Simulation and Analysis
Update the block diagram to assemble the model and visualize its initial
configuration. The visualization opens in Mechanics Explorer. Simulate the
model to play an interactive animation. Be sure to pick a solver suited for
physical models, such as Ode15s, and to specify a
maximum time step small enough to capture the fastest meaningful change
expected during simulation.
Open Camera Manager to add a moving,
dynamic camera with which to capture the animation. Dynamic cameras can be
of two types: keyframed or tracking. Keyframed cameras move between view
points created interactively in Mechanics Explorer. Tracking cameras attach
to and aim at frames in the model. Use Video Creator or the smwritevideo function to record
an animation in a video format.
Use the KinematicsSolver
class to create a kinematic representation of a model and formulate a
kinematic problem to solve. KinematicsSolver objects
contain all the joint variables available in a model. Complement them with
frame variables and assign both joint and frame variables as targets,
guesses, and outputs for analysis.
Visualization Utilities
| Camera Manager | Create, edit, and delete dynamic cameras |
| Mechanics Explorer | Visualize and explore multibody models |
| Video Creator | Configure and create multibody animation videos |
Functions
Topics
Basic Visualization
Set the model configuration parameters to ensure that Mechanics Explorer opens automatically on model update or simulation.
Manipulate the Visualization Viewpoint
Select a standard view, set the up-axis convention, and use mouse shortcuts to rotate, roll, pan, or zoom a model.
Workflow steps for updating and simulating a Simscape™ Multibody™ model.
Visualize a Model and Its Components
Visualization is not only a central part of a multibody simulation, but also an essential tool in modeling bodies and verifying their shapes, sizes, frame placements, and colors. Here is an overview of the visualization utilities available in the Simscape Multibody environment and the roles they play in your modeling workflow.
Visualize Simscape Multibody Frames
Use Mechanics Explorer frame highlights and Graphic blocks to visualize frames.
Advanced Visualization
Go to a Block from Mechanics Explorer
Use Mechanics Explorer to go to the block corresponding to a tree view pane node.
Visualization filtering as a means to selectively show and hide solids, bodies, and multibody subsystems in Mechanics Explorer.
Selectively Show and Hide Model Components
Use selective model visualization to show only those model components that are relevant to you.
Cameras and Video Creation
Use Camera Manager to create or edit a model visualization camera with a moving viewpoint.
Create a Model Animation Video
Save an animation in video format using Video Creator
or the smwritevideo function.
Distinction between dynamic cameras and the global camera. Camera Manager as a tool for creating dynamic cameras. Dynamic camera keyframe and tracking modes.
Review how model animations work and explore the basic controls available for animations.
