Recording, replaying, and exporting simulations

You can record a Mechatronics Concept Designer (MCD) simulation with parameter and signal data and then review the data when you replay the recorded simulation. Use this to ensure that your parameter and signal requirements are met, or to verify hardware specifications. After you record a simulation, you can export the recording to the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) format.

Specifying parameters and signals to record

After you add signals and parameters to the Runtime Inspector, you can specify which parameters and signals you want to record. To do this, select the Record check box of those parameters and signals on the Inspector tab.

Recording simulations

Use the Record Simulation command to record a simulation. You can record simulations using the following workflows:

• Use the Play command to start the simulation, and then click Record Simulation to manually start and stop the recording.
• Use the Forward One Step command to start recording at a specific frame.

During a simulation recording, use the Pause command to pause and resume a simulation and the recording.

You can specify the count of MCD simulation steps between frames being recorded for the active simulation using the Sampling Rate slider on the Runtime Control tab in your Mechatronics Concept Designer Preferences. You can also set the sampling rate for all Mechatronics Concept Designer models in your customer defaults.

You can record and save multiple simulation recordings to the part, so you can record and replay different portions of a simulation. To replay a specific simulation recording, in the Runtime Inspector, on the Simulation Record tab, right-click a recording and choose Replay.

Replaying simulations and reviewing recorded data

Use the Replay Recorded Simulation command to replay a recording and access the playback controls:

• Goes to the first playback frame.
• Rewinds the simulation playback.
• Goes to the previous playback frame.
• Plays the simulation in reverse to review frames of interest.
• Plays the simulation.
• Stops an active simulation.
• Goes to the next playback frame.
• Fast-forwards the simulation playback.
• Goes to the last playback frame.

Exporting simulation recordings to VRML

Export a simulation recording to the VRML format to display your concept design in an interactive VR-like environment in a supported web browser.

After you record Mechatronics Concept Designer simulations, you can export the selected simulation to the VRML V2.0 format as a WRL file. Few web browsers or plugins can display WRL files in a VR-like environment that allows interacting with 3D objects and moving, rotating, and navigating within the VR-like environment using a mouse.

When you export to the VRML format, the bodies in your concept design are converted to 3D polygons, and any kinematic data generated during the simulation is included in the exported file. The 3D polygons have details such as vertices, edges, colors, textures, light, and even reflections.

Where do I find it?

Specifying the parameters and signals to record

• Application: Mechatronics Concept Designer
• Resource bar: Runtime Inspector → Inspector tab → Record column

Recording and viewing simulation data

• Application: Mechatronics Concept Designer
• Command: Record Simulation / Replay Recorded Simulation