VIRTAC - America's Cup simulator

Discussion in 'Software' started by Andrew Mason, Jun 4, 2014.

  1. Andrew Mason
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    Andrew Mason Senior Member

    Thought this might be of interest to those on this board.

    Although I'm no longer involved in the development of Maxsurf, I have remained busy in the America's Cup field. For the past 8 months I have been developing a first-person, virtual-reality based simulator for use by America's Cup sailors and designers. It's not a game, its intended as a tool for both the design team, for the visualisation of dynamic foiling stability; and for the sailing team.

    In particular, the sailing team won't be able to launch an AC62 for the next 2 1/2 years, and will only have 5 months of practice before they start racing. The challengers will also only have one boat, and if they damage the hulls beyond 20% of their surface area, they are out of the contest.

    So there is a real need for a training tool that allows the team to practice and learn the characteristics of the boat in a risk free environment. The software is still under development but you can get an idea of the potential at www.virtac.com.au



    http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=91657&stc=1&d=1401938060
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Virtac

    Dr. Mason this looks fantastic! Very impressive! Any chance of "regular" sailors being able to try it some time down the line?
    I'm about to start testing my large RC foiler trimaran test model and, down the line a bit, I want to use video goggles and an onboard camera and video transmitter to sail the boat. There is some relatively inexpensive equipment
    available now to make this work. I developed a video piloted RC helicopter almost 30 years ago and it was incredible fun! The boat won't be as great a challenge but it should be almost as much fun.
    I wish you great luck with this project and I'll watch this thread for updates!
     
  3. Andrew Mason
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    Andrew Mason Senior Member

    Hi Doug

    The technology for Virtual Reality is developing so fast it is sure to be feasible at relatively low cost on a high end game console within a couple of years. The pace of development in the hardware and software associated with VR at the moment is quite staggering, and Facebook buying Oculus for $2billion is just going to speed things up even further.

    Regarding an RC piloted boat, have a look at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/giroptic/the-worlds-first-full-hd-360-camera. If mounted on a boat it would be able to provide 360 degree video that could be viewed with an Oculus Rift, allowing you to look around, even look up at the rig.

    Cheers

    Andrew
     
  4. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Andrew, that sounds great. I tried to go to the link but it wouldn't open. A lot of the so-called "FPV"(first person view) equipment on rcgroups.com seems pretty sophisticated and relatively inexpensive-like goggles with head tracking. I'm going to look into the Oculus Rift which I hadn't run across in my limited research so far-thanks. Looking forward to seeing the link when you can fix it-unless it's my computer(!)
     
  5. Andrew Mason
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    Andrew Mason Senior Member

  6. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Giroptic

    =======================
    Funny, Dr. Mason, I just opened my GoPro to get ready to use it on the test model---and it didn't work! I bought it in 2012 and it took me this long to be ready for it and now zilch. GoPro says no returns and no repairs.
    And now, thanks to you I've found the GoPro Crusher!!! This thing is outstanding-its more than outstanding it's the PERFECT camera for my Test Model! I can't thank you enough!
     
  7. Andrew Mason
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    Andrew Mason Senior Member

    Attached Files:

  8. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    =================
    Dr. Mason-not sure if it's my computer or not but when I click on the link a window opens but nothing happens......
    UPDATE: just takes a while to open...thanks!
     
  9. Andrew Mason
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    Andrew Mason Senior Member

    Full AC62 model with rig now complete:
     

    Attached Files:

  10. farjoe
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    farjoe Senior Member

    lovely models. One concern...with the daggerboards placed so much forward and a highly raked mast, wouldn't there be loads of weatherhelm?
     
  11. Mikko Brummer
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    Mikko Brummer Senior Member

    Looks great. For some reason I can not open the IGS-file of the rig - I don't have Rhino.

    I wonder if it would be too bold to ask to put the whole preliminary AC62 model in public domain... It would be so nice to run simulations with, to gain more understanding about how the force/moments balance on a foling cat goes - particularly wing pitching moment against gravity forces and daggerboard-T-rudder lift.
     
  12. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Wallying

    Andrew, thanks for the Part 1 and 2 articles on Upwind Performance/Foiling! First time I've heard of "Wallying" .
    Is there more to the backstory on the term "Wallying"? Who was Wally? (hah)



    "........ in a technique known as "Wallying", first formalized by Ockam Instruments and used by Dennis Conner and the Stars & Stripes crew during the 1987 America’s Cup.
     
  13. Andrew Mason
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    Andrew Mason Senior Member

    Hi Doug,

    I originally thought wally was just a made up name until I got an email from Bruce Nelson (one of Stars & Stripes designers) who told me that the system was named after Dick Wally, a team benefactor who funded the development by Rich McCurdy at Ockam
     
  14. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Wallying

    Andrew, that is so cool-thank you! And thanks for your work.....
     

  15. Doug Lord
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    Doug Lord Flight Ready

    Ac**

    Andrew, saw your post on sa-glad this boat change won't adversely affect you.
     
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