AutoTrack


AutoTrack is a vehicle swept path analysis software program used for analysing the movements of steered and wheeled vehicles including cars, trucks, trams, aircraft and other more specialist vehicles such as fork lift trucks, wheelchairs and access platforms. AutoTrack was the world's first swept path analysis software program, originally being jointly developed by TRL and British engineering consultants, Travers Morgan and standalone in Microsoft Windows. When the software was first developed it initially ran as a DOS-based application and when it was ported to operate within AutoCAD, it was given the name AutoTrack. The software, initially developed for consulting purposes, was sold commercially and following the demise of the original company, a management buy out pre-empted the incorporation of Savoy Computing Services Ltd. in 1996. Two of the surviving directors of Savoy Computing were involved with the original development of TRACK.
In August, 2013 Autodesk acquired the technology assets of Savoy Computing Services Ltd, including the AutoTrack technology. Autodesk subsequently released Autodesk Vehicle Tracking, which directly superseded AutoTrack in November, 2013. At this point Savoy Computing Services ceased trading and the AutoTrack software product is since no longer supported.
WWW savoycomputing.com

Brief history of AutoTrack

  • 1988 – AutoTrack introduced "lock to lock" time as a critical factor used in the calculation of manoeuvrability of steered vehicles
  • 1991 – AutoTrack archived all design data within the "parent" CAD drawing
  • 1992 – AutoTrack introduced modelling of tram and light rail vehicle movements
  • 1997 – First swept path program to calculate effective axle positions from vehicle dimensions
  • 1999 – AutoTrack introduced AutoDrive
  • 1999 – Grip editing was introduced to enable the editing of vehicle paths instead of their deletion
  • 2002 – Recording of scaled animations containing multiple vehicles was introduced, with a movie file being able to be recorded from within the program
  • 2004 – A standalone version that operated in Microsoft Windows was introduced for engineers without CAD systems
  • 2007 – AutoTrack became the first 64-bit swept path analysis software program
  • 2013 – AutoTrack acquired by Autodesk