Toolbar
Toolbar
The toolbar gives access to:
Activate/deactivate Accel VR Pilot connection to Accel VR Unit to run rendering.
Connect and synchronize pilot with other instances of Accel VR. (Requires a license option.) See details to add other immersive systems in the Peers paragraph.
Display a virtual reality scene from Pilot's point of view.
Display a scene in VR according to the operator's point of view.
Hide a scene in the View. This feature is useful for saving computer resources.
Give all the information to know the software: version number, user manual, license change, version changes, and license contract.
The Configuration Browser
: The Configuration browser allows you to import, open a Digital Aspect Mockup (DEM) and browse among imported products.
The Configuration Browser permanently provides access to the tools most commonly used to configure:
one or more Digital Aspect Mockups (DAMs),
the positioning of one or more DAMs in the environment,
the environment,
scene rendering by the main computer (pilot),
remote rendering units,
synchronization with other immersive devices.
To import a Digital Aspect Mockup (DAM) proceed as follows. Click on this icon 
to open the Repository browser. It is indeed necessary to import a DAM into the repository browser to visualize it in immersion. To do this, click on the Import button at the bottom right of the window. You will have the choice between importing a DAM from your computer or from Lumis 3D.
If you choose to import a DAM from your hard drive, select the file and click Open.
If you choose to import a file from Lumis 3D you will be prompted to identify yourself to sign in to Lumis 3D by using your login details. Browse the content of Lumis 3D to select the file you want to import, double click to open it (or single click on it, and then Open).
Tip
Hold down the Shift key or the Ctrl key and click to select and open multiple databases at once.
Note
Depending on the database weight, the import can take several seconds.
Tip
The repository browser allows you to manage DAMs. At any time you can delete a useless database by clicking on this icon 
.
Accel VR offers the possibility to reduce 
the configuration browser to maximize the View while letting the main configuration tools of your model at your disposal.
Accel VR with the Configuration browser collapsed
It consists of three different tabs.
The Scene tab
The Scene tab consists of four accordion menus.
Icon | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Show | Shows the selected product. |
| Hide | Hides the selected product. |
| Duplicate | Duplicates the selected product (s). |
| Delete | Deletes selected product(s) in View. TipHold down the Shift key or the Ctrl key and click to select multiple product instances you want to delete at once. |
| Delete all | Deletes all products at once. |
Configuration
The Bookmarks allow you to run and combine different configuration options.
Tip
Your database must contain configuration bookmarks set up prior to export and created in the Library tab of the Create Configurations editor in Patchwork 3D
Timelines
The Timelines allow you to animate your model with different data prepared in advance in Patchwork 3D.
Icon | Navigation mode | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Go to start | Starts the animation in reverse mode. |
| Play | Plays the animation. |
| Pause | Pauses the animation. |
| Stop | Stops the animation. |
It is also possible to control the animation with the cursor.
Transformation
In this section you can position, resize, and configure the instance of your product in the 3D View with the X, Y, Z axes.
Cameras
This section allows you to display camera bookmarks and, add new ones by clicking on this icon 
. You can also edit 
each camera bookmark you have created in Accel VR by renaming them and changing their position.
The Cameras accordion menu with a camera bookmark created by the user.
The Plugins tab
The Plugins tab lists the manipulators used by your device according to the license you purchased.
Please refer to the chapter on Advanced system settings for more details on the operation of the manipulators.
Here below the list of available plugins:
Clipping planes management
The clipping planes plugin allows you to section the object of the scene in a pre-designated plane to see its interior. Active clipping planes are visible in all open View and will clip through all products.
With the accordion menu 
you can directly:
show (Active)
or hide 
the clipping planes.move
a clipping plane depending on the chosen X, Y, Z axis.rotate
a clipping plane depending on the chosen X, Y, Z axis.
Please find below the clipping planes settings available from this icon 
.
Clipping planes window
Tip
Tags used in Patchwork 3D to exclude surfaces from the clipping planes must be titled the same way in Accel VR.
For more information, please refer to the Clipping planes (Editor) chapter in the Patchwork 3D documentation. Accel VR excludes by default the label with the title NoClip.
Note
Clipping planes are positioned in the world. Consequently, moving a product in the world will not move the plane. The position at which the plane clips the product will be modified.
You can set the horizontal spacing (Grid horizontal step) and the vertical of the grid (Grid vertical step) by entering values or using the up and down arrows on the keyboard.
Accel VR Pilot 2020.1 allows you to manage and display three clipping planes simultaneously.
Check Remain active when leaving interactions if you plan to combine the use of clipping planes with other interactions.
Tip
Make sure the Active box is checked to display a clipping plane.
However, you can exclude certain surfaces from the clipping planes by entering in the Excluded surfaces tags field the surface tag you want to exclude. If you have several surfaces to exclude use semicolons between each tag.
You can choose the color of the slicing-edge and modify the Slice thickness of the line by entering a numerical value, or by using the up and down arrows of the keyboard.
Selects a point of the surface in which the clipping plane passes through the surface that you want to section.
 Clipping planes example with 1 section |  Clipping planes example with 2 sections |
Interest point management
The interest point plugin allows you to point an area that you need to focus on like a pointer during a slide presentation.
You can directly choose the color of the pointer by collapsing the accordion menu or by clicking on this icon .
Tip
Make sure the Interest point management checkbox is ticked in the Pilot configuration tab to be able to use this feature.
Measure tool management
The Measuring Tools shows the distance between two points that you have chosen. This distance between these two points may thus be represented visually in the active view.
Tip
The option Show gizmo must be checked to use the eyedropper.
With the accordion menu you can directly:
measure a length between two points
calculate an angle
Measure a length
Click on the eyedropper
and select your starting point (Point A) in the View.Then click on the end point (Point B) to measure the length between the two points
The result is displayed directly in the View or in the field named Length AB.
Note
If you want to measure another length, just click the eyedropper again to restart the procedure described above.
Calculate angles
The option Compute angle allows you to display the value of an angle between two segments. To measure an angle, do the following:
Check Compute angle, the fields Length BC and Angle ABC appear.
Click on the eyedropper
and select the starting point (Point A) in the View.Then click on the intermediate point (Point B) to measure the length between the first two points (Length AB).
4. Click on the end point (Point C) to measure the length between the intermediate point and the end point. You automatically have the length of the second segment (Length BC) and the value of that angle (Angle ABC ).
Tip
Repeat the procedure from point 2 each time you want to measure an angle.
In case you realize that you need to change the position of a point, instead of redoing the whole measurement procedure you can change its position individually. To do this click on this icon and select the point you want to change with the eyedropper. You can repeat the measurement as many times as you want. The lengths and angle ABC will automatically update.
The Measure tool management window gives you the following information:
the coordinates of each point
the length of each segment
the value of the Angle ABC
Spotlight management
The spotlight allows you to illuminate your model.
With the accordion menu you can directly:
select the spotlight color (White, Hot, Cold)
change the light radius (Low, Standard, High)
Please find below the spotlight settings available from this icon .
At any time you can choose to activate or deactivate the spotlight by checking the checkbox provided for this purpose
You can enable or disable the Spotlight, adjust its intensity with the slider, and choose the color of the lighting. You can also adjust the intensity of the light reflection (Specular intensity). The more the cursor moves to the right, the more the setting is magnified.
The gizmos below allow you to:
Icon | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Move | Moves the flashlight along the chosen X, Y, Z axis. |
| Rotate | Rotates the spotlight along the chosen X, Y, Z axis. |
Snapshot management
The snapshot plugin allows you to snapshot a scene in VR according to the operator's point of view.
With the accordion menu you can directly set the folder where snapshots will be saved.
Width and Height set the snapshot dimensions while the Snapshot FOV is the point of view angle.
Mannequin
The mannequin allows you to simulate and see the movements of your body in a 3D environment.
With the accordion menu you can directly:
display the mannequin skeleton
display/hide the mannequin's head
activate the advanced tracking mode (five trackers are required)
Vive Trackers configuration:
Tip
If you are not using the Advanced Tracking Mode of the mannequin, your trackers will be placed on your feet and your waist. If you do, you will have to place an additional tracker on each forearm of your body (as close of your wrists as possible).
Start by pairing your first Vive Tracker using SteamVR (SteamVR > “Device” > “Pair Controller”).
Use your headset, navigate to the “Manage Vive Trackers” section in settings (“Settings” > “Manage Vive Trackers”).
Use the table below to associate your tracker with the corresponding role. Be aware that these roles will not be reset after your session.
Tip
We recommend that you note the roles of each tracker to easily identify them. Steam VR associates the tracker's serial number with the role.
Follow this process for each of your Vive Trackers.
Body part | Role |
|---|---|
Feet (left / right) | Feet (left / right) |
Waist | Waist |
Wrist (left / right) | Shoulders (left / right) |
How to use the mannequin in Accel VR:
The installation of the mannequin in Accel VR is carried out in 2 steps.
Size calibration (mannequin size)
Once all of your Vive Trackers are connected, select the Mannequin tool in the interactive menu.
Stand straight and trigger the interaction. If you see a Mannequin, then you can go to the next section. If not, make sure that all your trackers are connected and that you are not using the “Advanced Tracking Mode” with only 3 Vive Trackers.
Vive tracker calibration
Stand in the Mannequin’s shape and try to make your body fit as much as possible.
Trigger the interaction again to validate.
You can now use the Mannequin tool.
Turntables
Notice
New Features in Accel VR 2020.2
Turntables simulate the rotation of one or more products on a turntable. For example, they make it possible to visually compare several configurations of the same product from different angles.
With the accordion menu you can directly control turntables by playing with the rotation direction (clockwise and counterclockwise) or pausing the animation.
It is also possible to change the rotation speed with the dedicated slider.
Please find below the turntables settings available from this icon .
In the Turntables window, adjust the quantities + and - of the products you want to add to the scene, then select the Product Spacing and to finish click on the Start button to begin the turntable(s).
Note
The rotation is performed only along the axis of the rotation which is specific to the product.
Links
The Links plugin allows you to link a tracker to one or more products. With this feature, you can imagine moving a product naturally according to the movements of your members for example.
You can select and configure the trackers listed in the Trackers box by expanding the accordion menu (Open advanced config) or by clicking on this icon .
Follow these steps to link a tracker to one or more products.
In the Links window, select the tracker from the list.
Then with the eyedropper
pick the reference point onto the product. This allows you to link the tracker to the product.
Note
To link a tracker to multiple products, restart at step 1 (describes above) by using the same tracker but by selecting a different product at step 2.
You can break the link from the tracker to the product at any time by clicking on this icon . Use the translation gizmos 
and rotation 
if you need to change the reference position of your link.
The Settings tab
This tab consists of different accordion menus.
System Configuration
This section displays window status information such as coordinates (X, Y, Z), ground angle, and the number of frames per second (Render FPS).
You can reach the Advanced system settings window by clicking on this icon 
.
For more information, please refer to the chapter on Advanced system settings for more details.
Head manipulator
To understand the operation of the head manipulator and configure it, please refer to the Head manipulator paragraph of the Advanced system settings.
Device manipulator
To understand the operation of the device manipulator and configure it, please refer to the paragraph Device manipulator of the Advanced system settings.
Interaction manipulator
To understand and configure the interaction manipulator, please refer to the paragraph Interaction manipulator of the Advanced system settings.
Shuttle manipulator
To understand the operation of the shuttle manipulator and configure it, please refer to the paragraph Shuttle manipulator of the Advanced system settings.
Windows (accordion menu)
This section allows you to configure features you desire to render in your immersive system.
Icon | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Hide rendering window units | Hides the window of each rendering unit (gray icon) to configure their graphics card for example. NoteThe window for each rendering unit is displayed by default. |
| Unit windows always on top | Keeps the windows of the rendering unit in the foreground among all the windows of the Microsoft Windows® operating system. NoteDisabled by default. |
| Eye | If the display of the eyes is reversed by a projector (frequent with certain stereoscopic configurations), click on to switch between the left and right displays. NoteDisabled by default. |
Please find below the window of the Advanced system settings available from this icon .
Depending on your needs you can select or deselect the settings below to improve the rendering performance of render units:
Mirrors Displays the reflections of other geometries in the scene in planar mirrors. This option can greatly increase the number of elements to be rendered in a scene. To save resources this option is disabled by default. You can disable it in order to increase rendering fluidity.
Post-processes
Background
Overlay[1]
Material, Color, Lightmaps, Wireframe change the representation of the model to be displayed.
If necessary, you can also overwrite your background with a solid color or with a gradient of two colors. Check the Overwrite background checkbox to make your choice.
Accel VR can automatically display the available windows of the shuttle over the network.
Click on this icon 
to choose each window you want to use. The icon of the selected window turns orange 
to inform the user that the window has been added to the list. The question mark 
then disappears. You can now close the window of the Advanced system settings.
Back in the accordion menu titled Windows, you will then see a brief description of the window (its IP and name) that you just added.
Tip
This icon means that the shuttle window has not been added to the list yet. It is unknown. This icon 
means that the dedicated calculation unit to the window of the shuttle is not available over the network despite the fact that it has been added to the list.
Peers
This section displays the status of the added peers.
Warning
This feature requires a specific license.
Please find below the window of the Advanced system settings available from this icon .
Accel VR can automatically display available peers over the network.
You can also manually add a peer that is on a remote network by clicking and by entering its IP address and the port.
We recommend that you choose a different color for the identification of each peer.
Click on this icon to choose each pair you want to use. The icon of the selected window turns orange to inform the user that the window has been added to the list. The question mark then disappears. You can now close the window of the Advanced system settings.
Back in the accordion menu titled Peers, you will then see a brief description of the peer (his IP and name) that you just added.
Note
This icon means that the shuttle window has not been added to the list yet. She is unknown. This icon means that the calculation unit dedicated to the shuttle window is not available on the network despite the fact that it has been added to the list.
ZSpace management
With the accordion menu you can activate (Active) the zSpace or Invert eyes to swap the display from left eye to right in the event that your views rendered by your glasses are reversed for each eye.
Please find below the zSpace settings available from this icon .
This window allows you to render or not: the background, mirrors, and overlays. This can be useful to improve rendering performance in the View of Accel VR.
HMD management
Notice
New Features in Accel VR 2020.2
With the accordion menu you can optimize the rendering by checking or unchecking the parameters below:
Render in HMD (to display the rendering in a virtual reality headset). By default, the rendering display is projected in a virtual reality headset. But you can choose not to display it to relieve the system in the rendering calculation by unchecking this box or by clicking on this icon
which is in the toolbar.Render mirrors in HMD
Render post-processes in HMD
Render enhanced bump in HMD
Please find below the HMD settings window available from this icon .
This window gives you details if the VR headset is correctly recognized by Accel VR with its manufacturer's name and its model.
The Eye separation is initialized with the default value of the headset, however, this value can be modified in the dedicated field.
The HMD render scaling slider is useful for zooming out the world so that your model fits the dimensions of the screen of the VR headset.
VRPN devices management
The VRPN device management allows you to add, configure, and delete a VRPN device.
Accel VR supports ART, VICON, and NaturalPoint tracking systems.
Accel VR Pilot 2020.1 establishes the link between the render units and the trackers, gamepads, etc ... The connection is made via a local server.
Install ART or VICON equipment according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Accel VR Pilot 2020.1 must be linked with the machine on which the VRPN server of ART or VICON is installed.
The important parameters to remember from a VRPN server are: its IP address, the main tracker name (in the case of tracked glasses), and its index.
The VRPN server must receive information from the tracker(s) (please refer to the manufacturer's user documentation).
3D glasses
To use peripherals allowing navigation in the 3D scene (Logitech® controllers, Xbox 360® controller for Windows®, etc.), simply connect them to the machine on which Accel VR Pilot 2020.1 is running and install the peripherals drivers. A space mouse may also be used too.
SpaceMouse® Pro
This icon has the same action as the button Open advanced config from the accordion menu . It opens the VRPN device management plugin.
VRPN Manager
VRPN Manager consists of two parts:
The left part to add
or delete a VRPN device.The right part to configure a device.
Please refer to the manufacturer documentation of the selected device to know the IP address of the Tracker Server. The following drop-down menu 
provides to Accel VR Pilot 2020.1 by VRPN protocol the current position of the tracked devices. The digit represents the sensor ID of ART tracking systems. It is normally worth 0 with Vicon systems.
Select the tracker orientation with the following arguments (Y_UP, Z_UP_X_LEFT, Z_UP_X_RIGHT, Z_UP_Y_LEFT, Z_UP_Y_RIGHT) depending on the manufacturer specifications. If the Y_UP convention is not used by default by the tracking system, data provided will be converted by the tracking framework.
If your VRPN device has an analog stick or buttons, the Analog stick and Buttons boxes will allow you to configure them. Select the Use tracker server radio button if your device is communicating on the same tracking server configured earlier in the VRPN manager. If, on the contrary, the VRPN device does not have an analog stick and buttons such as tracked glasses, select None in both boxes.
In case your device does not communicate on the same tracking server, you then need to associate an analog stick or buttons on a separate server. To do this select the button Use a separate server. Then enter the server address in the field Dedicated server.
The box Information / configuration allows you to adjust the horizontal orientation of the device and make adjustments regarding its positioning in space thanks to the fields X, Y, Z coordinates.
Calibration management
With the accordion menu you can directly calibrate the projection areas of the CAVE.
See details in the Operating principles chapter to understand how Accel VR works with a CAVE.
In the toolbar click on this icon to display the rendering in your immersive system.
Then click Start warping button.
A test pattern is projected by all render units in the system.
Sample test pattern projected during the calibration procedure for the projection areas.
On each unit, proceed as below (assuming you will use a gamepad for the calibration process):
Press A button of the gamepad to configure the bottom edge. Using the joystick or the paddle (for the pixel precision) of the gamepad, reposition this edge so that its projection overlaps the bottom of the corresponding screen. Then press the B button on the gamepad to select the lower right corner and repeat the setting to place the corner so that its projection overlaps the bottom right of the corresponding screen.
Do this for all corners and edges that require adjustment in the order of the buttons shown in the table below.
A | B | B | Y | Y | X | X | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lower edge | Lower right corner | Right edge | Upper right corner | Top edge | Upper left corner | Left edge | Lower left corner |
Positioning the upper right corner with the joystick of the gamepad.
When an image is rendered, Accel VR will distort it to compensate for the keystone projection resulting from the position of the projector. The model’s normal proportions will be restored in the projection areas.
Areas outside of the test pattern will always be displayed in black to restrict the projection to the intended screen.
Note
Accel VR saves the configuration of the Calibration Projection Areas. However, you can change the calibration at any time by repeating steps 4 and 5.
Proximity Warning management
In an immersive system using walls, the observer is often unaware of the edges of the observation area and of the placement of the screens. To prevent the observer from running into the screens, a proximity warning is available.
With the accordion menu you can directly activate or deactivate the proximity warning option.
Please find below the proximity warning settings available from this icon .
The proximity warning colors the display and shows a grid with the color of your choice whenever an obstacle (the screen) is detected within a defined zone around the observer's head (Minimum distance and Maximum distance). This zone is defined in terms of the distance from the center of the observer's head.
You can also force its display (Force to maximum) in case the grid does not appear.
CAD Tools management
The CAD Tools plugin allows you to import a 3D model from third-party CAD software and interact in VR directly with it by distorting it, rotating it, moving it, or adding the curves. The changes can then be imported back into third-party CAD software.
The CAD Tools window consists of five tabs.
CAD Tools window
Data management tab
The operating mode is similar to the Timelines section. You can indeed snapshot several previews of your model by clicking on the button 
to export them to your 3D software. The minus button 
deletes a snapshot.
Material assignment management tab
This tab allows you to choose the folder where materials are located in order to display them in the interactive menu. See details in the Material assignment section.
Click on the Browse button to define the path to the materials.
Common parts management tab
This tab allows you to choose the folder where common parts are located in order to display them in the interactive menu. See details in the Common parts import section.
Click on the Browse button to set the path to common parts.
Image management
This tab allows you to choose the folder where pictures are located to display them in the interactive menu.
Click on the Browse button to set the path to the images.
Options tab
Choose in this tab the units you want to use to move a part. For example, the Move part interactive menu has units for translating a surface. The Options tab allows you to precisely set the translation units and rotation factors to move a part.
[1] An overlay is a 2D image (often a logo) that is displayed in front of the objects in the 3D world. It does not move when you navigate in the 3D world but remains stationary with regard to the screen.