Space Engineering Assistant: Basics

 

Space Engineering Assistant product architecture can be divided into three main sections:

CATIA Client Side

  • User Interface to interact with SPE, clash browsing capability

  • Model modifications detection system

  • HTTP client to send modification information to the server and receive results

  • Clash results comparison algorithm.
     

SPE Server (Space Engineering Server)

  • launched by an Apache server, when a query is performed by a CATIA client.

  • Spatial Index Client to perform proximity queries on modified parts.

  • ENOVIA LCA Client to retrieve nearby parts geometry and related information.

  • Rule-based clash computation capability between imported modified parts and digital mockup (retrieved from ENOVIA) nearby parts.
     

Spatial Index:

  • Indexes a whole PRC from ENOVIA in space.

  • Performs very fast proximity queries.
     

Before You Begin: check everything is working (connections established)

This first scheme aims at illustrating a correct connection to Space Engineering Server

Connection between CATIA and ENOVIA is established, using the dedicated toolbar below:

Click Connect/Disconnect in the Spy toolbar to send a request to the Apache server. This step is useless, if you selected the automatic connection beforehand  (Tools > Options > Digital Mockup > DMU Space Engineering) 

Note: the HTTP Apache server has been previously launched (as a service in automatic mode or in manual mode )

The HTTP Apache server launches SPE server process.

The SPE server launches a request to the Spatial Index (Are you here and running ?)

The Spatial index is running, it sends the information back to the SPE server.

The SPE server passes the information to CATIA via the Apache server.

DMU Space Engineering Assistant is ready to work: the icon changes in the Spy toolbar.

This second scheme aims at illustrating a failed connection to SPE

Connection between CATIA and ENOVIA is established

Click Connect/Disconnect in the Spy toolbar to send a request to the Apache server. You can also select the automatic connection beforehand ( Tools > Options > Digital Mockup > DMU Space Engineering)

Note: the HTTP Apache server has been previously launched (as a service in automatic mode or in manual mode)

The HTTP Apache server launches SPE server process.

The SPE server sends a request to the Spatial Index (Are you here and running fine?)

The Spatial Index is not responding (it is not created nor running).

After a while, SPE server sends a message via the Apache server to CATIA. An error message is displayed.