ES305 Virtual Tools in Engineering Design Objects & Scripts

1. ES305Virtual Tools in Engineering DesignObjects & Scripts 11-09-2009 Prof. Searleman jets@clarkson.edu

2. Overview • Virtools • 3D object – mesh – material • Building Blocks Homework: Exercise 1 due today Exercise 2 due today Exercise 3 due: Wednesday, 11/11 (note that these are to be done individually) Getting Help: Eric Bomyea

3. Recap: Basic Concepts in Virtools • Level Manager: organizes the composition • Schematic: used to create, edit, and manage “scripts”; a script describes how an object behaves • Building Blocks (BBs): a library of behaviors, organized by the type of behavior and/or by the type of object to which the behavior can be applied • Data Resources (default: VirtoolsResources) project management tools – you can create a new data resource for each project • Media objects (such as a model, sound, or image) are added to the composition by dragging it from a Data Resource into the 3D Layout or Level Manager or by importing it via data resources

4. Level Scripts • Level scripts • used to create behaviors that are not bound to a particular object, but exist in the level (e.g. background, setup) • useful place to put a comment describing the composition

5. Virtools Exercises • add a level script at the top and insert a comment box containing your name, date & exercise# • schematics should be neat & easy to read • make sure all pIns are labelled (at least with the value) • print the scripts (in landscape mode) • turn in printouts & also copy your composition to your folder on the course drive: \\fs2\JCarroll\ES305 • Please make a subdirectory for your VR work (a working directory would also be useful)

6. Object – Mesh - Material • 3D mesh is the “wireframe” shape for an object • A mesh is often shared by several different objects to save space • A material is wrapped around the mesh • materials can be shared • can add a texture • color parameters: • ambient: multiplies the scene’s ambient color • diffuse: default surface color, depends on lights • specular: shiny highlights • emmisive: self-illumination

7. Ken’s Mug Andy’s Mug Mug Wireframe Blue Ceramic Shared Mesh and/or Material Dependency: if you delete Ken’s mug, you will be asked about dependencies. If you select “full”, Andy’s mug no longer has a shape!

8. Andy’s Mug Jim’s Mug Ken’s Mug Mike’s Mug Mike’s Mesh Ken’s Mesh Nelson’s Mesh Stainless Steel Ceramic Object, Mesh & Material Objects can share a mesh. A mesh can share a material. If you delete an object that is sharing a mesh or material, specify “no dependencies” (meaning that it will not delete the shared mesh or material).

9. Steps in creating a composition • Import objects (Resources|Import) or from VirtoolsResources • Use the Level Manager to set up your objects • rename • double-click an object to get 3D Object Setup • adjust the world coordinates (0,0,0) • rotate and scale as desired • change the color (if desired) • Add lighting • Add a camera & adjust it to view the object • SET INITIAL CONDITIONS on your objects (but not on the scripts)

10. Lights There are 3 types of lights in Virtools: directional lightpoint lightspot light directional < point < spot (in terms of complexity)

11. Add Lighting • Add a spot light • use the level manager to rename it • use Setup to position it • Add directional lighting • use the level manager to rename it • use Setup, select Directional • Position it, say at (0,10,0) • Change its orientation to (90,0,0)

12. Cameras There are 2 types of cameras in Virtools: • Target camera - always looking at a target defined by a frame - cannot specify orientation • Free camera - useful since you can change the orientation the Create Camera button creates a camera

13. Camera

14. Add a Camera • Add the camera • Use the Level Manager to rename it • Use Setup to change its coordinates (or position it using the toolbar to the left of the 3D Layout window)