Using HVE — High-Level Overview¶

Updated Markdown edition of the HVE User's Manual (HVE Version 5, Seventh Edition, January 2006), "USING HVE — High-level Overview" (pages Overview-1 through Overview-10). Verified against the current HVE application source (HVEINV-64/).

Assumptions¶

HVE was developed for use by engineers and scientists who need a powerful simulation tool to study vehicle and occupant dynamics. HVE was also developed for motor vehicle safety researchers and crash reconstructionists who need to analyze motor vehicle dynamics, including collisions, and show or explain to others how accidents occur by analyzing and visualizing the sequence of events surrounding the accident.

An individual using HVE should possess the following background and experience:

basic knowledge about computer systems (system maintenance, using a file system, installing peripherals, and using a window manager)
technical knowledge in the area of engineering mechanics (the laws of motion) and mathematics (coordinate systems, algebra and trigonometry)
knowledge about vehicles and how they work (general terminology)
knowledge about human anatomy (general terminology)
accident reconstruction experience (gathering and interpreting accident site evidence and drawing conclusions about accident causation)

Prior to using HVE, it is assumed the researcher has obtained all the required human, vehicle and environment data, either by direct inspection or by indirect means (built-in databases, literature searches, published data or, in some cases, witness information).

How To Use This Manual¶

This is a User's Manual. It explains how to use HVE. It does not directly teach the subject of human and vehicle dynamics, or explain how to reconstruct motor vehicle crashes. Further, this manual does not attempt to explain how specific reconstruction and simulation models work. For these details, consult the Technical Reference or Physics Manual for the particular reconstruction or simulation model (see the program manuals in docs/manuals/programs/).

Every new user should read the following chapters:

Topic	Reference
High-level Overview	(this section)
What Is HVE	Chapter 1
How To Use HVE	Chapter 2
Human Editor	Humans
Vehicle Editor	Vehicles
Environment Editor	Environment
Event Editor	Events & Driver Controls
Playback Editor	Reports & Output
Video Basics	Video Output
Tutorial	Tutorial

This information will allow you to begin using HVE right away. However, you will also need specific information from time to time. In that case, you'll want to use the other chapters in this manual as a reference.

If you hate reading manuals and you want to get right to work, the following section may be of some help. However, you should understand that HVE is a very powerful and complex program, and to get the most out of it, you will need to refer to this manual.

Step-by-step Procedure¶

The following procedure outlines the basic steps for using HVE, along with an initial chapter reference:

Step	Reference
Select Active Humans	Ch. 8
Edit Humans	Ch. 9
Select Active Vehicles	Ch. 10
Edit Vehicles	Ch. 11
Create Environment	Ch. 12
Edit Environment	Ch. 13
Create Events (Select Humans, Vehicles, Calculation Model)	Ch. 15
Set up Events (Assign Position/Velocity, Driver Controls, Damage Profiles, Payload, Collision Pulse, Vehicle Mesh, Wheels, Accelerometers, Contacts, Restraint Systems)	Ch. 16
Execute Events	Ch. 15
Create Report Windows	Ch. 17
Edit Report Windows (Event Sequence)	Ch. 18
Create Playback Window	Ch. 18
Create Numeric and Graphic Reports	Ch. 17
Create a Videotape	Ch. 27 (updated: current HVE builds create digital video files via File, Video Creator rather than videotape)
Save your work	Ch. 32

Conventions¶

The following typographical conventions are used in this manual:

Italicized Words — Used for button names or items in a list of items available for selection or choosing. Also used in the traditional sense for emphasis.
'Select' — To click on an item using the mouse. No action follows a selection, but the item is highlighted, indicating it has been selected (selection is normally followed by another action).
'Choose' — To click on an item using the mouse. An action, such as accepting a current selection or changing an item's attributes, normally follows a selection.
'Click On' — Same as 'Select' or 'Choose' (see above).
'Double-Click On' — To click on an item twice in rapid succession. Double-clicking on an item causes a selection, followed by the default action. For example, double-clicking on a filename in a file selection dialog causes the file to be selected and opened or saved (the first click selects the item, the second click is the same as pressing OK).
Bullet Item — Used for emphasis or a list of important and related items.
Step (➢ in the printed manual) — Used for describing step-by-step procedures.

NOTE: Useful or important information — often a tip that may lead to improved results.

[1.1, 1.2] — Numbers in brackets designate references found in Appendix VI. The first number is the material category (e.g., Humans), the second number is the reference number.
Filename — Courier (monospace) font is used to designate user-entered alphanumeric strings (numbers and text).
\<Enter> — Press the keyboard key labeled "Enter"; causes user-entered alphanumeric information to be read and stored by the program.

Problem Determination¶

Engineering Dynamics Corporation has support services available to you in case you encounter a problem while using HVE. The following are the preliminary steps you should perform to confirm your problem and assist EDC's technicians in providing the most efficient support possible:

Review The Manual — Most issues related to usage are covered in the manual. If you encounter a problem that is not covered in the manual, continue with the following steps.
Duplicate The Problem — If at all possible, try to duplicate the problem. This includes carefully retracing your steps to document how the problem occurs. It is very difficult for EDC's technicians to solve a problem unless they can duplicate it for testing on their computer system.
Create A Least Bombable Case — This is EDC's in-house term, meaning "strip out all the superfluous details" before you begin testing. It is much easier for EDC (and you!) to solve a problem if you first remove irrelevant issues. Because it is your file, you are much more familiar with unrelated issues; otherwise, EDC's technicians will probably end up performing a lot of needless testing.
Contact EDC Technical Support — Use e-mail, fax or telephone. Be prepared to provide the technical support representative the following information:
Your user ID number
Your System Hardware Profile report (available from EDC)
HVE Version Information (available from the HVE Help system)
Problem Description
Send The Case To EDC For Evaluation — If the problem cannot be resolved by e-mail, fax or telephone, send a case file (see Least Bombable Case, above) to EDC for evaluation. The turn-around time varies, so discuss your requirements with the EDC support technician.

Window Manager Basics¶

If you have never used a computer with a window manager (i.e., X Windows or Microsoft Windows), you should learn some basic skills, such as using the mouse and choosing commands, before you start using HVE. This section of the HVE User's Manual provides some basic, yet important, concepts used by window manager systems.

Components¶

A window manager typically includes certain components that perform consistent and predictable functions routinely required by the user. The consistent nature of these components is fundamental to good user interface design, and helps the user learn how to use the application quickly.

HVE includes the following components:

Menu Bar — The Menu Bar provides basic positioning and visibility control over an application:
Click on the various Menu Bar options (File, Edit, View, Mode, Set-up, 3-D Edit, Options and Help) to display HVE's menus.
Click on the Menu Bar to display HVE's main level viewers and dialogs (useful if they are hidden behind other windows or dialogs).
Click on the Dialog Control button to display the Dialog Control menu. The selections on this menu allow the user to control the position and visibility of the window.
Click on the Minimize button to iconify the window.
Click on the Maximize button to cause the window to fill the screen.

Figure 1: HVE's Menu Bar, with File, Edit, View, Mode, Set-up, 3-D Edit, Options and Help menu options.

Viewers — Viewers are used to display and manipulate 3-D objects (humans, vehicles and environments). Viewers are used extensively by HVE, and understanding their use is important.

Figure 2: Typical Viewer. RotX and RotY thumb wheels rotate the object in the viewer about the viewer's X and Y axes, respectively. The Dolly thumb wheel increases or decreases the size of the object by moving the camera away from or towards the object. The Zoom slider increases or decreases the size of the object by reducing or increasing the viewer's included angle. Pick Mode or Manipulate Mode is selected by choosing the arrow or hand, respectively, near the upper right edge of the viewer.

All Viewers have at least two modes: Pick Mode and Manipulate Mode. The current mode is displayed along the right edge of the viewer. Choose Pick Mode to click on icons in the viewer (for example, click on the engine in the Vehicle Viewer to display the Drivetrain dialog). Choose Manipulate Mode to rotate and pan the object in the viewer.

To Rotate, click and drag in the viewer using the left mouse button.
To Pan, click and drag in the viewer using the middle mouse button (on a 3-button mouse). You may also drag by clicking the left mouse button while holding down the \<Shift> key.
To Dolly the view, click and drag using the right mouse button. You may also dolly by clicking the left mouse button while holding down \<Shift> and \<Ctrl>.

NOTE: These actions take a little practice, but, once mastered, are extremely helpful.

Mouse¶

Figure 3: Mouse Pointer Tools (Pick, Rotate, Pan, Resize, Text, Crosshairs).

If you've never used a window-based application before, you'll need to know about using the mouse.

HVE normally uses mouse button 1 (this is normally the left mouse button, but can be reassigned using the Windows Control Panel). The middle and right mouse buttons are also used for specific tasks, as described below.

The mouse is used for performing a variety of tasks, such as selecting objects and entering text. The mouse pointer changes shapes, depending on the type of action it performs:

Pick — Performs object selection in dialogs and viewers. In dialogs, it is used for choosing buttons and list selections. For viewers, it is used for choosing icons that display more information about the selected item.
Pan — Used only in viewers, and only when Manipulate Mode is selected (see Viewers, above). Pan is performed using the middle mouse button, and drags the scene across the viewer in the direction of the mouse movement. (Left mouse button + \<Shift> may also be used.)
Rotate — Used only in viewers, and only when Manipulate Mode is selected (see Viewers, above). Rotate is performed using mouse button 1, and causes the scene to be rotated about an axis normal to the center of the viewer in the direction of the mouse movement.
Resize — Used for resizing viewers and modeless dialogs (modal dialogs cannot be resized; see below). To resize a dialog or viewer, click on the corner or along the edge and drag the mouse.
Text Cursor — Used for entering text. After positioning the Text Cursor, typed data will appear to the left of the cursor. The Text Cursor also responds to the typical editing keys (Backspace, Delete and Insert).
Crosshairs — Used by the 3-D Editor for entering X,Y,Z coordinates.

Dialogs and Other Interface Components¶

Figure 4: Modal Dialog (Set Units) and common dialog components.

Other components found in the HVE user interface include:

Modeless Dialogs — A modeless dialog is used whenever an action need not be completed by pressing OK. For example, all Viewers (described earlier) are modeless dialogs. A particularly important issue concerning modeless dialogs is that items in the Menu Bar, such as Open File and Set Camera, are selectable when a modeless dialog is displayed.
Dialog Boxes (Modal Dialogs) — A modal dialog is used whenever HVE requires information to carry out an operation. Modal dialogs always have OK and Cancel pushbuttons, and no other parts of the user interface (other than the modal dialog) may be accessed until one of these buttons is pressed (hence, the term modal). For example, if you try to choose the File menu while a modal dialog is displayed, HVE will either beep or ignore you.
OK Pushbuttons — Click the OK pushbutton in any modal dialog to accept the entered data and continue with other operations.
Cancel Pushbuttons — Click the Cancel pushbutton in any modal dialog to ignore any entered data and continue with other operations.
Help Pushbuttons — Click the Help (?) pushbutton in any modal dialog to display help for the current dialog.
List Boxes — List boxes allow you to select from among two or more options. Scroll through the list using the scroll bar, and then choose the option by double-clicking it, or by selecting it and pressing OK. For example, list boxes are used by file selection dialogs to choose the current filename.
Radio Buttons — Radio buttons are used to present two or more mutually exclusive choices (compare with Check Boxes, below). Radio buttons are typically diamond-shaped (round on current Windows systems). The current choice is darkened and appears to be pushed in (like a radio pushbutton).
Check Boxes — Check boxes are used to enable or disable an option. Check boxes are typically square-shaped. Unlike radio buttons, a series of check boxes is not mutually exclusive. An option is enabled when it is darkened and appears to be pushed in.
Command Buttons (Pushbuttons) — Command buttons cause an action to occur, such as resetting values or displaying another dialog box.

NOTE: A Command Pushbutton with an ellipsis (...) always causes another dialog box to be displayed.

Text Entry Boxes — Some options require typed information. If the box is empty, simply place the mouse cursor in the box (the cursor will turn into a text tool) and start typing. If the box already contains information, click on the information using the text tool to edit the field. To select the information, double-click on the field. Once selected, the information you enter will replace the existing information. You may also use the Backspace and Delete keys to edit the information.
Combo Boxes — These are sometimes called Drop-down List boxes. A Combo Box displays a choice of options when you click the arrow next to the box. You can also edit the text in the box. Editing causes a new entry to be added to the list. Double-click on an entry to delete it from the list.
Option Lists — An option list presents a choice of options when you click on the bar near the right end of the button. An option list is very similar to a Combo Box, with one major exception: the list cannot be edited.
Scroll Bars — Scroll bars are used to navigate through list boxes. Click on the arrow at the bottom to move down the list, one item at a time. Click on the arrow at the top to move up the list. Click and hold the arrow down to automatically scroll through the list. You can also use the thumb slider to scroll more rapidly through the list, and click in the thumb slider trough to jump to a location in the list approximated by where you clicked.
Thumb Wheels — Thumb wheels are used in 3-D viewers to pan, dolly in and out, and rotate the current scene (see Figure 2).

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