MUSE and Goodyear to Debut Racecar Analysis Breakthrough
5 August 1999
MUSE Technologies and Goodyear Tire & Rubber to Debut Racecar Analysis Breakthrough at SIGGRAPH '99 MUSE TECHNOLOGIES Muse Technologies Logo. (PRNewsFoto)[KC] ALBUQUERQUE, NM USA 06/21/1999 MUSE TECHNOLOGIES Data-laden virtual Goodyear racecars line up on a track within a MuSE immersive environment. A custom software application created by MuSE Technologies & Goodyear permits engineers to simultaneously analyze 15 different types of race tire, vehicle and driver data. The analysis used to performed using 2D plots and graphs, but has been brought to life with realistic sound and a easily customized visual representation of race cars using the MuSE Development System. (PRNewsFoto)[KC] ALBUQUERQUE, NM USA 08/04/1999
Multi-Sensory Visualization Software Used to Bring 15 Different
Types of Data to Life...Engineers Watch and Listen as Virtual
Racecars Speed Across Computer Screens
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Aug. 4 -- MUSE Technologies, Inc.
, developer of advanced visualization and network collaboration
software, and Goodyear will debut a radical innovation in the
analysis of complex racecar performance data in Los Angeles on August 11. In
a press conference to be held at SIGGRAPH '99, a leading graphics industry
conference and trade show at the Los Angeles Convention Center, MUSE will
demonstrate how Goodyear engineers are breaking new ground in understanding
how racing tires perform under a variety of track and driver conditions.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990621/MUZELOGO )
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990804/LAW047 )
The sophisticated analysis was previously performed using conventional 2D
plots and graphs, but is now done using a custom software application created
using the MuSE(R) (Multi-dimensional user-oriented Synthetic Environment)
Development System(TM). Engineers now can simultaneously study 15 dimensions
of vehicle data within an immersive environment and easily control whether
they observe the data as the cars race around a model of a track or race
side-by-side, or from any desired angle or viewpoint. Engineers can even
attach themselves to the car and follow the vehicle around track while the
sounds of acceleration and braking help them analyze vehicle performance.
The MuSE application, which was jointly developed by MUSE and Goodyear,
helps engineers at Goodyear's Race Tire division better understand how race
tires and race vehicles perform in a variety of envelope-pushing road, track
and driver conditions. Analysis conducted with the MuSE program can
eventually lead to improved design of a multitude of tires manufactured by the
world's largest producer of tire and rubber products.
According to Randy Brayer of Goodyear's Akron, Ohio-based Race Tire
Division, "We have found that being able to simultaneously view 15 or more
types of data represented as vehicles on tracks -- and being able to instantly
customize our view of the data -- has enriched our understanding of how our
tires and racecars perform in the most demanding of situations. Because the
MuSE system expresses the data in such an intuitive and interactive manner,
our engineers have discovered trends and patterns that were either invisible
or not clearly obvious when analyzed using conventional 2D charts. And, the
MuSE system makes working with the data much more enjoyable."
Users of Goodyear's MuSE application experience a lap-by-lap replay of
actual test track data collected from multiple-lap races in the MuSE immersive
environment, which can use either a conventional keyboard and mouse or
joysticks, head tracking and other peripheral devices. Users control a
multitude of performance variables in real time, with the ability to slow down
time, speed it up or mark a particular moment (and all of the current data
variables) for instant future recall using voice command. Vehicle speed and
lateral deceleration are represented by realistic audio, permitting engineers
to perceive that data while simultaneously observing other performance
characteristics.
As cars race down the MuSE track (which can be viewed either as a true
curved representation or straightened out for simplified side-by-side
comparison) their tires swell and shrink to represent the load felt by each
tire; at the same time, colored "difference bars" surrounding the vehicle
update to show subtle differences in load among the tires.
Users can individually choose (through a simple interface) which of 50 or
more different types of data they want mapped to the tires, side of the track,
path of the vehicle, and dials. Users can configure their personal immersive
environments on the fly and save particular setups for future use.
Data types that are available for representation include global variables
that describe the state of the entire car (inline and lateral acceleration;
the car's location within the lap and on the track; the car's speed; air
velocity; steering angle; throttle and braking values; and the car's roll,
pitch and yaw); front and rear variables (ride height front, ride height rear,
left and right); and corner variables that describe the states of the four
tires (load on each tire, pressure in each tire, speed of each tire).
According to Craig Peterson, Managing Director of Strategic Development at
MUSE Technologies and senior author of the Goodyear application, "The success
of this project is significant because it shows how our approach to perceptual
computing -- the integration of sound, intuitive visuals and experience-
enhancing peripherals -- allows users to take advantage of their natural
information-processing abilities of trend analysis, anomaly detection and
pattern recognition. Goodyear approached us because they believed that our
software could help them get more from their data, and this application
achieves that goal and has inspired a new round of projects that will continue
to provide Goodyear with a better way of turning information into knowledge."
Peterson added, "When it comes to working with this many different types
of data and completely changing the way that users interact with them, we
think application developers should be free to focus on how to best present
content and how to speed the problem-solving cycle. The MuSE Development
System enabled this project to be created in less than eight weeks because the
user interface, the ability to add any type of peripheral device and the
ability to integrate any type of data are fundamental parts of our software.
We were able to jump right in and work with Goodyear to focus on how to better
understand their challenge and help them win races."
About MUSE Technologies
MUSE Technologies, Inc. develops and markets software products that
enhance a computer user's ability to visualize, analyze and understand large
and diverse forms of data using WindowsNT(R) and UNIX-based systems. The
Company's software enables engineers, scientists, developers and corporate
professionals to collaborate in real-time over local and global networks, and
to solve complex data integration and data management problems. For more
information on MUSE Technologies, call 800-711-3899, or visit the company's
Web site at http://www.musetech.com.
MuSE (spelled with the Greek mu symbol as the first character) and the
MUSE Technologies logo are trademarks of MUSE Technologies, Inc., registered
in the United States Patent & Trademark Office. Leading the New Age of
Perceptual Computing is a service mark of MUSE Technologies, Inc. Windows NT
and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
in the United States and/or other countries. Any other trademarks or
copyrights referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.
Information contained in this press release includes statements that are
forward-looking. Actual results could differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements. Information concerning factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking
statements is described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 1998 and its Quarterly report on Form 10-QSB
for the quarter ended March 31, 1998, both of which are on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.