Update Model Utility

The v2020 release of MotionView introduces an Update Model utility for vehicle and suspension models. For full vehicles models using Altair Driver, you will receive an alert as shown below asking you to update your model. For half vehicle models, no alert is given. If you choose not to update your model, it will work in the v2020 release. If you save your model to disk from v2020 without executing the Update Model function, you will not be prompted to update again.


Figure 1.
If you do choose to update your model, a back-up of the model is saved to disk with “_backup” appended to the name, the model is updated (see the table below for the update actions) and the updated model is save to disk as "_updated " appended to the name.
Description Affected Entities Actions
Legacy tire systems replaced by AutoTire Any systems using the AutoCDTire, AutoCTITire, or AutoMFTire system definitions Single and pair systems using the AutoCDTire, AutoCTITire or AutoMFTIre system definitions are replaced with a single or pair system using the AutoTire system definition. Attachments and parameters like the tire and road property file are unchanged.
Dummy Steering Bodies removed

Steering systems

Full and Half Vehicle Events (analyses)		 Dummy steering bodies and associated joints are deleted from steering systems (sys_steering), and from full and half vehicle events (analyses). Steering system joints are modified so the rack joins to the rack housing via a translational joint, the pinion to the rack housing via a revolute joint and the pinion to rack via a coupler.
Old Altair Driver System replaced by new system Altair Driver system The Altair Driver system is replaced with the new v2020 Altair Driver system. If needed the Altair Driver system definition is updated to use an *DefinitionInclude() pointing to the Altair Driver system definition in your v2020 installation folder.
Signal Generator System moves to Altair Driver Signal Generator (.sys_signal_generator) The user signals solver variables move to the Altair Driver System. You now create expressions for user signals from the Altair Driver system panel. The signal generator system is deleted from the model.
The Update Model utility is only available when the profile MBD-Vehicle Dynamics Tools is loaded. Follow the steps below to load this profile and access the utility:
  1. From the Menu bar, select File > Load > Preference File.
  2. Choose the MBD-Vehicle Dynamics Tools profile and click Load.


    Figure 2.
  3. Select Vehicle Tools from the Menu bar and choose the Updated Model option.

The Need for an Update Model Utility

The Update Model utility complements the backward compatibility of models that are built using previous versions of MotionView. In order to roll out new features or enhancements, specifically for vehicle models that were built using one of the MDL Libraries (Car/Small truck and Heavy Truck), updating the model or tweaking it becomes necessary. For example: replacing older Auto Entities like AutoMFTire with the new AutoTire entity or updating the AltairDriver system to include changes from the newer versions.

Which Models Need to be Updated?

The following models can be updated using the utility:
  • Suspension models built using one of the MDL Libraries packaged with the installation – especially Front Suspensions.
  • Full Vehicle models built using one of the MDL Libraries packaged with the installation.
  • Models that have AutoMFTire, AutoCTITire or AutoCDTire AutoEntities which are now decommissioned.
  • Full Vehicle models that employ AltairDriver.

Important Points to Remember

  1. Update Model works based on the model's version number and content. If you load an older model and save it from v2020, the *BeginMDL() statement at the beginning of the MDL will now contain a 2020.0-version number. Since the Update Model is based on the version number, it will not update models with a 2020 version number.
  2. Update Model searches for entities to update using the standard varnames employed by the MDL libraries. If your model was NOT built using the Model wizard and MDL Library or if you modified varnames (for example, “steering” instead of ”sys_steering”), then the model update will be incomplete for your model.