The rFactor Pro product is the outcome of a major development partnership with a high budget racing team, to create a simulator that is not only physically accurate, but which is also visually and aurally realistic. By creating detailed 3D models of tracks and vehicles and accurately modelling their vehicle dynamics we are able to offer virtualized engineering development, setup evaluation, driver training, race engineer training and strategy evaluation. Over the next year we wish to expand our user base into other teams and automotive manufacturers, with whom we can work to ensure that the product brings genuine commercial benefits in terms of performance improvements and cost savings through virtualised testing, development and training.
rFactor Pro takes the graphics, sound and network code from next year’s rFactor game and adds a detailed, accurate physics engine with a high sample rate. The engine is deterministic and samples every aspect of the suspension, steering, tyres, aerodynamics and drive-train 800 times per second. Simulation even includes applying gyroscopic precession to rotating components and the transfer of torque from drive-train components into the chassis.
A ‘plugin’ architecture allows the replacement of all or part of the vehicle model. An existing vehicle model may be run real-time inside rFactor Pro, taking control inputs from the simulator and passing back the vehicle’s position, orientation and other state variables to allow rFactor to render the vehicle aurally and visually. Alternatively, individual aspects of the simulation may be replaced, for example the tyre model, aero model and engine maps could be replaced, while leaving the rest of the vehicle model unchanged.
Multiple plugins may run simultaneously, as in the example above where aspects of the vehicle model are replaced, but also to allow you to run hardware-in-the-loop, for example running control strategies from an existing ECU, either over Ethernet or the CAN bus. You could also run a software-in-the-loop simulation of a new ECU in development.
A bi-directional telemetry interface allows us to analyse the data from the virtual vehicle and to inject other vehicles onto the track. Over 150 channels of data are available, plus derivatives from the model, which can be output to a .csv file, or into an analysis tool – e.g. Pi Research’s Toolbox. The product will also accept telemetry in the opposite direction, allowing us to inject cars onto the track that follow recorded laps or best sectors. This can be useful for driver training - racing against a ghost car, but also has a role in race-engineer and race-strategy evaluation by, for example, injecting telemetry for an entire grid of cars should it be available.
The product also drives motion platforms, control loading systems, multiple HD displays or seamlessly blended projectors and can scale across multiple cores or take advantage of multiple PCs to drive separate displays visible in rear view mirrors or for external use. While the driver benefits from a forward looking display his race engineer could have a simultaneous ‘bird’s eye’ view of the vehicle on another screen.
We have a rapidly expanding partner network of consultants, agents and software vendors, who are working with rFactor Pro, integrating it with complementary software products, or developing customised Plugin modules to add new features.
Features | Benefits of using rFactor Pro | Using rFactor Pro with Simulink1