Constructing a virtual environment for multibody simulation software using photogrammetry

Abstract

Real-time simulation models based on multibody system dynamics can replicate reality with high accuracy. As real-time models typically describe machines that interact with a complicated environment, it is important to have an accurate environment model in which the simulation model operates. Photogrammetry provides a set of tools that can be used to create a three-dimensional environment from planar images. A created environment and a multibody-based simulation model can be combined in a Unity environment. This paper introduces a procedure to generate an accurate spatial working environment based on an existing real environment. As a numerical example, a detailed environment model is created from a University campus area.