The most exciting part of any simulator is by far the image generator module and SCANeR II has enough of it. SCANeR II interestingly includes multiple image generator applications. Before looking into each IG module, we must note that all IG modules are based on good old OpenGL Performer, which sadly is not being developed anymore. We couldn't simply write an article and not mention the future of these modules. OKTAL seems to have already looked into the issue. Julien Hanower made the issue clear for us:
Extending our products accessibility, and more particularly Visual Modules, is one of our major concerns. In order to achieve this goal, OKTAL has decided to enlarge the SCANeRŠII Community by joining the OpenScenGraph community.
Based on an open architecture, the new version of the Visual Module will enable the users to develop their own plug-in or to share their rendering module with the Openscengraph users.
This new version will be compliant with the existing databases and will include a wide range of special effects. The users will be able to manage the migration at their own pace, OKTAL will be supporting both Performer and Openscengraph versions until end of 2007!
Day Time Image Generator
Day Time Image Generator provides basic day time simulation visualization with common elements like terrain, vehicles, animated vehicle lights and traffic lights as well as pedesterians, motorbikes and bicycles. The image generator can be configured with text configurations files.
Day Time Image Generator with special effects such as rain,snow and fog
This image generator application is an alternative to the standard day time image generator and adds special effects like
- advanced fog with halo effects of headlights in fog and definable fog zones
- rain, snow
- sky with adjustable clouds and lighting effects
- wind (changing behaviour of rain, snow and clouds)
Night Time Image Generator
A good deal of headlight simulation functionality can be found in SCANeRII. This has been made possible with specialized image generator application which can handle headlights, rear-light, stop-lights and indicators. The night time image generator uses OpenGL pixel shaders for rendering based on photometric data and a number of GUI tools are available for configuration of photometric data based simulations. The dazzle effect is based on the Spencer image proceeding algorithm and simulates light beams realistically. Below, an example cartography data is shown in the SCANeR II Cartography Viewer:
Moreover, a well defined interface connects the AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) algorithm to the simulator,hence the algorithm can be changed with a new algorithm any time without making changes to the rest of the framework. The AFS algorithm code shall simply be wrapped in a DLL and a C++ class defines the concrete interface of the DLL. DLL will be loaded and managed by the SCANeRII interface later on.
