Overview: Computes comparative data for two vehicles
in two individual acceleration, deceleration or constant velocity events and
offers animation of the maneuver.
Entry into Module:
This module of the program is normally entered by clicking
on the REC-TEC block in the upper left of the REC-TEC Window
causing the drop-down menu to appear.
Place the cursor on the Time - Distance block and click on Multiple
Vehicles on the sub-menu to initiate this module.
Under certain circumstances, the user may choose to use the
Files block instead of the drop-down menu approach. Selecting any file with a .TDM
extension in the Dialog box accessed from either the Open Single File
or Open Multiple Files block opens this module.
Selecting AutoLoad [ON] from either the Setup
Menu or the AutoLoad Icon on the upper right side (third line) of
the REC-TEC Window automatically loads the scenario that was on the screen
when the module was closed, either individually, or when the program was
closed. With AutoLoad [OFF] on
the main REC-TEC Window, modules will start without loading a
file.
Data Entry:
Used to compare two vehicles or show their relationship to
one another. Entries for either Vehicle
can consist of Acceleration, Deceleration or Constant Speed
and will contain two or more of the following data entry blocks within the
leftmost frame:
·
Mu
(Acceleration/Deceleration) - required
·
Grade (Test) – Deceleration (default is zero)
·
Grade (Scene) –
Deceleration (default is zero)
·
Braking (%) – required for
Deceleration
·
Distance
·
Time
·
Speed (Initial)
·
Speed (Final)
Output information appears in the Output - Unit N
frame. As the input data is changed,
the output data is automatically updated without the need to tell the program
to update the output. The user is
instructed to increase or decrease the inputs as required.
Output – Unit (1 /
2):
The output from this module consists of the repeated input
variables plus all of the unknowns that were not entered into the left Input
frame expressed in the primary and secondary configurations. If the deceleration (acceleration) either as
entered, or as computed, was not to (or from) a final (initial) speed of zero,
the times and distances are shown for both the event as defined with the input
variables and to (or from) zero.
Options:
Several Command Buttons appear in a frame located at
the lower right corner of the module Window.
The Command Buttons allow the user to engage options including
the option to Open and Save the data required to generate the
scenario shown on the screen at the time the file was saved.
·
Open .TDM File – Calls up a Dialog box, which Opens any
pre-existing .TDM file and displays the output results.
·
Save .TDM File – Calls up a Dialog box, which Saves data on
the screen to files with any user-selectable filenames. This is independent of the automatic saving
as “LastFile.TDM” of the data at the close of this module or the close
of the program.
·
Time – Displays a data table by input interval of Time.
·
Distance (1 or 2) – Displays a data table by input interval of Distance for
Unit 1 or Unit 2.
·
Closure – Displays a data table for Closure Speeds and Angles based
on Time intervals from Time or Distance that must be run before running
Closure.
·
Formulae – Opens a word processor (set by the user in Setup)
with a file showing the basic formulae used in this module of the program. While the user may add to or modify the
information in this file, it does not change the formulae imbedded into the
program.
·
Animation – by Distance or Time in real time (1:1) or slow motion. The display shows the Units in 360 (User
selectable angles) or Parallel format to Impact or from Start positions. User selectable views include the ability to
Tilt or Rotate the X, Y and Z-Axis of the animation, which may be stopped and
then resumed using the mouse or the spacebar.
Distance markers and objects can be located on the graphics to show relationship
to vehicle(s). Animation is useful for
vehicle following (rear-end), passing and entering traffic lane in front of
other vehicles. [Esc] to Exit
·
Graphics – Displays the graphics curves for Time (with scales) or
Distance (with scales). The right and
left scales show the Speed. [Esc]
to Exit
·
N – This button toggles a graphical number pad on the screen
that can be used to enter data into the input boxes without using your keyboard
number pad. This may be useful for
presentations as data entry can be accomplished using a wired/wireless mouse.