to check that the valve hand-wheel is at a comfortable height and location for easy access and operation. That poor system and the work it does sorting out the hidden parts.

A system that is working with design software like NAPA, manufacturing using TRIBON or something equal, a kind of imaging as you describe. I wonder when that will be available, under Win21XX and a Pentium DXII?

It will come about for sure. Ship design software hardly existed 25 years ago because the CAD systems were geared to Production. Look at things now!

Quite a step-up from my old slide-rule.
JBN

[Toro]

Does any one have the Tribon Cd? please let me know if any one can send me a copy in

ar_giahi@hotmail.com i think all of us need a personal copy for ourselves ;-)

write to me please

[8knots]

If I had deep pockets and were a production builder. I think my first step into this world as a selling tool would be to set up interactive color choices
such as an outboard profile with a color pallet of standard stocked colors with an option to pantone match at an additional charge or a galley view with a pallet of Corian or granite counter tops, teak or holly cabin sole, cabinet wood choices and so on. In the 3-D world this not ungodly hard with a competant pc guy running the thing for the client. I think if you get the wife to like the colors of stuff in the boat she's as good as sold! Men are the easy part....BIG Diesels and lots of electronics and switches and junk.
Thats my 2 cents 8Knots

[nico]

The animation add in to Rhino (Bongo) is available on the web as a beta, it s very easy to use, and does nice animation.

[raceday]

http://www.discreet.com/products/pro...ml?prod=3dsvizhttp://www.discreet.com/products/products.html?prod=3dsviz

This program is by discreet and does beautiful walkthroughs to present your product. Call for thier demo CD.