Vehicle Simulator Update

The most recent version is 2.0, released on Monday, July 19, 2010

If you have an older version download the small update below.

File	Size	Download
Vehicle Simulator 2.0	9.5 MB	Download
Vehicle Simulator 2.0	9.5 MB	Download

Changes for version 2.0

Generic:

• Memory leak fixed in road and track editing in design mode.
• Hydro_alt paramter measured from keel line. ( compatible with VS )
• Bug fixed when resizing the application caused vehicle jump into space.
• Bug fixed for cloning float objects in design mode.
• Thrusters will not slow the boat as before.
• Water ripples made visible to 25000 ft, by resizing ripples with height.
• Catamarans fully supported by creating double hull elements. ( better than in VS )
• [has_catamaran] paramter added to vehicle.cfg and to design mode.
• Added car components. ( see sample14 vehicle )
• User manual and program documentation updated.

Changes for version 1.9.9

Generic:

• Added reverse option for all vehicles.
• Ceneter of gravity can be moved using elements. ( Body dx, dy, dz )
• Helicopter rotor simulation instability fixed.
• Boats shown on marine radars.
• Fixed a problem with light path editing.
• Autogyro improved using vectored propeller thrust.
• Anchors made softer allowing smaller forces on boat hull.
• Problem fixed with object reloading ( day/night change ) when anchored.
• Problem fixed with docking ( land on objects / object collision conflict ).
• Problem fixed with saving multiple boats anchor status.
• Hydrofoil paramters added to boats, and also imported from VS boats.

Changes for version 1.9.8

Generic:

• Fixed problem of remote vehicles losing track of roads.
• Scenery imported also when header exists and matrix missing.
• Fixed length towing option added.
• Multiple vehicle tows can be made.
• Multiple tows can be saved with the situation.
• Replay vehicles can tow other vehicles.
• Added control for simulation time step.

Changes for version 1.9.7

Generic:

• Depth imported properly from VS scenery.
• Accuricy of objects from imported scenery improved.
• Improved and more robust landing on objects.
• Imported scenery objects can be edited and saved.
• Scaled land vehicles can be saved and edited.
• Improved rendering speeds by optimization of object shadows.
• Added option for dynamic shadows.

Changes for version 1.9.6

Generic:

• Virtual Sailor scenery and vehicles imported completely.
• Micro Flight scenery and vehicles imported completely.
• Overlapping sceneries can be used and selected using change scenery dialog.
• Situation loading selects scenery even if overlapping. ( when scenery scan off ).
• Collision course horn added.
• Empty situation loading fixed.

Changes for version 1.9.4

Generic:

• Height map center of view moved to vehicle position.
• Collision detection and landing on objects can be used without conflict.
• Simple chase option added to vehicle options, allows chase view with rotation only.
• Boats can sail under bridges.
• Sea color in flat mode depends on underwater visibility.
• Underwater lighting improved.
• Boats can jump off ramps in sea.
• Photos in scenery are easier to use, new file format for photos.txt.
• Saving scenery objects made accurate, bug fixed with broken roads after save.
• Underwater speed of rendering optimized in best speed mode.
• Program tested and optimized for laptops and notepads with limited memory.

Changes for version 1.9.3

Generic:

• Planes and pilots can be scaled to any size allowing qute RC models.
• Bug fixed with object elevation detection causing abrupt change in vehicle position.
• Road following bug fixed for roads with intersections.

Changes for version 1.9.2

Generic:

• New water shaders with accurately animated water ripples.
• Added option to tow the other vehicle.
• Aerial towing bug fixed.
• Auto pilot dialog for submarines fixed.
• Added road tracking for cars auto pilot.
• New and improved object elevation detection, allowing cars to drive on any object, and jump of ramps.
• Added suspension for cars, visible wheel movement.
• Added paramters for suspesion and center of gravity for cars ( body_alt, body_cgy ).
• Added 3D track object, following the terrain but keeping level above it.
• New and improved shadow of object upon object in scenery.
• Update camera altitude above ground with smoother limitation.
• Planes do not slide of decks of rotating ships.
• Cars created with correct center of gravity and wheel elevation even if model is offset.
• Parameter added to control ground steering for all vehicles ( steer_angle ).
• Added message when vehicle is hit.
• Fixed bug when adding position on the map.
  

Changes for version 1.8.9

Generic:

• Marine engines improved using propeller diemeter for efficiency calculation.
• Buoyancy of boats improved, better distributed points of hull.
• Marine map improved using standard colors, rendered view and scale.
• Marine radar improved using standard colors, rendered view and scale.
• Water brightness added for controlling the reflection strength ( fresnel bias ).
• Water shaders updated and glimmer reduced near the horizon.
• Thrusters work for boats with elements.
  

Changes for version 1.8.8

Generic:

• Vehicle and panel textures load with full color.
• DDS files loading improved, better hiding water in cabin.
• Sails control using joystick.
• Spinnaker active also when auto sail is off.
• Torpedos have no flames under water.
• Aviation navigation aids are added automatically to the scenery.
• The NavImport utility was incorporated into the program.
• Auto Pilot screen split into two instruments, marine auto pilot and aviation auto pilot.
• The aviation auto pilot is available for planes and the marine auto pilot available for boats.
• Auto pilot behavior for planes was updated, guidance and navigation rules were improved.
• Added [auto_pilot_gain] paramter to vehicle.cfg and to vehicle design, controls auto pilot sensitivity.
• Shift+Tab locks upon other vehicles ( padlock view ).
• Controls mini panel added to show controls ( aileron, elevator, throttles, rudder ).
• Option added to vehicle options screen to turn the minipanel off.
• Script behavior was updated, automatic landings improved, flaps, spoilers, engines are controlled.
• Auto pilot has rate of climb option as well, and made similar to the two axis Bendix King design.
• Added paramter for thrust vectoring for boats, [attach_props] and [thrust_angle],
• [thrust_angle] controls the angle of the izopods, for example 3.1415 will have 360 degree range.
• Added Joystick control for the sails.
• Mouse wheel adjust the zoom in all modes.
  

Changes for version 1.8.7

Generic:

• Trees appearing in air problem fixed.
• Added commands for controlling doors by type: Control+D, Control+C, Control+S
• Shadow on runway made stronger and more consistent.
• Torpedo remains under water when fired.
• Sail flapping sound made only when going into irons.
• Buoys added to marine radar.
• Shift+Tab changes vehicle point of view.
• Mouse wheel always zooms the view useful in design mode to accurately place objects.
• Control+Backspace reloads all weapons for vehicle.
• Lights.x ( night lighted part ) file enabled for all types of vehicles.
• Heat plume added to JET, JETAB, ROCKET engines, and enabled using an option on vehicle options screen.
• Contrails added on the wingtips when visibility is low and under fog altitude.
• Contrails also added using trails.cfg file, allowing multiple trail sources.
• Flyby views updated, F5 is simple flyby F6 is auto zoom flyby.
• TrackIR and POV Hat enabled inside cockpit only.
• Vehicle sounds are heared closer to vehicle.
• Shift+J disables sound, J disables joystick, these states are also saved.
• Fire and smoke attached to broken vehicle, and explosition shows when hit.
• Goto position function fixed on the map to go between sceneries properly.
• Control+A animates scenery animations as well as vehicle animation.
• Shift+Mouse pick allows moving of each throttle individually on multi engine panels.
• Auto pilot screen shows current heading and altitude when AP is not engaged.
• War mode updated for vehicles, delaring war when hit as well, slecting multiple weapons,
• Firing when sectors are ok, remebering war mode status when out of sector.
• [damage] paramter added to weapons allowing weapon to be tuned.
• Damage value set to weapon also by weight of shell.
• Weapons aimed better in war mode, balkistic and leading applied.
• Sound objects added to scenery, allowing wav files to be added to a spot and heared at a distance from it.
• Directories are possible inside the scenery, allowing saving and loading of objects and files.
• Common dialogs option added to scenery design files, allowing better selection of files to load and save.
• Vehicles bounce up when hit by torpedo.
• Objects selected by type in design mode screen.
• Remove last object command added to design mode files dialog.
• Multiple picking and manipulation of objects in design mode, Shift+mouse allows window pick.
• Control+pick allows unpicking and multi picking of objects.
• Selected objects can be saved as absolute or as relative files.

Changes for version 1.8.5

Generic:

• Door parts added and improved, usable part names are:
  doorl, doorr, pdoorl, pdoorr, sweepr, sweepl,
  paramters added to vehicle.cfg for doors are:
  [doors_angle], [doors_move], [sweeps_angle].
  doors and swept wings can be picked and moved individually.
  pressing control+D opens all doors.
  
  
• Added one user animation called anim.x, activated by control+A.
  
  
• Weapon base angles made compatible with VS and MF using weapon.cfg paramters.
  weapons are oriented by weapon angles on startup.
  weapon sectors are working well allowing back facing guns and weapon sectors.
  
  
• Weapons can be aimed and shot in groups, allowing multi barrel weapons,
  new parameter added for weapon.cfg [weapon_group].
  
  
• Weapons added as individual masses, allowing asymetric flight and as some weapons are fired.
  
  
• Propeller specular reflection and bump added, using effects.cfg.
• Drag chute added for planes, using D toggles the drag parachute.
• Starting and stopping sounds of some engines types fixed.
  
  
• crew_weight added to boats, added also as parameter in vehicle.cfg
  [crew_weight] can be used to simulate additional boat loading.
  
  
• Sails can be controlled by hand, spinnaker control made manual.
  pressing S toggles spinnaker.
  goose winged sails are possible using manual picking and moving of sails.
  added sail flapping and manipulation sounds.
  
  
• Wind shadow between boats added, added option for this on the weather and atmosphere options screen.
• Waypoints at sea have bouys with stobe lights.
  
  
• Replay and netplay covers all reefing and sail manipulation.
• Added capsize and collision limit checks for boats.
• Added [max_tilt] parameter to the vehicle.cfg.
  
  
• All panel types can be used, pressing Control+P shows new panel selection dialog.
• Window size and screen mode saved and restored upon startup.
  
  
• Sail boats updated correctly beyond visual range.
• Auto pilot modes organized and prioritized.
• Auto sail added to auto pilot screen.
  
  
• Scenery lights adjusted to be seen always even if more than 8 specified.
• Mouse panning is possible in object design mode.
• Reflection artifact fixed for objects seen in reflection.
• Thermals generated by the program will not be saved as user made objects.
• Collision check and land upon objects optimized to give better frame rates.
  
  
• Bow waves adjusted slightly,
• Water waves shaders improved a little.
  
  
• Updated docking drawing, and point of view drawing.
• Added one small sail boat ( Finn ) with pilot and crew mass.
  

Changes for version 1.8.2

Bug fixes:

• Reverse function restored to boats and cars using joystick and Shift+E button.
• Gama_base, Beta_base switched for static weapons to keep VS compatibility.
• Reflections enabled on transparent boat parts.
• Throttle instruments set to correct range always to keep VS compatibility.
• Boat and car engines using elements updated to include proper reverse controls.
• Hydro drag always read when importing VS boats, allowing good match of performance.

Changes for version 1.8.1

Generic:

• Engine controls using 5,6, Shift+Up, Shift+Down for multi engines.
• Towing options improved and expanded on vehicle dialog.
• Windows made transparent from inside cockpit (parts with opacity < 0.5).
• Gallery view improved with smooth scolling.

Changes for version 1.8.0

Vehicle Dynamics:

• Helicopter effects updated. ( TLE + Ground + Sink Under Power)
• Multiple engine controls for planes and boats.
• Right and Left engine axes added to joystick.
• Right and Left engine controls using [ , ] keys, and Shift + [ , Shift + ].
• Right and Left parachute brakes added to joystick axes.
• Twin panel type added for planes with multiple engines.
• Boat throttle changed for single and multi engine to include reverse in range.
• Reverse button active for cars only, for boats it is controlled by throttle.

Vehicle Parts:

• Canopy and door parts, pickable and movable. (doorl, doorr, pdoorl, pdoorr)
• Control + D key to open and close doors.
• Simple damage model for vehicles using "broken.x" file for broken vehicle.
• Sonic boom improved, sound is not heard ahead of supersonic plane.
• Engine start and stop sounds added for each type, using "start.wav", "stop.wav".
• String instrument added and also added to glider panel by default.
• Vehicle shaders render at night.
• Rope texture added for cables and moorings, using "rope.dds", "rope.bmp".
• Effects added for panels and instruments using effects.cfg in panel directory.
• Maximum number of instruments in panel increased 128.
• Unlit mesh part for boats and subs using "lights.x" added.

Scenery Parts:

• Simple damage model to land objects, using "_b.x" to mark broken part.

Weapons:

• Weapons move and shoot independently.
• Weapon angles and limits added, using "beta_base_min", "beta_base_max",
• "gama_base_min", "gama_base_max", "beta_base", "gama_base".
• Current weapon can be aimed without using HUD or Telescope.
• Limited Ammo mode added to vehicle options dialog.
• Ammo limits added to weapon.cfg file using "max_rounds" parmeter.
• Weapons mass and innertia are calculated when loading and firing weapons.
• Refule & Reload button added to vehicle controls dialog.
• Ammo counts added to HUD and RADAR weapons screen.

Generic:

• Situation dialog shows locations and titles on scenery maps and allows selection.
• Gallery view for selection of vehicles, press Q to show gallery or menu icon.
• Flood light added for special lighting, using Shift + L, and menu icon.
• Flood added instead of spot light, because of shaders used for vehicles and scenery.
• Free View HUD option added vehicle options to select vehicle angles or camera angles.
• Splash screen made square to work with Vista and Windows 7 Aero mode.

Changes made on version 1.6.5

• Boats use normalized cross section surface.
• Propeller moment added for airplanes.
• Wave height is depends upon wind when forecast is generated.
• Glider yaw string direction fixed.
• Elements property editing fixed.
• Compass added as default panel and also as toggle between boat panel and compass.
• Objects view added in map for easy scenery design and scenery finding.
• Dynamic weather and weather forecast added.
• Added option for using weather forecast.
• Added weather forecast dialog.
• Added tide and low using weather forecast.
• Scale factor effects gear and wings as well.
• Fixed navigation bug of boats and land vehicles.
• Fixed bug of vehicles moving higher when my camera is very high.
• Sails reef position is saved.
• Engine stops working when vehicle is shot.
• Increased maneuverability for boats and subs to overcome dampening.
• Boats can be docked, using Shift + D.
• Added option for object interface, on vehicle options dialog.
• This option allows the vehicle to detect object and land upon them.
• Added script language for vehicles, documentation and samples are
• available inside the scripts directory of the program.
• Added some script demo situations to show elaborate scripted scenarios.
• New vehicles can be created and saved.
• New vehicle editor for vehicle made of components.
• All major types of components added.
• Vehicle samples added for vehicles made of components.
• Additional rotating wheels added ( maximum 8 ).
• Object interface detection separated from collision detection.
• Boat path made visible.
• Improved vegetation collisions.
• Collision detection improved, landing on anything is possible.
• Vehicle lights and sectors improved.
• Engine in reverse possible for all types of boats.
• Auto Objects filtered from runways and patches.
• Bow wave size reduced for boats.
• Multiple sails bug fixed.
• New vehicle adjustment screen.
• Sails can be picked and moved.
• Matrix Editor improved depth map is exported and imported.
• Situation creation from main screen.
• Default values for sail areas.
• Multiple sails bug fixed.
• Guided weapons effected by gravity.
• Sails problem fixed.
• Automatic objects filtered from patches and runways.
• Animated pilots using frame animation added.
• Sail control added using sail instruments.
• Additional sailboat panel added.
• Sails and sailboats added.
• Bow wave position fixed.
• Waypoint markers fixed.
• Attach props for boats enables thrust vectoring.
• Unguided torpedo option added.
• Guided bomb option added to weapons.
• Element orientation editing fixed.
• Panel lighting improved.
• Underwater particles.
• Underwater plants.
• Underwater lighting improved.
• Vegetation appears even if greater than 300 meters.
• Depth reading fixed.
• Depth instrument added to boat panel.
• Map expanded to marine and aerial map types.
• Contour and topographic maps added.
• Vegetation appears gradually.
• Dampened rotations for smoother flight of fast jets.
• Grass does not appear on runways.
• Option for moving to point on ground or in air.
• Navigation beacons show in day time.
• Collision detection fixed for all vehicles.