Vehicle Input #

The input components read the input values from the user and passes them to the vehicle. This includes steering, throttle, brakes, gear lever, etc.

The vehicle receives the input data in the data bus, Input channel (VehiclePhysics.Channel.Input).

You could write your own input component easily by writing an add-on component that modifies the values of the Input channel in the Data Bus. For example, an AI controller or a remote player.

The ignition key #

Press and hold the control assigned to the ignition key (K by default) for starting the engine.

The vehicle implements the ignition key with three positions: OFF, ACC-ON, and START

VPStandardInput #

Reads the input from Unity's standard Input class, which is configured at Edit > Project Settings > Input.

VP Standard input

Throttle And Brake Mode

Behavior of the vertical input axis:

  • Throttle and Brake: up is throttle, down is brake.
  • Auto Forward and Reverse: automatically engages forward/reverse gears, inverting the axis when moving reverse.
Brake On Throttle Backwards
When the vehicle is moving backwards throttle (up) acts as brake.
Apply Clutch On Handbrake
Useful when handbrake affects the driven wheels. Allows more immediate handbrake effect (otherwise the engine would be counteracting the handbrake).
Unlock Driveline On Handbrake
Disengages the center driveline block (differential or torque splitter) in AWD when applying handbrake. AWD connects front and rear axles. Thus, applying handbrake at one axle affects the other axle as well. This setting disconnects AWD axles when pressing handbrake, allowing an immediate effect on the hand-braked axle.
Ignition key
Single press moves key to Acc-On. Press and hold for Start the engine. Press with Ctrl for moving the key to Off.
Steer axis

Axis name for steering. Must be configured at Unity Input settings (Edit > Project Settings > Input). Recommended configuration:

VPP Steer Axis Configuration

Throttle and Brake Axis

Axis name for throttle and brake. Must be configured at Unity Input settings (Edit > Project Settings > Input). Recommended configuration:

VPP Throttle and Brake Configuration

The behavior will be affected by the option Throttle And Brake Mode.

Handbrake axis
Axis for the handbrake. It can be a regular button defined at Input settings (sensitivity and gravity will apply). Press with Ctrl to lock/unlock all brakes.
Clutch Axis

Axis for the handbrake. It can be a regular button defined at Input settings (sensitivity and gravity will apply).

Default value for clutch axis is Fire1 (Shift). This assignment should be changed or removed on mobile/touch devices. Otherwise, the clutch will be engaged whenever the screen is touched.

Gear Shift Button

Button for gear shifting. It must have positive and negative bindings defined at the Input settings (Edit > Project Settings > Input):

VPP Gear Shift Configuration

Gear Mode Select Button

Button for selecting gear mode in automatic transmissions (R, N, D ...). It must have positive and negative bindings defined at the Input settings (Edit > Project Settings > Input):

VPP Gear Select Configuration

Keyboard Number Select Gears
The alphanumeric keyboard numbers engage the corresponding gears: 1, 2, 3, 4...
Neutral Gear
Key for selecting neutral gear, or None for disable.
Reverse Gear
Key for selecting reverse gear, or None for disable.
Enable Reset Vehicle
Resets velocity and orientation of the vehicle when the Reset Vehicle Key is pressed. Useful for recovering from roll overs or car falling upside down.
Reset Vehicle Key
Key that resets the vehicle when Enable Reset Vehicle is checked.
External inputs #

Explicitly impose the inputs, overriding the values received from the standard Input: Throttle, reverse throttle, brake, handbrake, steer, clutch, ignition key.

Useful for debug or fine-testing purposes in the Editor. Can also be used for modifying the input from scripting without having to deactivate the VPStandardInput component.

VPDeviceInput #

Supports joysticks and steering wheel controllers via DirectInput, including force feedback where available.

VP Device Input

Device #
Selected Device
Ordinal number of the device. 0 is the first device, 1 is the second device, etc.
Device Model
Applies internal mappings for the selected device model.
Input #
Digital Handbrake Rate
How fast the handbrake gets applied when pressing the handbrake button.
Steering Non Linear Bias
Applies non-linearity to the steering. 0.5 is linear, above is faster response, below is slower response.
Axis Count For Clutch
The device is considered to have a Clutch pedal when the number of reported axis is this value or greater.
Fallback To Standard Input
If no device is detected the VPStandardInput component (if present) will be enabled instead.
Effective Pedal Ranges #

Limit the ranges for Throttle, Brake and Clutch. For example, setting Brake to 0.00 - 0.50 means that the full brake pressure will be applied when reaching half of the pedal travel.

Startup #
Ignition Key Position
Where to set the ignition key on startup.
Automatic Gear Position
The position of the automatic gear lever on start.
Manual Gear Position
The position of the manual gear lever on start.
Handbrake Locked
Starts in handbrake lock mode, which means that both handbrake and service brake are applied. Releasing handbrake will release the service brakes as well.
Force Feedback #

Force feedback is based on the difference of slip at the sides of an hypothetical tire of certain width. When the vehicle is steering an edge of the tire slips more than the other edge. This difference causes a counter-force that tries to counter-steer the wheel to cancel such slip differences. This counter-force is calculated as torque that is applied to the wheel device.

Logical Tire Width
Tire width used for the force feedback calculations. More width causes more intense reactions. Doesn't need to match the width of the real tire.
Force Intensity
Overall multiplier for the force feedback.
Weight Intensity
How much the weight affects the force feedback.
Damper Coefficient
Applies resistance to the movement of the steering wheel.
Non Linear Bias
Applies non-linearity to the force feedback. 0.5 is linear, above is stronger response, below is weaker response.
G27 Specific #

Mappings of the different actions to controls in the Logitech G27 wheel.

Test & Debug #
Force Feedback GUI
Show a GUI for adjusting the force feedback settings in runtime. Note: changes here are not saved, but may be used for configuring the force feedback later.
Enable Test Effects Tool for experimenting with the different force feedback effects. Play the scene and move the Test Effect controls to see the reactions in the actual wheel. The vehicle doesn't apply force feedback.
Debug Gizmos
Show the gizmos used for the force feedback at the Scene view in runtime.
Debug Info
Show device information in runtime.