rFpro, originally rFactor Pro, is a driving simulation software used by racing teams and car manufacturers for advanced driver-assistance systems, self-driving cars and vehicle dynamics. rFactor Pro was created in 2007 as a project of a F1 racing team, using Image Space Incorporated's rFactor as a codebase.[1] It has since been used by more F1 racing teams, top road car OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and motorsport manufacturers.[2] It was originally developed for driver-in-the-Loop simulations,[3] but has since been used for autonomous vehicle training as well. It is not licensed to consumers.[4]
 Logo | |
| Developer | rFpro Limited |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2007 |
| Engine | isiMotor2 |
History
editrFactor Pro was created in 2007 as a project of a F1 team, using the rFactor simulator as a codebase,[1] and has since been used by more F1 racing teams,[5][6] including Force India in 2009,[7] Ferrari in 2014[8][9] and Alfa Romeo in 2019.[10]
rFpro is developed by rFpro Limited, based in Wiltshire, UK.[2] In 2017 rFpro acquired Image Space Incorporated's ISIMotor gaming engine, including the gMotor graphics engine, which it had been licensing since 2007.[11] In 2019 rFpro was acquired by AB Dynamics.[10]
In 2020 rFpro partnered with cosin scientific software to enable FTire (Flexible Ring Tire Model) to run with rFpro.[12][13][14]
Features
editrFpro features a 120 Hz graphics engine, a library of high definition laser scanned tracks and roads, and an infrastructure in which users can plug their in-house vehicle physics through a Simulink or a C/C interface.[15][1][16] Alternatively rFpro rigid multibody physics engine can be used, which samples suspension and drive-train at 800 Hz.[17] rFpro includes a tool called TerrainServer, which can feed the LiDAR data with a 1 cm resolution to a vehicle model running in realtime up to 5 kHz.[3] The library of laser scanned tracks includes most of those used in the F1 championship.[18]
In switching to rFpro for its simulator software in 2014, the Ferrari F1 team cited the high fidelity of the reproduced track surface, with an accuracy better than 1mm in Z (height) and 1 cm in X and Y (position), which represented a ten-fold improvement over their previous solution.[8] They also cited the ability to respond to dynamic inputs faster than the driver can detect.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c rfpro.com/about/, archived on March 4th, 2021
- ^ a b rFpro - Photo-realistic 3D environments with lidar-accurate road surfaces processed in real time, at mathworks.com
- ^ a b Dempsey, M., Fish, G., & Beltran, J. G. D. (2015) High fidelity multibody vehicle dynamics models for driver-in-the-loop simulators, in Proceedings of the 11th International Modelica Conference, Versailles, France, September 21–23, 2015 (No. 118, pp. 273-280). Linköping University Electronic Press.
- ^ Paul Jeffrey rFactor Pro, at racedepartment.com, Jul 4, 2017
- ^ When Computer Games meet real world Racing, at racecar-engineering.com, April 5, 2011
- ^ History of the Image Space Inc. Software Engine, at imagespaceinc.com
- ^ Force India Joins Long List of rFactor Pro Clients, November 14, 2009
- ^ a b Ferrari F1 Team switches to driving simulator software from rFpro, by Autocar Pro News Desk, 14 Oct 2014
- ^ Hardware – rFactor Pro powered – 6 million dollar Ferrari F1 Simulator, Jan 18, 2012
- ^ a b AB Dynamics acquires simulation software specialist rFpro, by Autocar Pro News Desk, 02 July 2019
- ^ rFpro acquires market-leading graphics engine to accelerate innovation in driving simulation, by Autocar Pro News Desk, 13 Nov 2017
- ^ NEW PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES STEP-CHANGE IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE SIMULATION AND TESTING, 29/01/2020, at rfpro.com
- ^ FTire and FTire/link at mathworks.com
- ^ FTire physical tire model to run with rFpro driving simulation software
- ^ Mathews, Albert (2010) Powertrain optimization of a series hybrid racer (thesis), McGill University
- ^ Models, at rfactor-pro.com, archived on Feb 15th 2015
- ^ Design, Develop, Drive rFactor-Pro. Brochure: 2008.
- ^ rFactor Pro – Laser Scanning Heaven, at virtualr.net, July 15, 2011
Further reading
edit- Nair, V. G., & Wishart, J. (2018) A study of driving simulation platforms for automated vehicles CAV Final Report, Arizona State University.
- Rachel Evans Quantum leaps, Automotive Testing Technology International, September 2015