Collisions with CRASHBOX

The most spectacular innovation is that vehicles can collide with other cars and rigid objects. Damages to the vehicle can be controlled by the simulation using various deformer objects. This feature is only available with the CRASHBOX Add-on.

The following new features are included in the free update:

Simulation object and vehicle objects

DRIVE! can now simultaneously simulate any number of vehicles that can interact with each other. All vehicle objects are subordinated to a simulation object. If several cars use the same driving line, they are automatically positioned in a row at the start and try (optionally) to comply with an adjustable minimum distance. By defining a lateral offset, you can avoid that all cars are lined up like pearls on a string.

Collisions of the body with the ground

In DRIVE! 1.0 the simulation was finished, when the car has rolled over. The new version calculates the collisions of the body to the ground, so that a car can roll over several times and can even continue to drive when it randomly comes back on its wheels. The shape of the body object is therefore not only defined by length, width and height, but also includes s simplyfied shape of the roof.

More precise drivability

The limitation of the steering rate was abolished. Entering a high value, e.g. 300°/sec, steering movements will be made very directly, which is noticeable especially in the car control when the tail swings off.

Editable start position

The starting position of the car is no longer necessarily at the beginning of the driving route. Additionally, you can choose the position of the first command object or enter the position and orientation numerically.

Improved learning mode

The results from the learning phase, are now almost 100% reproducible.

Animatable simulation parameters

In the new version you can now change more parameters than previously during the running simulation using key-frames or XPresso. Thus, you can e.g. create beautiful slow motion effects by changing the time scale.

Tracks with rail splines

Optionally, the tracks of the wheels can now be fitted with a rail spline, so that they always lie perfectly on the ground even in steep turns or sloping terrain.

Data recording

Previously you had to create a data object to include the output of the vehicle data when recording the simulation to key-frames. In DRIVE! 1.5 animation tracks for the output data are assigned to the vehicle object, where you can select which data categories are recorded. For compatibility reasons and to ensure a "baked" scene with all XPresso connections will work also on computers without DRIVE!, the data object is still available.