High-performance sensor simulation for digital machine twins
AGX Sensor is a state-of-the-art sensor simulation solution that brings real-time sensing to the AGX Dynamics simulation suite.
Simulate the most common sensor technologies used in heavy off-road machines and vehicles. Produce synthetic sensor data to verify control system functionality and develop systems for machine autonomy. Or solve design optimization challenges such as sensor selection, sensor placement, and sensor integration.
A wide library of configurable virtual sensors
AGX Sensor comes with a selection of sensor types and sensor models that cover the most common sensor technologies used in heavy off-road machines and vehicles. Each sensor is easily configured and provides its output signal in a common, standardized way.
- LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)
- IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)
- Accelerometer
- Gyroscope
- Magnetometer
- Odometer
- Wheel Encoder
The sensor library is continuously expanding with more sensor types and sensor models.
Technical Paper on AGX Sensor
Algoryx engineers have produced a technical paper that explains the simulation methods and scientific foundation of AGX Sensor.
Featured sensors in AGX Sensor
LIDAR Sensor Simulation
LIDAR sensors measure distances and map spaces by emitting beams of light in the near infrared region. The LIDAR component in AGX Sensor based on multi-step raytracing and can be used for modelling nearly all vehicle Lidar sensors.
Key features:
- High performance GPU accelerated ray tracing
- Library of pre-defined real Lidar models
- Weather phenomena simulation
- Configurable object surface reflectivity
IMU Simulation
An Inertial measurement unit (IMU) combines different sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers into an integrated unit with a common interface for the output signal.
The IMU implementation in AGX Sensor offers great flexibility and realism in simulating different types of IMU:s.
Key features:
- Allows modeling of most standard IMU:s on the market
- Configure IMU:s with one or many sensors of the same type
- Specify and control the IMU output signal in detail
More sensor types
Accelerometer Simulation
An accelerometer is a sensor for measuring acceleration in a standardized way, with up to three degrees of freedom.
The highly configurable accelerometer sensor type in AGX Sensor relies on the dynamics simulation of AGX Dynamics to compute and provide an accelerometer reading.
Key features:
- Generate sensor outputs in an SI unit (m/s²), or the common reading unit (g)
- Simulate different types of noise in the output signal
Gyroscope Simulation
A gyroscope is a sensor for measuring rotational rate, typically with three degrees of freedom.
The Gyroscope sensor type in AGX Sensor module attaches to a regular AGX Dynamics frame of reference, using a parent rigid body to determine the rotational velocity.
Key features:
- Generate sensor outputs in and SI unit (degrees/s) or a common reading unit (radians/s)
- Model linear acceleration effects and different types of sensor noise
Magnetometer Simulation
A Magnetometer is a kind of sensor that measures the strength and direction of magnetic fields, such as the Earth’s geomagnetic field.
The magnetometer sensor in AGX Sensor attaches to a regular AGX Dynamics frame of reference and samples the magnetic field at the same frequency as the main dynamics simulation.
Key features:
- Specify an environment-spanning magnetic field to represent the magnetic flux density
- Modify parameters such as cross-axis sensitivity and zero-flux bias offset to closely model specific magnetometer types
Encoder simulation
An encoder is a kind of sensor that detects displacement in position and converts it into an electrical signal, with linear encoders measuring straight-line movement and rotary encoders measuring rotational movement
The encoder sensor type in AGX Sensor module provides its readings as if they were processed by a microcontroller.
Key features:
- Configure the sensor to match the geometry, mode of operation and quadrature cycle length specification of a specific type of encoder
- Simulate different types of noise in the output signal
AGX Sensor enhances the AGX Dynamics simulation suite by adding a unified platform for real-time virtual sensing, enabling the generation of synthetic sensor outputs across a wide range of different sensor types.
These added capabilities facilitate the development of robust control strategies, perception algorithms, and autonomy pipelines, making the AGX Sensor module a versatile tool for research and development.
The AGX Sensor module is available for AGX Dynamics, AGX Dynamics for Unity and AGX Dynamics for Unreal.
Please contact Algoryx sales to learn more about the specific features and capabilities of AGX Sensor for a certain development platform.