Prepare Custom Vehicle Mesh for the Unreal Editor

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

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

2. 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

3. 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.

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

2. 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:

1. On the Object Types pane, select Armature and Mesh.

2. 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.

3. On the Geometry pane:

   • Set Smoothing to Face

   • Select Apply Modifiers

4. 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

1. Open the Unreal Engine AutoVrtlEnv.uproject project in the Unreal Editor.

2. 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.