Table of Contents

Editor: Creating Vessels

Description

This guide intends to initialize and configure a maritime vessel that can be used in naval simulations or as an observational target for spacecraft. The Demo_Maritime_AIS_API demo in Nominal Editor is referenced in this guide it includes the simulation of a fictional shipping container leaving Sydney Harbor, Australia.

This demo is using Nominal's prototype maritime system. We invite any feedback from our users on how it can be improved via the contact page on our website: www.nominalsys.com/contact.

Vessel Initialization

After the usual simulation configuration steps of configuring the Universe have been completed, instead of creating a spacecraft, a vessel needs to be created. This can be achieved with the SpawnActor of Class function; in the referenced demo, the BP_NS_Container_Ship is used and is provided as a default asset by Nominal Systems. When spawning a vessel users can configure the following:

  • Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI): A unique ID vessel's use.
  • Heading: The angle at which the vessel is heading from true north in a clockwise direction, measured in degrees.
  • Speed: The vessel's speed is relative to its heading, measured in m/s. In the referenced demo, 5 Knots is converted to m/s.
  • Name: The name of the vessel to be displayed on the map and for reference.
  • Stationed Body: The orbital body of the vessel is operating on the surface of, in this case, Earth.
  • Latitude: The vessel's initial Latitude at the simulation's start, measured in degrees.
  • Longitude: The vessel's initial longitude is at the simulation's start, measured in degrees.
  • Altitude: The vessel's initial Altitude at the simulation's start, which will be zero regardless.

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Updating Vessel Speed and Heading

During a simulation, users can update the Heading and Speed of maritime vessels when desired. In the case of the referenced demo, the speed and heading are updated after 1,200 propagated seconds of simulation via some mathematical functions. At the 1,200 simulated seconds mark, the heading begins the Linear Interpolation (Lerp) transition to 36 degrees, with the speed increasing to 13 knots.

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