Prepare Custom Vehicle Mesh for the Unreal Editor

This example uses:

Simulink 3D Animation Simulink 3D Animation

This example shows you how to create a vehicle mesh that is compatible with the project in the Vehicle Dynamics Blockset™ Interface for Unreal Engine^® Projects support package. You can specify the mesh in the Simulation 3D Vehicle or Simulation 3D Vehicle with Ground Following block to visualize the vehicle in the Unreal^® Editor when you run a simulation.

Before you start, install the Vehicle Dynamics Blockset Interface for Unreal Engine Projects support package. See Customize 3D Scenes for Vehicle Dynamics Simulations.

To create a compatible custom vehicle mesh, follow these workflow steps.

Step		Description
Step 1: Setup Bone Hierarchy		In a 3D creation environment, setup the vehicle mesh bone hierarchy and specify part names.
Step 2: Assign Materials		Optionally, assign materials to the vehicle parts.
Step 3: Export Mesh and Armature		Export the vehicle mesh and armature in .`fbx` file format.
Step 4: Import Mesh to Unreal Editor		Import the vehicle mesh into the Unreal Editor.
Step 5: Set Block Parameters		Set up the Simulation 3D Vehicle or Simulation 3D Vehicle with Ground Following block parameters.

Note

To create the mesh, this example uses the 3D creation software Blender^® Version 2.80.

Step 1: Setup Bone Hierarchy

Import a vehicle mesh into a 3D modeling tool, for example Blender.

To ensure that this mesh is compatible with the animation components in the Vehicle Dynamics Blockset Interface for Unreal Engine Projects support package, use this naming convention for the vehicle parts in the mesh.

Vehicle Part	Name
Chassis	VehicleBody
Front left wheel	Wheel_FL
Front right wheel	Wheel_FR
Rear left wheel	Wheel_RL
Rear right wheel	Wheel_RR
Steering wheel	Wheel_Steering
Left headlight	Lights_Headlight_Left
Right headlight	Lights_Headlight_Right
Left indicator light	Indicator_L
Right indicator light	Indicator_R
Number plate	Vehicle_Plate
Brake lights	Lights_Brake
Reverse lights	Lights_Reverse
Front left brake caliper	BrakeCaliper_FL
Front right brake caliper	BrakeCaliper_FR
Rear left brake caliper	BrakeCaliper_RL
Rear right brake caliper	BrakeCaliper_RR

Set the vehicle body object, VehicleBody as the parent of the wheel objects and other vehicle objects.

Step 2: Assign Materials

Optionally, assign material slots to vehicle parts. In this example, the mesh uses one material for the chassis and one for the four wheels.

Create and assign material slots to the vehicle chassis. Confirm that the first vehicle slot corresponds to the vehicle body.
Create and assign material slots to the wheels.

Step 3: Export Mesh and Armature

Export the mesh and armature in the .fbx file format. For example, in Blender:

On the Object Types pane, select Armature and Mesh.
On the Transform pane, set:
- Scale to 1.00
- Apply Scalings to All Local
- Forward to X Forward
- Up to Z Up
Select Apply Unit.
On the Geometry pane:
- Set Smoothing to Face
- Select Apply Modifiers
On the Armature pane, set:
- Primary Bone Axis to X Axis
- Secondary Bone Axis to Z Axis
Select Export FBX.

Step 4: Import Mesh to Unreal Editor

Open the Unreal Engine AutoVrtlEnv.uproject project in the Unreal Editor.
In the editor, import the FBX^® file as a skeletal mesh. Assign the Skeleton to the SK_PassengenerVehicle_Skeleton asset.
Note
If you cannot select SK_PassengenerVehicle_Skeleton, click the gearbox. Make sure Show Engine Content and Show Plugin Content are both selected.

Step 5: Set Block Parameters

In your Simulink^® model, set these Simulation 3D Vehicle or Simulation 3D Vehicle with Ground Following block parameters:

Type to Custom.
Path to the path in the Unreal Engine project that contains the imported mesh.

External Websites

Blender