Information processing device, method, program

Abstract

To further advance space exploration, there is a need for technologies that help us intuitively understand each celestial body. [Solution] The memory unit is configured to store information identifying a celestial body, which includes at least one of a star, planet, or satellite, and an environmental model that acts on the object of analysis in the celestial body, in association with each other. The program causes one or more computer processors to perform the following steps: define the three-dimensional space of the celestial body according to the information identifying the celestial body to be analyzed; set parameters to be used for the analysis of the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body, according to the environmental model of the celestial body; perform physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to the parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; and output the results of the physical calculations.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, method, and program. [Background Art]

[0002] Simulations are performed for product development and systems in operation. Specifically, objects are arranged in a virtual space, and simulations are performed by physical computation. By acquiring information on the real space and reproducing the environment of the real space in the virtual space, processes are examined, for example, by discussing improvement points of factories and production lines, and this technique is sometimes referred to as digital twin.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for performing physical simulation of a game, and describes that "an application such as a video game operating on a computer system may require both physical simulation and graphics rendering" and "performing physical simulation of a game using a graphics processor". [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-099153 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] As space development progresses, it is expected that exploration of celestial bodies such as planets and satellites in the solar system will also progress.

[0006] However, the environments of each celestial body, such as planets, differ greatly from those of Earth. Therefore, intuitively understanding each celestial body, and grasping and understanding the behavior of instruments operating on them, is not easy. As a result, significant obstacles remain in advancing space development.

[0007] As described above, in order to further promote space development, there is a need for technologies that support an intuitive understanding of each celestial body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to one embodiment, a program is provided for operating a computer having one or more computer processors. The memory unit is configured to store, in association with information identifying a celestial body, which includes at least one of a star, a planet, or a moon, and an environmental model that acts on the object of analysis in the celestial body. The program causes one or more computer processors to perform the following steps: define the three-dimensional space of a celestial body according to the information identifying the celestial body to be analyzed; set parameters to be used for the analysis of the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body, according to the environmental model of the celestial body; perform physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space, according to the parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; and output the results of the physical calculations. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to this disclosure, it is possible to build a simulation environment for performing physical calculations based on information that identifies a celestial body, thereby supporting an intuitive understanding of each celestial body and further promoting space development. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the configuration of System 1. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows the configuration of server 20. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the configuration of terminal 10. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the data structure of the user database 211. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows the data structure of the terrain database 212. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the data structure of the environmental model database 213. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the data structure of the physical model database 214. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the data structure of the model usage history database 215. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows the processing flow for accepting registration of environmental models and physical models. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows the process flow for a user to specify an environment model and build a simulation environment. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows the process flow for performing physical calculations according to the environment model and physical model. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows the flow of the process from model creator to evaluating the model itself. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows the process of optimizing the spacing of grid points in a physical calculation using the grid method, and the process of generating data for the entire celestial body from data for only a portion of the celestial body. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows an example of the operation screen for accepting model registrations. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows an example of an operation screen that accepts operations to specify a model and build a simulation environment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not unduly limit the content of the present disclosure described in the claims. Furthermore, not all of the components shown in the embodiments are essential components of the present disclosure. Additionally, each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily strictly illustrated.

[0012] Furthermore, in the following description, a "processor" refers to one or more processors. At least one processor is typically a microprocessor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), but may also be another type of processor such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The at least one processor may be single-core or multi-core.

[0013] Furthermore, the at least one processor may be a processor in a broad sense, such as a hardware circuit (e.g., FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)) that performs part or all of the processing.

[0014] Furthermore, in the following description, expressions such as "xxx table" may be used to describe information from which an output can be obtained for an input. However, this information may be data of any structure, or may be a trained model such as a neural network that generates an output corresponding to an input. Therefore, "xxx table" may also be referred to as "xxx information".

[0015] Furthermore, in the following description, the configuration of each table is an example. One table may be divided into two or more tables, or all or part of two or more tables may be combined into a single table.

[0016] Furthermore, in the following explanation, the subject of the process may sometimes be "program," but since a program is executed by a processor and performs defined processes using the memory and / or interface as appropriate, the subject of the process may also be the processor (or a device such as a controller that has that processor).

[0017] The program may be installed on a device such as a computer, or it may reside on a program distribution server or a computer-readable (e.g., non-temporary) recording medium. Furthermore, in the following description, two or more programs may be implemented as a single program, or one program may be implemented as two or more programs.

[0018] Furthermore, in the following explanation, identification numbers are used as identification information for various objects, but other types of identification information (for example, identifiers including letters or symbols) may also be used.

[0019] Furthermore, in the following explanations, when describing similar elements without distinction, a reference code (or a common code among reference codes) may be used, and when describing similar elements with distinction, the element's identification number (or reference code) may be used.

[0020] Furthermore, in the following explanation, only control lines and information lines deemed necessary for the explanation are shown, and not all control lines and information lines in the product are necessarily shown. All components may be interconnected.

[0021] <Outline of Embodiment 1> In the following description of the embodiments, we will mainly explain the following (1), (2), (3), etc., in order to further promote space development.

[0022] (1) A mechanism to make physical simulations of each celestial body available to each user: Researchers and others will register environmental models of each celestial body to be used in physical calculations (including not only gravity on the celestial body, but also factors such as air resistance, collisions, radiation, electromagnetic waves, temperature, etc.) and physical laws, and make them available to users who perform simulations. Even if researchers are studying environmental models for celestial bodies, it is not easy to make these research results widely available. Furthermore, the physical laws applied in physical simulations sometimes involve physical laws unique to the universe (such as the formulas for black holes). Also, each researcher is studying physical laws that can be applied to physical simulations of celestial bodies, making it difficult to make these research results widely available. Therefore, we will explain a mechanism that makes physical simulations of each celestial body available to each user. For example, we will describe the following embodiment.

[0023] A program for operating a computer having one or more computer processors, configured to store in a memory unit information that identifies a celestial body including at least one of a star, planet, or satellite, and an environmental model that acts on the object of analysis in the celestial body in association with it, wherein the program causes one or more computer processors to perform the steps of accepting registration of an environmental model for each celestial body and storing the accepted environmental model in the memory unit.

[0024] (2) Construction of the simulation environment at the stage of conducting the simulation: Support the construction of a simulation environment that allows for the execution of physical simulations for each celestial body by specifying the environmental model and physical laws of each celestial body provided by researchers, etc. (including switching the physics engine that performs the physical calculations for each celestial body). As explained in (1) above, if environmental models for performing simulations on each celestial body are made available to the user, providing the user with information to help them decide which environmental model and physical laws to use when constructing the simulation environment (for example, the celestial body to which the environmental model applies, an evaluation of the environmental model, an evaluation of the creator of the environmental model, etc.) will make the construction of the simulation environment even easier. For example, the following embodiment will be described.

[0025] A program for operating a computer having one or more computer processors, configured to store in a memory unit information identifying a celestial body including at least one of a star, planet, or satellite, and an environmental model that acts on the object of analysis in the celestial body, wherein the program causes one or more computer processors to perform the following steps: define the three-dimensional space of the celestial body according to the information identifying the celestial body to be analyzed; set parameters to be used for the analysis of the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body according to the environmental model of the celestial body; perform physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to the parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; and output the results of the physical calculations.

[0026] (3) Method of physical simulation: Calculate physical phenomena by considering not only gravity but also factors such as air resistance, collisions, radiation, electromagnetic waves, and temperature (environmental model) on celestial bodies such as planets in the solar system. For example, set grid points at arbitrary distance intervals on a celestial body (the distance interval of the grid points may differ depending on altitude and region), set parameters of these environmental models at the grid points, and calculate physical phenomena at each grid point. Calculate interactions involving multiple types of parameters, including not only gravity but also radiation, electromagnetic waves, and temperature. For example, rendering engines that render three-dimensional virtual spaces provide physics calculations to determine gravity and inertia acting on objects, and to perform physics calculations for repulsion during collisions between objects in a three-dimensional virtual space. However, in space development, it is necessary to consider the effects of collisions with various objects, such as air resistance and dust, in the actual environment of celestial bodies. For example, on the lunar surface, where the atmosphere is thinner than on Earth, it is necessary to simulate the operation of equipment while considering the effects of radiation, electromagnetic waves, etc., compared to the Earth environment. For example, electromagnetic waves can irradiate equipment, making it more likely to become magnetic, and dust kicked up by the movement of the equipment is more likely to adhere to it, potentially affecting its movement. By calculating the interaction between collisions during equipment movement and the effects of electromagnetic waves, etc., the development of equipment that operates on that celestial body can be promoted.

[0027] Furthermore, for example, in a location with a thinner atmosphere compared to Earth, such as the lunar surface, attempting to operate a device (e.g., a flying device) designed with the atmosphere and air resistance in mind, as is done on Earth, in the lunar environment may not result in the expected behavior on Earth. In such cases, it may be necessary to reconsider the mechanism for flying the device. By supporting an intuitive understanding of celestial bodies in this way, the development of equipment for space exploration can be promoted. For example, by constructing a physical simulation environment for the lunar surface, and rendering the behavior of objects such as airplanes that operate on Earth when they operate in that physical simulation environment, it becomes easier to grasp the differences from the behavior expected in the Earth environment. For example, the following embodiment will be described.

[0028] A program for operating a computer having one or more computer processors, configured to store in a memory unit information identifying a celestial body including at least one of a star, planet, or moon, and an environmental model that acts on the object of analysis in the celestial body, wherein the program provides one or more computer processors with the steps of: defining the three-dimensional space of a celestial body according to the information identifying the celestial body to be analyzed; setting parameters to be used for the analysis of the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body according to the environmental model of the celestial body; and analyzing the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to the parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws. The system performs the following steps: a step of performing physical calculations of the effects on the object, and a step of outputting the results of the physical calculations. In the defining step, according to the information that identifies the celestial body to be analyzed, multiple grid points are defined that divide the three-dimensional space of the celestial body at predetermined intervals. In the setting step, for each of the multiple grid points defined for the celestial body, parameters used for the analysis of the object are set according to the environmental model of the celestial body. In the physical calculation step, physical calculations of the effects on the object in the three-dimensional space are performed at each grid point according to the parameters set at each grid point. In the output step, the results of the physical calculations for each grid point are output.

[0029] <1.1 System Configuration Diagram> System 1, shown in Figure 1, includes a server 20, user terminals 10 and 10A, a terminal 30 for the administrator of the space development project, a terminal 40 for the client of the space development project, a server 95 for artificial intelligence (large-scale language model) services (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "server 95 for large-scale language model services"), a server 96 for spacecraft developers, a server 97 for physical simulation services, and a rendering engine server 99. These devices communicate with each other via network 80.

[0030] In this embodiment, each device (terminal device, server, etc.) can also be considered as an information processing device. That is, the collection of each device can be considered as a single "information processing device," and System 1 may be formed as a collection of multiple devices. The way in which the multiple functions required to realize System 1 according to this embodiment are distributed to one or more hardware can be appropriately determined in view of the processing capacity of each hardware and / or the specifications required for System 1.

[0031] Server 20 provides the following to the user in general terms: This system provides a physical simulation environment for celestial bodies such as planets, moons, and stars. It simulates the operation of equipment on these planets, moons, etc., by calculating the interactions of effects such as gravity, air resistance, radiation, electromagnetic waves, and temperature. For example, it simulates the behavior of fluids and sand when an object is moved along planetary terrain data, calculating the impact of these materials adhering to the object, and the possibility of equipment failure due to radiation. • Provides a digital twin that replicates the interior of an actual spacecraft, and offers a simulation environment in which robots can operate while applying conditions of outer space, such as gravity, within the virtual spacecraft. • Providing various modules that control the operation of spacecraft, and software to optimize the operation of these modules. Providing an operating system for these spacecraft to run the various modules on the spacecraft. This service provides simulations for spacecraft developers, adhering to the constraints of space development. It offers a simulation environment for operating spacecraft in space, and also provides control modules for controlling spacecraft movement, as well as system software to optimize these modules. • A service that matches companies that conduct space development with companies that provide financial support for space development, thereby promoting financial support for space projects. • A service that supports the careers of personnel involved in space development by matching them with companies that conduct space development, and facilitating transfers between organizations through job changes, etc. • A service that supports transactions between those who request services related to space development and those who fulfill those requests. The following provides a detailed explanation.

[0032] Server 20 matches space development companies with companies that provide financial support for space development, thereby promoting financial assistance for space projects. Server 20 collects various information on space projects and calculates an evaluation value for each project. By providing these evaluation results to companies that provide financial support, it is possible to encourage loans or investments. Furthermore, based on these evaluation results, it can calculate insurance premiums for space projects and present these premiums to companies involved in space projects, accepting applications from them.

[0033] Server 20 may evaluate the space project by assessing the organizational structure required to carry it out, and evaluates the space project from the perspectives of (1) the development resources required for the space project, and (2) the operational resources required for the space project.

[0034] (1) As part of evaluating the development resources involved in the space project, for example, Server 20 evaluates development resources such as the performance of the spacecraft, the system for developing the spacecraft, and the track record of development in order to assess the likelihood that the space project can be evaluated as successful by achieving its initial objectives.

[0035] (2) As part of the evaluation of operational resources for space projects, Server 20 evaluates the resources needed to launch and operate spacecraft. For example, the following accuracy and track record may be evaluated as part of the evaluation of resources needed to operate spacecraft. • By launching spacecraft, monitoring their orbits, and predicting their trajectories, collisions with other spacecraft such as satellites can be prevented during launch. • Monitoring whether satellites and other spacecraft in orbit are still in orbit. This can be done by monitoring devices on the ground, or by satellites in space sensing other spacecraft. • Controlling the attitude of a spacecraft. For example, to improve the efficiency of generating energy for the spacecraft's operation using solar power, the attitude of the spacecraft may be controlled so that its solar panels are at an optimal angle to the sun. Also, to enable communication with other spacecraft, the attitude of the spacecraft may be controlled so that its antenna is pointed in the appropriate direction. • Controlling the attitude of a spacecraft and controlling thrusters to accelerate or decelerate it. To control such thrusters, a model is prepared that predicts the spacecraft's inertia and its flight path based on thruster control. For example, in order to dock spacecraft with a space station, spacecraft may need to be brought into space at a predetermined position and angle. • Monitoring space objects such as debris and predicting their orbits. For example, if there is a risk of debris colliding with a spacecraft such as a satellite, the debris may be removed or the orbit of the spacecraft at risk of collision may be altered. As described above, Server 20 can evaluate the likelihood of a space project achieving its intended objectives and other successes by assessing the development and operational resources involved in the space project.

[0036] Here, the server 20 may determine the evaluation value as follows in order to assess the probability of success. • The position of the team involved in a project within the overall picture. For example, whether their development and operational track record is among the top tier (a certain percentage from the top). For example, by aggregating the number of projects they were involved in and the budget size of each project for each company, it is possible to determine the ranking of their development track record. • Whether or not it meets the standards set by the government or other relevant bodies. For example, whether or not the quality of the software code meets certain standards. • The likelihood of success for the current space project compared to past successful or unsuccessful space projects. For example, if the performance of the spacecraft in this project is significantly improved compared to past successful space projects, or if operational experience has been accumulated, the project may be evaluated as having a higher probability of success than past projects. Server 20 provides a service for simulating the space environment. For example, Server 20 receives data related to the design of a ground-based vehicle from the user's terminal 10, determines whether it conforms to constraints such as gravity, temperature, communication, power, air, and radiation in space development, and provides the simulation service by responding with the determination result to the user's terminal 10. Server 20 can also provide the service by having Server 95, an artificial intelligence (large-scale language model) service, generate the content of the response to the user, and then responding with the generated result to the user.

[0037] Server 20 provides a service to device developers that performs simulations according to the constraints of space development. For example, it constructs the environment inside a spacecraft (ISS: International Space Station, space colony), the environment outside the spacecraft, the environment in orbit, the lunar surface environment such as terrain and day / night cycle, and the surface environment of planets such as Mars in a virtual space, and performs simulations of controlling spacecraft objects placed in that virtual space.

[0038] Server 20 provides services to support career changes and other transitions for personnel involved in space development. For example, Server 20 evaluates personnel involved in space development based on their track record of participating in space projects. In this evaluation, Server 20 assesses the compensation (e.g., annual salary) that should be paid for the work performed by personnel involved in space development. Server 20 accepts registration of job information from recruiting companies and matches it with job seekers. Server 20 also presents recruiting companies with the expected compensation for the personnel they are recruiting. This enables the transfer of personnel between organizations.

[0039] Server 20 accepts user registrations and project registrations from clients and administrators of space development projects. Through this, Server 20 provides services to match space development projects with device development companies, including searching for device development companies and searching for space development projects.

[0040] Server 20 is connected to the servers of product manufacturers that provide ready-made products, and accepts product registrations from manufacturers of components, finished products, etc. This allows Server 20 to provide a search function for ready-made products to stakeholders in space development projects and businesses developing devices.

[0041] Server 20 is connected to an advertising distribution service server and delivers advertisements to various users of Server 20, such as device developers, based on their usage history of the services provided by Server 20. For example, based on the history of a device developer designing a spacecraft using Server 20's simulation service, advertisements can be delivered that are tailored to the purpose of the spacecraft and the components that make up the spacecraft, thereby promoting matching with products offered by advertisers.

[0042] Terminal 10 is the terminal of a user who uses the services provided by Server 20. In the illustrated example, terminals 10, terminal 10A, etc., are shown as terminals used by users of the services provided by Server 20, but each user operates their own terminal. For example, a user of a space project development company, a user of an investment company, and a user of a lending company each operate Terminal 10.

[0043] Server 95 of the Large-Scale Language Model Service is a server that executes language processing tasks using language models built through learning processes including artificial intelligence (AI). An LLM (Large Language Model) is a model that has been pre-trained on large amounts of data (such as text data), for example, a large amount of web content on the internet, or a large amount of data stored in a designated database, and can perform various language processing tasks by being given a task.

[0044] The server 95 of the large-scale language model service accepts prompt input in the form of text, images, audio, etc., and generates and responds with answers to the prompts. Examples of LLMs include GPT-3, GPT-4, and GPT-4o, developed by OpenAI.

[0045] The spacecraft developer's server 96 is a device that manages information about the operators that develop spacecraft. In this embodiment, it can be a user of the service related to building a physical simulation environment provided by server 20.

[0046] The physical simulation service server 97 is a server that provides high-resolution physical simulation capabilities, such as providing physical simulations using the grid method and physical simulations using the particle method.

[0047] The spacecraft being simulated is a space object flying through space. Based on sensing results obtained by the spacecraft, the spacecraft controls each module to perform control according to the spacecraft's situation in space (e.g., temperature adjustment according to the temperature environment, attitude control according to cosmic radiation, attitude / orbit control to avoid collisions with other space objects, etc.), and control to continue operating the spacecraft even if an anomaly occurs in space (e.g., energy control in the event of a power generation device failure, fuel control for thruster control, water generation and replenishment according to the amount of water and food consumed by the human body, setting the importance and schedule of communications according to the communication capacity, etc.). In this embodiment, the spacecraft controls each module to operate automatically without manual operation by an operator. For example, the spacecraft sets a schedule and priority for controlling the operation of various modules of the spacecraft based on monitoring results including the spacecraft's own sensing results in space, and information provided by a ground station, and operates the various modules according to these.

[0048] Ground stations monitor the orbits of space objects (spacecraft, satellites, debris, etc.) in outer space, predict their trajectories, send commands to spacecraft to avoid collisions, and send commands to spacecraft to control their modules according to their trajectories.

[0049] In the simulation environment provided by Server 20, the conditions in the simulation environment (such as gravity) may be set to control the spacecraft to avoid collisions as described above, according to the orbit of the spacecraft being simulated, and the movements of robots, etc., may be simulated.

[0050] The rendering engine server 99 is a device that provides a rendering engine that controls the movement of each object in a three-dimensional virtual space, performs rendering according to the virtual camera settings, and outputs the rendering results. By communicating with each other, the rendering engine server 99 and the physical simulation service server 97 can, for example, perform physical simulations for each object placed in the three-dimensional virtual space using the physical simulation service server 97, while rendering is performed by the rendering engine server 99.

[0051] The configuration of each device is described below.

[0052] The server 20 includes a communication interface 22, an input / output interface 23, memory 25, storage 26, and a processor 29.

[0053] Communication IF22 is an interface for inputting and outputting signals so that the server 20 can communicate with external devices.

[0054] Input / Output IF23 functions as an interface between an input device for receiving user input operations and an output device for presenting information to the user.

[0055] Memory 25 is for temporarily storing programs and data processed by programs, etc., and is a volatile memory such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

[0056] Storage 26 is for storing data, and can be, for example, flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0057] The processor 29 is hardware for executing the instruction set described in the program, and consists of an arithmetic unit, registers, peripheral circuits, etc.

[0058] Terminal 10 can be implemented, for example, as follows: • Handheld mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets • Stationary PCs (Personal Computers), Laptop PCs • Wearable devices worn by the user (watch-type, glasses-type, etc.) Terminal 10 includes a communication interface (IF) 12, an input device 13, an output device 14, memory 15, storage 16, and a processor 19.

[0059] The communication interface 12 is an interface for inputting and outputting signals so that terminal 10 can communicate with an external device.

[0060] The input device 13 is a device for receiving input operations from the user (for example, a touch panel, touchpad, pointing device such as a mouse, keyboard, etc.).

[0061] The output device 14 is a device (such as a display or speaker) for presenting information to the user.

[0062] Memory 15 is for temporarily storing programs and data processed by programs, etc., and is a volatile memory such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

[0063] Storage 16 is for storing data, and can be, for example, flash memory or an HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0064] The processor 19 is hardware for executing the instruction set described in the program, and consists of an arithmetic unit, registers, peripheral circuits, etc.

[0065] <1.2 Functional Configuration of Server 20> Figure 2 shows the configuration of server 20. As shown in Figure 2, server 20 functions as a communication unit 201, a storage unit 202, and a control unit 203.

[0066] The communications unit 201 performs processing to enable the server 20 to communicate with external devices.

[0067] The memory unit 202 stores various databases, including a user database 211, a terrain database 212, an environment model database 213, a physical model database 214, a model usage history database 215, and a physical simulation results database 216.

[0068] User Database 211 is a database that manages information on each user involved in the development of spacecraft. Further details will be provided later.

[0069] The terrain database 212 is a database that manages terrain data for each celestial body that is the subject of the simulation. Further details will be provided later.

[0070] The environmental model database 213 is a database that manages environmental models for each celestial body that is the subject of the simulation. Further details will be provided later.

[0071] The physical model database 214 is a database that manages the physical laws (physical models) applied in physical simulations. Further details will be provided later.

[0072] The model usage history database 215 is a database that manages the history of how simulation environments have been constructed on server 20 using environmental models and physical models managed in the environmental model database 213, physical model database 214, etc. (and terrain data managed in the terrain database 212).

[0073] The physical simulation results database 216 is a database for managing the results of physical simulations.

[0074] The control unit 203 is realized when the processor 29 reads a program stored in the memory unit 202 and executes instructions contained in the program. By operating according to the program, the control unit 203 performs the functions shown as the receive control module 2041, the transmit control module 2042, the user management module 2043, the spacecraft / space robot registration module 2044, the simulation processing module 2045, the rendering processing module 2046, and the physical simulator control module 2047.

[0075] The receive control module 2041 controls the process by which the server 20 receives signals from external devices according to a communication protocol.

[0076] The transmission control module 2042 controls the process by which the server 20 transmits signals to external devices according to a communication protocol.

[0077] The user management module 2043 is a module for managing information for each user using System 1. Specifically, the user management module 2043 accepts registration of each user's information and updates the user database 211.

[0078] The Spacecraft / Space Robot Registration Module 2044 is a program module that accepts registrations of spacecraft and space robot information (such as 3D model information) to be used in simulations, and updates the spacecraft database, robot database, etc.

[0079] Simulation processing module 2045 is a program module that provides spacecraft developers with the functionality to simulate the space environment.

[0080] The simulation processing module 2045 provides users with space environment simulation capabilities in the following manner: • Provides physical simulations by having similar functionality to the physical simulation provided by Server 97 of the physical simulation service. • By having similar functionality to the rendering engine provided by Server 99 of the rendering engine, it moves objects in a three-dimensional virtual space based on the results of physical simulations based on the environment model and physical laws, and outputs rendering results. • Constructs a three-dimensional virtual space that reflects the conditions inside and outside the ISS, and on the lunar or planetary surface (gravity, atmosphere, etc.), and returns simulation results of controlling a spacecraft (in-space drone, satellite, lunar rover, etc.). The system accepts registration of device design data from users and determines whether the device meets the constraints based on information about gravity and other constraints shown in a database (constraint database) that manages constraints related to the space environment. For example, if the system receives registration of ground-based device design data and determines that it does not meet the communication constraints in space development, it will not be usable in the space environment (it will not operate as intended), and presents the determination result to the user. Here, design data may be information from the device specifications, or information such as device design drawings and 3D models. The rendering module 2046 obtains the results of the physical simulation performed by the physical simulator control module 2047, and then renders the results of each object's movement in the three-dimensional virtual space based on the results of the physical simulation.

[0081] Rendering module 2046 is a program module that provides a virtual space that reproduces the interior of a spacecraft, etc., by rendering based on 3D model information managed in the spacecraft database, robot database, etc.

[0082] The rendering module 2046 renders the interior and exterior of the spaceship according to the virtual camera settings, based on information about the spaceship object and the space robot object, and displays the rendering results on terminal 10. In addition, the rendering module 2046 uses the physics calculation function of the rendering engine to perform physics calculations according to the settings for gravity and other factors in outer space, thereby moving objects and performing collision detection.

[0083] Furthermore, the rendering module 2046 receives commands for objects such as spacecraft and space robots (either specified by the user or not), and generates parameters to drive each object according to the commands (for example, generating parameters to move a space robot in response to a command to move it), thereby updating the database that manages the command details.

[0084] The physics simulator control module 2047 communicates with the physics simulation service server 97 to input and output information, causing it to perform physics simulations tailored to celestial bodies and acquiring the results.

[0085] The physics simulator control module 2047 uses the physics simulation service server 97 to identify the simulation parameters to be provided to the physics simulation service server 97 (parameters for driving objects such as space robots to move in space), and instructs the physics simulation service server 97 to perform a high-resolution simulation compared to the rendering engine, including a simulation using computational fluid dynamics. For example, the 3D space may be divided into multiple blocks at a granularity that is difficult for the rendering engine to process, and the physics simulation may be performed by doing so. Alternatively, if the rendering engine does not support simulations using computational fluid dynamics, the physics simulation service server 97 may be instructed to perform simulations of airflow, etc., using computational fluid dynamics. The physics simulator control module updates the physics simulation result database 216 by performing the simulation in this way. The physics simulator control module 2047 obtains the simulation results from the physics simulation service server 97 and generates parameters for performing physics calculations by the rendering engine by abstracting those simulation results (for example, by reducing the data resolution). The physics simulator control module 2047 then uses the generated parameters to perform physics calculations in the rendering engine. Details will be described later.

[0086] <1.3 Configuration of Terminal 10> Figure 3 shows the configuration of terminal 10.

[0087] As shown in Figure 3, terminal 10 includes multiple antennas (antenna 111, antenna 112), communication units corresponding to each antenna (first communication unit 120, second communication unit 121), an input device 130 (including a touch-sensitive device 131), a display 132, an audio processing unit 140, a microphone 141, a speaker 142, a position information sensor 150, a camera 160, a motion sensor 170, a storage unit 180, and a control unit 190. Terminal 10 also has functions and configurations not specifically shown in Figure 3 (for example, a battery for maintaining power, a power supply circuit for controlling the supply of power from the battery to each circuit, etc.). As shown in Figure 3, each block included in terminal 10 is electrically connected by a bus or the like.

[0088] Antenna 111 radiates signals emitted by terminal 10 as radio waves. Antenna 111 also receives radio waves from space and provides the received signals to first communication unit 120.

[0089] Antenna 112 radiates signals emitted by terminal 10 as radio waves. Antenna 112 also receives radio waves from space and provides the received signals to the second communication unit 121.

[0090] The first communication unit 120 performs modulation and demodulation processing, etc., for the terminal 10 to transmit and receive signals via the antenna 111 in order to communicate with other wireless devices. The second communication unit 121 also performs modulation and demodulation processing, etc., for the terminal 10 to transmit and receive signals via the antenna 112 in order to communicate with other wireless devices. The first communication unit 120 and the second communication unit 121 are a communication module that includes a tuner, an RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) calculation circuit, a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) calculation circuit, a high-frequency circuit, etc. The first communication unit 120 and the second communication unit 121 perform modulation and demodulation, frequency conversion, etc., of the wireless signals transmitted and received by the terminal 10, and provide the received signal to the control unit 190.

[0091] The input device 130 has a mechanism for receiving user input operations. Specifically, the input device 130 is configured as a touchscreen and includes a touch-sensitive device 131. The touch-sensitive device 131 receives user input operations of the terminal 10. The touch-sensitive device 131 detects the user's contact position with the touch panel, for example, by using a capacitive touch panel. The touch-sensitive device 131 outputs a signal indicating the user's contact position detected by the touch panel to the control unit 190 as an input operation.

[0092] The display 132 displays data such as images, videos, and text in accordance with the control of the control unit 190. The display 132 is implemented by, for example, an LCD or an organic EL display.

[0093] The audio processing unit 140 modulates and demodulates the audio signal. The audio processing unit 140 modulates the signal received from the microphone 141 and provides the modulated signal to the control unit 190. The audio processing unit 140 also provides the audio signal to the speaker 142. The audio processing unit 140 is implemented, for example, by an audio processing processor. The microphone 141 receives an audio input and provides the audio signal corresponding to that audio input to the audio processing unit 140. The speaker 142 converts the audio signal received from the audio processing unit 140 into sound and outputs the sound to the outside of the terminal 10.

[0094] The location information sensor 150 is a sensor that detects the location of the terminal 10, and is, for example, a GPS (Global Positioning System) module. A GPS module is a receiving device used in a satellite positioning system. In a satellite positioning system, signals are received from at least three or four satellites, and the current location of the terminal 10, which is equipped with a GPS module, is detected based on the received signals.

[0095] Camera 160 is a device that receives light using a photodetector and outputs it as an image. Camera 160 is, for example, a depth camera that can detect the distance from camera 160 to the object being photographed.

[0096] The motion sensor 170 includes an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, etc., and detects the movement of the terminal 10.

[0097] The storage unit 180 is composed of, for example, flash memory and stores data and programs used by the terminal 10. The various types of information stored in the storage unit 180 will be described later.

[0098] The control unit 190 controls the operation of the terminal 10 by reading the program stored in the memory unit 180 and executing the instructions contained in the program. The control unit 190 is, for example, an application processor. By operating according to the program, the control unit 190 performs the functions of an operation reception unit 191, a transmission / reception unit 192, a data processing unit 193, a notification control unit 194, and a memory control unit 195.

[0099] The operation reception unit 191 processes input operations from the user to an input device such as a touch-sensitive device 131. Based on the coordinate information of the touch-sensitive device 131 where the user's finger or the like has made contact, the operation reception unit 191 determines the type of operation, such as whether the user's operation is a flick operation, a tap operation, or a drag (swipe) operation.

[0100] The transmitting / receiving unit 192 performs processing to enable the terminal 10 to send and receive data with an external device such as a server 20 in accordance with a communication protocol.

[0101] The data processing unit 193 performs calculations on the data received as input by the terminal 10 according to the program and outputs the calculation results to memory or other locations.

[0102] The notification control unit 194 performs the following processes: displaying the display image on the display 132, outputting sound to the speaker 142, and generating vibrations.

[0103] The memory control unit 195 controls the storage of data to the memory unit 180.

[0104] The various types of information stored by the memory unit 180 will now be explained. In a given scenario, the memory unit 180 stores various types of information, such as user information 181 and ground machine design information 182.

[0105] User information 181 is information about a user who uses the services of server 20.

[0106] Ground equipment design information 182 is information about the design data of the ground equipment. For example, if the user is a company that develops, maintains, and operates ground equipment, it will have design data such as specifications, design drawings, and test data for that ground equipment.

[0107] <2 Data Structure> Figure 4 shows the data structure of the user database 211. The user database 211 includes the following fields: User ID, Username, Email Address, Registration Date and Time, Last Login Date and Time, Account Status, User Type, Phone Number, Affiliation, Qualification, Email Authentication Flag, Subscription Flag, Evaluation Score, and Remarks.

[0108] The "User ID" field contains information about an ID that uniquely identifies each user.

[0109] The "Username" field contains information about the user's display name or nickname.

[0110] The item "Email Address" contains the user's email address information.

[0111] The "Registration Date and Time" field contains information about the date and time the user registered the information in the system.

[0112] The "Last Login Date and Time" field contains information about the date and time the user last logged in.

[0113] The "Account Status" field shows the current status (active / inactive) of the account.

[0114] The "User Type" field contains information about the user's type and role (e.g., model registrant, simulation user).

[0115] The "Phone Number" field contains the user's contact phone number information.

[0116] The "Affiliation" field contains information about the organization or company to which the user belongs.

[0117] The "Qualifications" item contains information about the user's qualifications and areas of expertise.

[0118] The "Email Verification Flag" field contains information about a flag (True / False) indicating whether the email address has been verified.

[0119] The "Subscription Flag" item contains information about the status of a paid service subscription (True / False).

[0120] The "Evaluation Score" item contains information about the user's contribution and evaluation score.

[0121] The item "Evaluation Score" may include the following as evaluation result information depending on whether the user is a user who has registered environmental models and physical laws, or a user who utilizes them: • For users who have registered environmental models and physical laws, evaluations should be based on the actual usage of these models and physical laws. For example, a user's evaluation score may be determined by weighting based on the number of times they were used, the frequency of use, and evaluations by the users who used them. • For users who perform physical simulations using these environmental models and physical laws, the evaluation should be based on the results obtained using these environmental models and physical laws. For example, the results obtained using physical simulations (such as development results) may be evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively to determine the user's evaluation score. The "Remarks" field contains any other special notes or memos.

[0122] Figure 5 shows the data structure of the terrain database 212. The terrain database 212 includes the following items: "Celestial Body ID", "Terrain ID", "Geographic Range", "Terrain Name", "Terrain Type", "Data File Path", "Creation Date and Time", "Update Date and Time", "Creator ID", "Description", and "Public Flag".

[0123] The "Celestial Body ID" field is information that uniquely identifies a celestial body.

[0124] More specifically, the "Celestial Body ID" field includes identification information assigned to each celestial body, including planets and moons in the solar system, as well as celestial bodies outside the solar system.

[0125] The "Terrain ID" field contains information about an ID used to uniquely identify each terrain data.

[0126] The "Geographic Range" item contains information about the geographical range of the topographic data for celestial bodies.

[0127] More specifically, the item "Geographic Range" may refer to information about the range indicated by the latitude and longitude of a celestial body, or, if names have been assigned to the topography of a celestial body (for example, mountains or craters on the moon or Mars), it may include information about the geographic range corresponding to these names.

[0128] The item "Topographic Name" contains information about the name of the topographic data.

[0129] The "Terrain Type" field contains information about the type of attribute that indicates the type and characteristics of terrain.

[0130] More specifically, the "Topography Type" category includes names that classify topographic features, such as mountainous, plains, deserts, craters, traces of water flow, etc.

[0131] The item "Data File Path" is information about the path or name of the file that stores the 3D terrain data.

[0132] The "Creation Date" field contains information about the date and time the terrain data was created.

[0133] The "Update Date and Time" field contains information about the date and time when the terrain data was last updated.

[0134] The "Creator ID" field is the ID of the user who created the terrain data.

[0135] The item "Creator ID" may be associated with the item "User ID" in user database 211.

[0136] The "Description" field contains detailed descriptions and characteristic information about the topographic data.

[0137] The "Publication Flag" item contains information about a flag (True / False) indicating whether the terrain data can be made public.

[0138] Figure 6 shows the data structure of the environmental model database 213. The environmental model database 213 includes the following items: "Environmental Model ID", "Celestial Body ID", "Environmental Model Name", "Gravitational Constant", "Atmospheric Pressure", "Radiation", "Electromagnetic Waves", "Temperature", "Model Type", "Registration Date and Time", "Registrant ID", "Description", and "Approval Flag".

[0139] The item "Environmental Model ID" contains information about an ID used to uniquely identify an environmental model.

[0140] The "Celestial Body ID" field is information used to uniquely identify a celestial body. The "Celestial Body ID" field may also be associated with the "Celestial Body ID" field in the topographic database.

[0141] The item "Environmental Model Name" contains information about the name of the environmental model.

[0142] The item "gravitational constant" is information about the gravitational constant used in the simulation as a parameter that constitutes the environmental model. Here, grid points may be defined for the celestial body to which the environmental model is applied, and a dataset of gravity, atmospheric pressure, etc. may be maintained for each grid point.

[0143] The item "Atmospheric Pressure" contains information about the atmospheric pressure value (Pa) used in the simulation.

[0144] The item "Radiation" contains information about the radiation values ​​used in the simulation.

[0145] The item "Electromagnetic Waves" contains information about the electromagnetic wave values ​​used in the simulation.

[0146] The "Temperature" field contains information about the temperature value (K) used in the simulation. Note that parameters can be set for the environmental model in addition to the example shown.

[0147] The "Model Type" field contains information about the attributes and types of the environmental model.

[0148] The item "Model Type" may include the following as attributes or types of the environment model: • Representations of the planets in the solar system, such as Mars and Earth, or the Sun. • Represents celestial bodies outside the solar system. The "Registration Date and Time" field contains information about the date and time the environment model was registered.

[0149] The "Registrant ID" field is the ID of the user who registered the environment model.

[0150] The item "Registrant ID" may be associated with the item "User ID" in user database 211.

[0151] The "Description" item contains detailed information about the environmental model's characteristics and features.

[0152] The "Approval Flag" item contains information about a flag (True / False) indicating whether the environment model is approved.

[0153] More specifically, the "Approval Flag" item contains information on whether or not the environment model has been approved through a predefined authentication process. For example, there may be an authentication and review process to verify the validity of environment models registered on server 20, and those that have gone through these authentication and review processes may be considered "approved" and made available for use in simulations.

[0154] Figure 7 shows the data structure of the physical model database 214. The physical model database 214 includes the following items: "Physical Law ID", "Physical Law Name", "Calculation Formula", "Description", "Law Category", "Registration Date and Time", "Update Date and Time", "Registrant ID", "Additional Document File Path", "Approval Flag", "Availability Status", "Effectiveness Evaluation Score", "Version Number", and "Public Flag".

[0155] The item "Physical Law ID" contains information about an ID used to uniquely identify each physical law.

[0156] The item "Name of Physical Law" contains information about the name of a physical law. For example, it can register physical laws such as kinetic mechanics and computational fluid dynamics, as well as physical laws in the field of cosmology, such as mathematical formulas representing black holes.

[0157] The "Calculation Formula" field contains information about the mathematical formulas of the physical laws used in the simulation. Based on the parameters of the environmental model for the grid points and the physical laws, you can calculate the desired parameters (e.g., wind speed, electromagnetic wave exposure, etc.).

[0158] The "Description" section contains detailed explanations of physical laws and information about their scope of application.

[0159] The "Law Category" item contains information about the classification of physical laws (e.g., mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, etc.).

[0160] The "Registration Date and Time" field contains information about the date and time the physical law was registered.

[0161] The "Update Date and Time" field contains information about the date and time when the physical laws were last updated.

[0162] The "Registrant ID" field is the ID of the user who registered the physical law.

[0163] The item "Registrant ID" may be associated with the item "User ID" in user database 211.

[0164] The item "Additional Material File Path" contains information about the file paths of reference materials and documents related to physical laws.

[0165] The "Approval Flag" item contains information about a flag (True / False) indicating whether a physical law is approved.

[0166] More specifically, the "Approval Flag" item contains information on whether or not a physical law has been approved through a predetermined authentication process. For example, there may be an authentication and review process to verify the validity of physical laws registered on server 20, and those that have gone through these authentication and review processes may be considered "approved" and made available for use in simulations.

[0167] The "Availability Status" item indicates whether the laws of physics are currently available.

[0168] The item "Effectiveness Evaluation Score" is information on an index that evaluates the effectiveness and reliability of physical laws.

[0169] More specifically, the item "Effectiveness Evaluation Score" includes information on the results of evaluations conducted by institutions that verify physical laws. For example, it may include information on the results of discussions by theoretical physicists on whether physical laws are applicable to celestial bodies other than Earth, such as black holes. The effectiveness of physical laws may also be evaluated based on achievements such as publication in peer-reviewed academic papers.

[0170] The "Version Number" field contains information about the version of the physical laws.

[0171] The "Public Flag" item contains information about a flag (True / False) indicating whether or not the information can be made public to other users.

[0172] Figure 8 shows the data structure of the model usage history database 215. The model usage history database 215 includes the following items: "Usage History ID", "User ID", "Environment Model ID", "Execution Date and Time", "Simulation Result File", "Terrain ID", "Simulation Name", "Remarks", "Execution Time", "Abnormal Termination Flag", "Simulation Result Evaluation", "Grid Point Spacing", "Hardware Resource Evaluation Value", and "Purpose of Simulation".

[0173] The item "Usage History ID" contains information about an ID used to uniquely identify the usage history.

[0174] The "User ID" field is the ID of the user who ran the simulation.

[0175] The item "User ID" may be associated with the item "User ID" in user database 211.

[0176] The item "Environmental Model ID" contains information about an ID used to uniquely identify an environmental model.

[0177] The item "Environmental Model ID" may be associated with the item "Environmental Model ID" in the environmental model database 213.

[0178] The item "Execution Date and Time" contains information about the date and time the simulation was performed.

[0179] The item "Simulation Result File" contains information about the path or name of the file that stores the simulation results.

[0180] The "Terrain ID" field contains information about the ID of the terrain data used.

[0181] The item "Terrain ID" may be associated with the item "Terrain ID" in terrain database 212.

[0182] The item "Simulation Name" contains information about the name assigned to the simulation.

[0183] The "Remarks" field contains notes and special information related to the simulation.

[0184] The "Execution Time" item contains information about the time required for the simulation (e.g., execution performance metrics).

[0185] The item "Abnormal Termination Flag" contains information about a flag (True / False) indicating whether the simulation terminated successfully.

[0186] The item "Simulation Result Evaluation" contains information about the user's evaluation of the simulation results.

[0187] The item "Grid point spacing" refers to the information about the spacing of grid points when performing simulations using the grid method.

[0188] More specifically, the item "Grid point spacing" includes setting different grid point spacings for celestial bodies depending on their region and altitude.

[0189] The item "Hardware Resource Evaluation Value" contains information about the hardware resources, such as the computing resources, of the computer used to perform the simulation.

[0190] More specifically, the item "Evaluation Value of Hardware Resources" includes information on hardware resources such as processors and memory devices, as well as information on the evaluation results of computable quantities based on these resources.

[0191] The item "Purpose of Simulation" contains information about the purpose of conducting the simulation.

[0192] The item "Purpose of the Simulation" may include the following as the purpose of the simulation: ·Scientific research Space development Entertainment ·art <3 operations> Figure 9 shows the processing flow for accepting registration of environmental models and physical models.

[0193] In step S921, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 presents an operation screen to the terminal 10 in response to the user's login.

[0194] In step S911, terminal 10 displays a registration screen for the environmental model or physical law model for each celestial body.

[0195] In step S912, terminal 10 receives input from the user regarding the environmental model for each celestial body (gravity, atmospheric pressure, temperature, etc.) or details of the physical laws. For example, terminal 10 receives from the user the operation of specifying a celestial body and input of the environmental model for that celestial body.

[0196] In step S913, terminal 10 sends the model data received from the user to server 20.

[0197] In step S922, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 accepts registration of model data from the user.

[0198] In step S923, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 registers the model data in various databases.

[0199] More specifically, the physics simulator control module 2047 accepts registration of an environment model for each celestial body and stores the accepted environment model in the environment model database 213 of the storage unit 202.

[0200] More specifically, the physical simulator control module 2047 accepts registration of physical laws and stores information of calculation formulas for physical calculations based on the accepted physical laws in the physical model database 214 of the storage unit 202.

[0201] In step S924, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 sends a notification to the terminal 10 that the registration of the model data has been completed.

[0202] In step S914, terminal 10 notifies the user of a message indicating that the registration of the model data is complete.

[0203] In step S925, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 makes the registered model (environment model, physical laws) available for use by other users.

[0204] Figure 10 shows the process flow for a user to specify an environment model and build a simulation environment.

[0205] In step S1021, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 presents an operation screen for specifying the environment model to the user of the terminal 10.

[0206] Server 20 is configured to store, in the environmental model database 213 of the memory unit 202, information identifying a celestial body including at least one of a star, planet, or moon, and an environmental model that acts on the object of analysis at that celestial body, in association with each other. More specifically, the memory unit 202 is configured to store information that can change depending on the altitude or atmospheric pressure at the celestial body as an environmental model. More specifically, the memory unit 202 is configured to store information that can change depending on at least one of the gravitational constant, air, radiation, electromagnetic waves, and temperature at the celestial body as an environmental model.

[0207] Furthermore, the server 20 is configured to store information about a physical model (physical model database 214) that includes calculation formulas corresponding to physical laws in its storage unit 202.

[0208] The topographic database 212 of the memory unit 202 is configured to store topographic data information representing the topography of each celestial body.

[0209] Furthermore, information about users who have registered an environmental model is stored in the environmental model database 213 of the storage unit 202.

[0210] Server 20 stores information in its storage unit 202 that represents the converted results of environment model information, for each rendering engine, in order to enable data processing in that rendering engine. For example, it converts various parameters of the environment model to conform to the processing format of the rendering engine.

[0211] In step S1011, terminal 10 displays an operation screen for selecting an environment model.

[0212] In step S1012, terminal 10 accepts from the user the selection of the environment model to be used from a list of available environment models. Terminal 10 accepts from the user the selection of the rendering engine to be used. Terminal 10 accepts from the user the selection of a physical law model as needed. Terminal 10 may accept from the user the selection of celestial bodies as part of the environment model selection, etc. Server 20 may display celestial bodies on the operation screen shown to terminal 10 so that they can be selected, and may also display information such as the environment model and terrain data of the celestial body in association with that celestial body. This allows the user to specify the environment model, etc. by specifying a celestial body.

[0213] The environmental model may also differ depending on the user who registered the environmental model (for example, a researcher). The server 20 may display the celestial body, the environmental model of that celestial body, and information about the user who provided the environmental model (for example, if a researcher provides the environmental model, the researcher's track record and information about other environmental models provided by that researcher may also be displayed) on the operation screen of the terminal 10, and accept operations to specify the celestial body or the researcher, allowing the user performing the simulation to specify the environmental model.

[0214] In step S1013, terminal 10 sends information about the environment model, rendering engine, and physical laws specified by the user to server 20. If the user specifies a celestial body, terminal 10 sends information about the specified celestial body to server 20 (if multiple combinations of celestial body information and environment model information are presented to the user, the combination of celestial body information and environment model information specified by the user).

[0215] In step S1022, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 receives information on the environment model, rendering engine, and physical laws as information specified by the user.

[0216] In step S1023, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 obtains data corresponding to the specified environment model and physical laws from various databases (environment model database 213, physical model database 214).

[0217] In step S1024, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 constructs a simulation environment for a celestial body by providing the rendering engine with an environment model, conversion information for displaying the results of physical calculations in the rendering engine, and information on physical laws. As described above, the user can also construct a simulation environment for a celestial body by specifying that celestial body.

[0218] To construct the simulation environment, the following processes are performed: The physical simulator control module 2047 defines the three-dimensional space of the celestial body to be analyzed, according to the information that identifies the celestial body.

[0219] Here, defining the three-dimensional space of a celestial body may involve defining multiple grid points that divide the three-dimensional space of the celestial body at predetermined intervals, depending on the information that identifies the celestial body being analyzed. Defining multiple grid points for a celestial body involves defining the interval between the grid points and the range of the celestial body for which this interval is set. For example, if the celestial body is approximately spherical (e.g., a planet), the interval between the grid points may be varied depending on the altitude. For example, the grid points may be narrower closer to the surface of the celestial body, and wider as the altitude from the surface of the celestial body increases and approaches outer space.

[0220] The physics simulator control module 2047 performs simulations at each grid point of a celestial body using the grid method. By applying the environmental model and physical laws at each grid point, the simulation results obtained are reflected in the simulations at other grid points, enabling interaction-aware simulations. For example, if the gravity parameter of a celestial body is set as the environmental model, the parameters at the grid points are set so that the effect of gravity decreases as the altitude of the celestial body increases. It is also possible to set multiple parameters such as gravity, atmospheric pressure, radiation from space, and electromagnetic waves as the environmental model and calculate the interaction of these multiple parameters. For example, when operating an object to be operated in the simulation environment (e.g., a rover or drone that explores the surface of a planet or moon), it may be possible to simulate the behavior in accordance with atmospheric pressure and gravity while evaluating the possibility of equipment failure depending on the degree of radiation exposure.

[0221] Alternatively, multiple particle objects representing the object to be analyzed can be placed in a three-dimensional virtual space corresponding to the three-dimensional space of celestial bodies, and each particle object can be used as the target of the simulation. The simulation can be performed by calculating collisions and other events of each particle object according to the setting of the environmental model and physical laws.

[0222] Here, the physical simulator control module 2047 may grant benefits to the registered user who registered the environment model, depending on whether the registered environment model has been specified for setting simulation parameters. For example, the benefits may include monetary value, access to various functions of the services provided by the server 20, or access to various content.

[0223] Furthermore, in processes such as step S1024, the physical simulator control module 2047 stores information such as celestial bodies, environmental models, and physical laws related to the construction of the simulation environment in the model usage history database 215.

[0224] In step S1014, terminal 10 displays the simulation environment to the user and accepts the operation to perform the simulation.

[0225] In step S1015, terminal 10 starts a simulation including physics calculations, and the rendering engine draws the simulation results.

[0226] Figure 11 shows the process flow for performing physical calculations according to the environment model and physical model.

[0227] In step S1111, terminal 10 receives a command from the user to start the simulation.

[0228] In step S1121, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 performs simulation setup based on the environmental model and physical laws.

[0229] More specifically, the physics simulator control module 2047 sets the parameters used for the analysis of the target object in a three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body, according to the environmental model of the celestial body. The physics simulator control module 2047 sets the parameters used for the analysis of the target object at each of the multiple grid points defined for the celestial body, according to the environmental model of the celestial body. For example, the physics simulator control module 2047 sets the parameters used for the analysis according to the altitude or atmospheric pressure of the multiple grid points defined for the celestial body. Thus, the environmental model may change depending on altitude or atmospheric pressure. For example, gravity, radiation, etc., may differ depending on altitude.

[0230] In step S1122, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 initializes the physical calculations using the grid method.

[0231] In step S1123, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 performs physical calculations at each time step of the simulation according to the specified physical laws and environmental model. The physical simulator control module 2047 performs physical calculations using the physical model and the environmental model of the celestial body to be analyzed. The physical simulator control module 2047 may also perform physical calculations using the physical model, the environmental model of the celestial body to be analyzed, and the terrain data of the celestial body. The system accepts an operation from the user to specify a celestial body, and the physical simulator control module 2047 may perform physical calculations using the terrain data and environmental model associated with the celestial body specified by the user.

[0232] The physical simulator control module 2047 performs physical calculations on the object of analysis in three-dimensional space, according to parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws. For example, it may calculate the airflow rate and wind direction at each grid point.

[0233] The physics simulator control module 2047 performs physics calculations on the object being analyzed in three-dimensional space, according to the parameters set at each grid point, for each grid point. For example, when an object corresponding to a device is placed as the object being analyzed, the module calculates the wind pressure, radiation, and electromagnetic wave accumulation acting on the object, as well as the wind pressure and electromagnetic wave accumulation acting on the dust kicked up from the ground as the object moves, at each time step. It then performs calculations such as the dust adhering to the device due to the interaction between the device and the dust (e.g., the effect of accumulated electromagnetic waves).

[0234] The physics simulator control module 2047 performs physics calculations for each particle object by calculating the interactions between particles according to parameters set according to the celestial body environment model. For example, if a fluid flows over terrain data (for example, assuming a fluid like water flows on a planet or moon), it calculates gravity, collisions between objects, atmospheric pressure, wind pressure, etc., to perform a simulation of fluid flow.

[0235] As described above, the physics simulator control module 2047 receives a specification from the user for the physical laws to be used in the physics calculation, and performs the physics calculation according to the calculation formula based on the specified physical laws.

[0236] Furthermore, the physics simulator control module 2047 calculates the interactions resulting from collisions between multiple objects being analyzed in three-dimensional space. The physics simulator control module 2047 performs these interactions by calculating the magnetic force accumulated on an object by electromagnetic waves, and then calculates collisions with other objects based on the magnetic force accumulated on the object.

[0237] Furthermore, the physics simulator control module 2047 calculates the behavior of fluids or sand that collide with an object as the object moves along the terrain data.

[0238] Furthermore, the physical simulator control module 2047 calculates the interaction of radiation with the device.

[0239] In step S1124, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 temporarily saves the simulation results (state data for each time step) or sends them to the terminal 10 as stream data. In this way, the physical simulator control module 2047 outputs the results of the physical calculations. The physical simulator control module 2047 outputs the results of the physical calculations for each grid point.

[0240] In step S1112, terminal 10 receives the simulation results transmitted from server 20.

[0241] In step S1113, terminal 10 displays the simulation results to the user in real time (e.g., a three-dimensional model, graph, animation). In step S1125, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 continues the physical calculations until the simulation is complete.

[0242] In step S1126, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 saves all result data together after the simulation is completed (e.g., in the physical simulation result database 216) and sends it to the terminal 10 as needed.

[0243] Figure 12 shows the flow of the process from model creator to evaluating the model itself.

[0244] In step S1221, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 refers to the model usage history database 215, refers to the usage history of the environment model and physical model, and evaluates the registered environment model and physical model based on the aggregated number of uses, the evaluation of the simulation results obtained by using these models, etc. For example, the evaluation may be improved in the more times the model is used, or the evaluation may be improved in the better the user's evaluation of the simulation results obtained by using the model. Alternatively, the evaluation of a model used by a user may be improved according to the user's evaluation value (e.g., achievements in space development).

[0245] In step S1222, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 identifies evaluation scores to evaluate the registrants of the environmental model and physical model based on the evaluation results of these models. For example, based on the evaluation results of the environmental model and physical model respectively, it performs an overall evaluation (e.g., averaging, weighting, etc.) of the users who registered them (e.g., researchers).

[0246] In step S1223, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 grants rewards to model registrants according to their evaluation scores.

[0247] In step S1224, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 notifies each model registrant of information including the evaluation results of the model registrant and the results of the reward granting.

[0248] In step S1211, terminal 10 displays the received evaluation results to the user.

[0249] Figure 13 shows the process of optimizing the spacing of grid points in a physical calculation using the grid method, and the process of generating data for the entire celestial body from data for only a portion of the celestial body.

[0250] In step S1311, terminal 10 accepts operations from the user to select a celestial body (such as a planet) to be simulated, specify the purpose of the simulation, the required accuracy, the spacing of grid points, etc. Terminal 10 transmits the information of the specified celestial body and the grid point parameters, etc., to the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20.

[0251] In step S1321, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 obtains an environment model of the target celestial body based on the information of the celestial body specified by the user. The physical simulator control module 2047 obtains information on the spacing between each grid point to define the grid points. The physical simulator control module 2047 defines each grid point with the obtained spacing.

[0252] Here, the physics simulator control module 2047 may determine the spacing of the grid points as follows.

[0253] (1) Hardware performance The physics simulator control module 2047 acquires information about the hardware resources used for physics calculations. For example, it acquires information such as the processing performance of the computer's processor that performs the calculations.

[0254] The physics simulator control module 2047 determines the spacing between each grid point to define the grid points based on the acquired hardware resource information. For example, the computational load will vary depending on the grid point spacing (smaller grid point spacing results in a higher resolution simulation and increased computational load), and the time required to perform the simulation is estimated based on the computational load and the performance of the hardware resources performing the physical calculations (processor, memory, etc.). The physics simulator control module 2047 may also determine the grid point spacing so that the simulation is completed within a certain time.

[0255] (2) Objectives of the simulation The physics simulator control module 2047 acquires information for the purpose of the physics calculation. Possible purposes for the physics calculation include the following: • Scientific research: For example, requiring high-precision simulations and reducing the spacing between grid points. • Space Development: For example, in the development of space robots to be operated by spacecraft, it may be decided whether or not to perform high-precision simulations depending on the stage of development. For example, in the trial-and-error stage when verifying the concept of a space robot, the grid point spacing may be made relatively large to facilitate repeated verification, while in the design and manufacturing stage of a space robot to be actually used in space, the grid point spacing may be made relatively small to increase the precision of testing to ensure that the robot performs as intended. • Entertainment: For example, in video production and game development, the spacing between grid points may be relatively large, as content may be acceptable even if the accuracy is relatively lower compared to other purposes. The physics simulator control module 2047 may determine the spacing between each grid point to define the grid points, depending on the information obtained for the purpose of the physics calculation.

[0256] In the defining step, define each grid point at the determined interval. In step S1322, the physical simulator control module 2047 of server 20 estimates the calculation error rate according to the setting of the grid point spacing. Methods for estimating the calculation error rate of a physical simulation using the grid method include Richardson extrapolation, grid convergence index, and Monte Carlo method. The physical simulator control module 2047 outputs the grid point spacing and the estimated calculation error rate to terminal 10. The physical simulator control module 2047 refers to the model usage history database 215 and outputs information about past simulation results, including the setting of the grid point spacing and the calculation error rate, to terminal 10.

[0257] Thus, the model usage history database 215 of the server 20 is configured to associate and store information on the spacing of grid points with the history of physical calculations performed using that grid point spacing. The physical simulator control module 2047 outputs the information on the actual spacing of grid points as information on the actual physical calculations performed to the terminal 10.

[0258] In step S1312, terminal 10 displays the simulation results, including the calculation error rate. This allows the user to be shown the acceptable calculation error rate depending on the content of the simulation, and provides the user with information to help them decide when setting the grid point spacing (acceptable calculation error rate). Terminal 10 accepts operations from the user to adjust the grid point spacing and to start physical calculations.

[0259] In step S1323, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 performs physical calculations according to the laws of physics based on the optimized grid point arrangement and celestial body data. The physical simulator control module 2047 may also use partial data of the celestial body to generate high-resolution celestial body data of the entire space by simulating the grid method.

[0260] (1) Obtain data on the entire celestial body based on data from a portion of the celestial body. Thus, the physics simulator control module 2047 may perform the following actions: setting data corresponding to some grid points of a celestial body, and generating data for the entire grid point of the celestial body by performing physics calculations based on the data set for some grid points. For example, by searching for planets, moons, etc., components of the surface or upper atmosphere at some points of the celestial body may be collected or measured to estimate data such as the atmosphere, and grid point data may be set based on that data.

[0261] Here, the physical simulator control module 2047 may notify the user of terminal 10 when the generation of the data for the entire grid points of a celestial body is complete.

[0262] (2) Set the time axis and obtain the overall data of the celestial body. The physics simulator control module 2047 may, in setting data corresponding to some grid points, set data corresponding to some grid points in association with time information. For example, a sample of a celestial body may be acquired, and the time period may be estimated from the sample (e.g., the composition of the Earth's atmosphere in the past). In generating data for the entire grid points of a celestial body, the physics simulator control module 2047 may, in generating data for the entire grid points in association with elapsed time information, by performing physical calculations for each grid point as time progresses, based on the data set for some grid points and the time information of that data.

[0263] The physical simulator control module 2047 may accept a designation of a time width for performing physical calculations from a user. When setting data corresponding to some of the grid points, the physical simulator control module 2047 may set data corresponding to some of the grid points at a specific time point, and output the result of generating data of all grid points of the celestial body for the designated time width.

[0264] In step S1324, the physical simulator control module 2047 of the server 20 transmits simulation result data and information such as the used grid point spacing and calculation error rate to the terminal 10.

[0265] In step S1313, the terminal 10 displays the received simulation result data and the like to the user. The terminal 10 accepts an operation in which the user confirms the result, adjusts parameters as necessary, and performs the simulation again.

[0266] <4 Example Screen> FIG. 14 is an example of an operation screen that accepts registration of a model.

[0267] The model registration operation screen 1400 is an operation screen that accepts registration of an environment model and physical laws.

[0268] The model registration operation screen 1400 corresponds to the processing of each step in FIG. 9.

[0269] The model creator evaluation display area 1402 is an area that displays an evaluation value of a user who created and registered the model.

[0270] More specifically, the model creator evaluation display area 1402 displays a score for the user who registered the model, the number of reviews, an overall evaluation value calculated according to an evaluation algorithm after weighting based on these items, and the like, and indicates the reliability and contribution of the user who registered the model.

[0271] The model evaluation value display area 1404 is an area that displays the evaluation values ​​for the model set and physical laws registered by the user.

[0272] More specifically, the model evaluation value display area 1404 is an area that displays the number of times registered environmental models and physical laws have been used in simulations, the average evaluation score for them, etc., and may also display evaluation values ​​for each environmental model and physical law. It indicates the quality, popularity, etc. of the environmental models and physical laws registered by the user. On the model registration operation screen 1400, the server 20 accepts the operation from the user to register at least one of the environmental models and physical laws, and on the same screen, it can refer to the evaluation value for the user and the evaluation values ​​for the environmental models and physical laws registered by that user. For example, it becomes easier to consider an environmental model to be newly registered while referring to the evaluation of environmental models that have been registered in the past, and to create usage conditions, descriptions, etc.

[0273] Preview display area 1406 is an area that displays a real-time preview of the content of the environment model and physical laws that the user is entering.

[0274] The model information specification unit 1408 is an operating member that accepts the specification of information for identifying the model to be registered by the user.

[0275] More specifically, the model information specification unit 1408 accepts input of basic information such as the model name, version, and overview.

[0276] The physical law specification unit 1410 is an operating member that accepts specifications such as mathematical formulas and explanations of physical laws.

[0277] More specifically, the physical law specification section 1410 accepts the specification of physical laws relating to the universe, which may include those applicable to fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, etc., as well as equations for black holes, etc.

[0278] The model type designation unit 1412 is an operating member that accepts the designation of the model type to be registered.

[0279] In the illustrated example, the model type specification section 1412 is a pull-down menu that allows selection of either an "environmental model" ("model set") or a "physical law" ("physical law").

[0280] The application field designation unit 1414 is an operating member that accepts the designation of the application field of the model.

[0281] In the illustrated example, the application field specification unit 1414 is configured to allow selection of multiple fields, such as fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and solid mechanics. The server 20 may associate application field information with environmental models and physical laws and store it in the environmental model database, physical model database 214, etc. This application field information can also be used for filtering when searching for environmental models and physical laws.

[0282] The attachment acquisition unit 1416 is an operating component that accepts an operation to acquire a data file corresponding to the model to be registered.

[0283] In the illustrated example, the attachment acquisition unit 1416 accepts the upload of one or more data files, such as reference materials, detailed documents, and related images.

[0284] The preview display operation unit 1418 is an operation component that accepts operations to update and display a preview based on the content entered by the user.

[0285] In the illustrated example, the preview display operation unit 1418 displays the user's registration details via an overlay, a pop-up window, etc., in response to user operations. This allows the user to confirm the details before registration.

[0286] The environmental model specification unit 1420 is an operating member that accepts the specification of numerical parameters for the environmental model.

[0287] In the illustrated example, the environment model specification unit 1420 accepts input of numerical parameters such as gravity, atmospheric pressure, and temperature for a celestial body. The unit is configured to allow setting of units for these numerical parameters.

[0288] The disclosure range specification unit 1422 is an operation member that accepts specification of a disclosure range for a model to be registered.

[0289] In the illustrated example, the disclosure range specification unit 1422 provides options including "disclose to all users" which has no restriction on the disclosure range, "only me" which allows the registrant themself to use the model without public disclosure, and "specific group" which restricts the range of users that can use the model.

[0290] The tag specification unit 1424 is an operation member that accepts specification of tags such as keywords related to the model.

[0291] In the illustrated example, the tag specification unit 1424 improves searchability by accepting specification of tags including a celestial body. Here, specification of a celestial body may be made mandatory, and registration of an environment model may not be accepted if no celestial body is specified. The server 20 registers the celestial body specification in the tag specification unit 1424 and the numerical parameters of the environment model specified in the environment model specification unit 1420 into the environment model database 213. The tag specification unit 1424 may also be configured to accept a search for a celestial body to be specified.

[0292] The license condition specification unit 1426 is an operation member that accepts specification of conditions for granting permission to use the environment model and physical laws.

[0293] In the illustrated example, the license condition specification unit 1426 accepts specification of license conditions (e.g., GPL (General Public License), a proprietary license, etc.) in a pull-down format. The server 20 manages information on the specified license conditions in the environment model database 213.

[0294] The input reset operation unit 1428 is an operating component that accepts an operation to return all input contents to their initial state.

[0295] In the illustrated example, the input reset operation unit 1428 accepts an operation to erase all input contents, such as the environment model, at once.

[0296] The registration confirmation unit 1430 is an operating component that accepts an operation to register the contents of at least one of the input environmental model and physical laws to the server 20.

[0297] In the illustrated example, the registration confirmation unit 1430 transmits the user's input to the server 20 in response to the user's operation, and updates the registration contents in the server 20's environment model database 213 and physical model database 214.

[0298] The registration cancellation operation unit 1432 is an operation component that accepts an operation to cancel the model registration operation, discard the input content, and return to the previous screen.

[0299] Figure 15 shows an example of an operation screen that accepts operations to specify a model and build a simulation environment.

[0300] The physical simulation environment setup operation screen 1500 is an operation screen that accepts operations to set up a simulation environment by specifying a model.

[0301] The physical simulation environment setup operation screen 1500 corresponds to the processing of each step in Figure 10.

[0302] Model list display area 1502 is an area that displays a list of available environment model sets and physical laws.

[0303] In the illustrated example, the model list display area 1502 shows a list of information including the model name, the model creator, the celestial bodies and physical laws the model targets, the version, a brief description, and the model's evaluation value. The model list display area 1502 accepts user input to select an environment model and physical laws.

[0304] The model details display area 1504 is an area that displays detailed information about the environment model and physical laws selected by the user.

[0305] In the illustrated example, the model details display area 1504 shows the model overview, parameters, creator information, evaluation comments, etc.

[0306] The creator evaluation display area 1506 is an area that displays information about the creator of the model selected by the user, along with the creator's evaluation value.

[0307] In the illustrated example, the creator evaluation display area 1506 displays details of the creator's evaluation score, including feedback from other users, which can serve as a basis for judging the model creator's track record and reliability. It also displays information about other models created by the creator. By displaying evaluations of the model creator in this way, it becomes even easier for users performing simulations to make decisions regarding the environmental model and physical laws to use.

[0308] The model evaluation display area 1508 is an area that displays evaluation information for the model itself that has been selected by the user.

[0309] In the illustrated example, the model evaluation display area 1508 includes information such as the number of times the environmental model and physical laws selected by the user were used in simulations, evaluation values ​​from users who used the simulations, and user reviews. For example, the server 20 manages the history of how environmental models and physical laws have been used in the model usage history database 215, etc., and accepts evaluations of the simulation results. Based on the evaluation history in the model usage history database 215, the server 20 may specify evaluation values ​​for environmental models and physical laws by weighting them according to the user who performed the simulation (the user who performed the evaluation), etc. (for example, reflecting the evaluation of users with more simulation experience). By displaying evaluations of the models themselves in this way, it becomes even easier for users performing simulations to make decisions about which environmental models and physical laws to use.

[0310] The filter application result display area 1510 is an area that displays the search results for available models, as well as the results after applying filters, in response to the user's operation to search for a model.

[0311] In the illustrated example, the filter application result display area 1510 prioritizes displaying a list of models that match the search conditions (search by keyword, etc.) and filter application conditions described later.

[0312] Error message display area 1512 is an area that displays errors, warning messages, etc. that occur during user operation.

[0313] More specifically, the error message display area 1512 notifies the user of system errors such as user input errors or the lack of necessary system configurations.

[0314] The guide message display area 1514 is an area that displays guidance to the user for building the simulation environment, such as model selection and model loading procedures. In the guide message display area 1514, the simulation settings, including the setting of the grid point interval and the estimated result of the calculation error rate based on this, are displayed. In the guide message display area 1514, information on the simulation history performed by each user is displayed, such as the purpose of the simulation and the grid point interval (calculation error rate) (model usage history database 215). This can be used as a reference when the user sets the grid point interval (sets the acceptable calculation error rate), making it even easier to start the simulation.

[0315] The applicable environment model specification unit 1516 is an operating member that accepts the user's selection of the environment model to be applied to the simulation from among the available environment models.

[0316] In the illustrated example, the applicable environment model specification unit 1516 displays a list and accepts the user's specification of the environment model for which they intend to use the system.

[0317] The search condition specification unit 1518 is an operating member that accepts the specification of search conditions such as keywords for searching for environmental models and physical laws.

[0318] More specifically, the search condition specification unit 1518 includes a text input field for searching for models using keywords such as model name and celestial body, and when the user enters search conditions, the relevant models are narrowed down. In the example shown in the figure, it may also accept operations to search for celestial bodies such as planets, moons, and extrasolar stars, or for example, it may accept operations to specify a celestial body by referring to a database of celestial bodies, thereby allowing the user to specify the celestial body. This makes it easy to select environmental models and physical laws that can be applied to celestial bodies, and makes it even easier to build a simulation environment.

[0319] The filter application condition specification unit 1520 is an operating member that accepts the specification of filters for narrowing down the results based on the model type, evaluation value, creator, celestial body, etc.

[0320] More specifically, the filter application condition specification unit 1520 accepts the specification of filter application conditions using checkboxes, dropdown menus, etc.

[0321] The physical law specification unit 1522 is an operating member that accepts the specification of the physical law to be applied to the simulation.

[0322] In the illustrated example, the physical law specification unit 1522 accepts the specification of the physical law in a pull-down format.

[0323] The detailed settings operation unit 1524 is an operating component that accepts requests to open the detailed settings screen for the simulation.

[0324] More specifically, the detailed settings operation unit 1524 provides a screen for detailed simulation settings, allowing users to configure the simulation environment, including boundary conditions and initial conditions. The following settings may be accepted as detailed simulation settings: • Grid point spacing (Different spacings may be set depending on the latitude, longitude, and altitude of the celestial body. For example, when studying rocky planets, the grid point spacing may be narrower (higher resolution) at lower altitudes near the surface, and wider at higher altitudes.) • Acceptable calculation error rate (The calculation error rate will vary depending on the spacing of the grid points. The user specifies the calculation error rate, and the grid point spacing is set accordingly.) • The purpose of the simulation (the acceptable rate of calculation error may differ depending on the application, such as scientific research, entertainment (games, video production, etc.), or robot testing in space development. The spacing of the grid points may also be set according to the purpose of the simulation.) • Hardware resources of the simulation environment (the configuration of the processor for physics calculations, memory configuration, cooling performance, etc., which define the amount of computation. The spacing of the grid points may be adjusted according to the richness and performance of the hardware resources. For example, the lower the performance of the hardware configuration, the wider the spacing of the grid points may be set so that the calculation can be completed in a practical amount of time.) • The time axis used for performing physical calculations (for example, to evaluate the process by which celestial bodies are formed, such as the formation of planets, simulations may be performed over a certain period of time in the past). The model comparison specification unit 1526 is an operating member that accepts the specification of multiple models in order to compare their performance, parameters, and evaluation values.

[0325] More specifically, the model comparison specification section 1526 makes it easier to select multiple models to be compared using a format such as checkboxes.

[0326] The comparison execution operation unit 1528 is an operation member that accepts an operation to perform a comparison of multiple models designated as comparison targets.

[0327] More specifically, the comparison execution operation unit 1528 outputs a table or the like comparing numerical parameters, etc., for the models specified in the model comparison specification unit 1526, in response to user operations. The comparison execution operation unit 1528 may also accept user operations if multiple models are specified in the model comparison specification unit 1526.

[0328] The preview display switching specification unit 1530 is an operating member that accepts a specification to switch the model preview display on or off.

[0329] More specifically, the preview display switching specification unit 1530, for example, when the selected environmental model and physical laws are previewed on the physical simulation environment construction operation screen 1500 using an overlay or the like, switches the preview display on or off according to the preview setting in the preview display switching specification unit 1530. This makes it easy to compare and examine environmental models and physical laws while displaying the preview, and then turn off the preview when other settings for constructing the simulation environment are made after these comparisons are complete. In this way, the amount of information on the operation screen can be adjusted according to the user's needs, making it even easier to construct the simulation environment.

[0330] The sorting order specification unit 1532 is an operating component that accepts the specification of the display order of the displayed model list.

[0331] In the illustrated example, the sorting order specification unit 1532 can display a list of models according to sorting conditions such as evaluation order, newest first, or number of uses. The sorting order specification unit 1532 accepts the specification of the model sorting order, for example, in a dropdown format.

[0332] The celestial body data acquisition operation unit 1534 is an operation component that accepts operations to acquire data about the celestial body to be used as the target of the simulation.

[0333] More specifically, the celestial body data acquisition operation unit 1534 displays an upload screen or the like for acquiring data on at least a portion of a celestial body in response to user operations. For example, it may accept uploads of data on a portion of a celestial body measured by an observation spacecraft. For example, it acquires information that associates various data such as atmospheric data and topographic data of a celestial body with information on the measurement position on the celestial body. The celestial body data acquisition operation unit 1534 may also acquire information that associates celestial body data with time axis information. For example, based on the collected data, data such as atmospheric composition and temperature at past points in time may be estimated.

[0334] The model load operation unit 1536 is an operating component that accepts operations to load the environment model and physical laws selected by the user and to confirm the construction of the simulation environment.

[0335] In the illustrated example, the model load operation unit 1536, in response to user operations, refers to the environment model database 213 and the physical model database 214 for the environment model and physical laws specified by the user, transmits them to the user's simulation environment, and updates the model usage history database 215.

[0336] The model load operation unit 1536 accepts an operation from the user to start a simulation based on the constructed simulation environment.

[0337] The cancellation operation unit 1538 is an operating member that accepts user operations to cancel model selection and model loading operations.

[0338] <Variation> The matters described in the above embodiments may be combined in various ways.

[0339] <Other> A network consists of various mobile communication systems, such as the internet, LANs, and wireless base stations. For example, a network includes 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile communication systems, LTE (Long Term Evolution), and wireless networks that can connect to the internet via designated access points (e.g., Wi-Fi®). When connecting wirelessly, communication protocols include, for example, Z-Wave®, ZigBee®, and Bluetooth®. When connecting via a wired connection, the network also includes connections made directly via USB (Universal Serial Bus) cables, etc.

[0340] Furthermore, by distributing all or part of each hardware configuration across multiple computers and connecting them to each other via a network, a computer can be virtually realized. Thus, the concept of a computer includes not only computers housed in a single enclosure or case, but also virtualized computer systems.

[0341] Furthermore, each of the above-mentioned configurations, functions, processing units, processing means, etc., may be implemented in hardware, either partially or entirely, by designing them as integrated circuits, for example. The present invention can also be implemented by software program code that realizes the functions of the embodiment. In this case, a storage medium on which the program code is recorded is provided to a computer, and the processor of that computer reads the program code stored in the storage medium. In this case, the program code read from the storage medium itself realizes the functions of the embodiment described above, and the program code itself and the storage medium on which it is stored constitute the present invention. Examples of storage media used to supply such program code include flexible disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, hard disks, SSDs, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, CD-Rs, magnetic tapes, non-volatile memory cards, ROMs, and the like.

[0342] Furthermore, the program code that implements the functions described in this embodiment can be implemented in a wide range of programming or scripting languages, such as assembler, C / C++, Perl, Shell, PHP, and Java (registered trademark).

[0343] Furthermore, the program code for the software that implements the functions of the embodiment may be distributed via a network and stored in a storage means such as a computer's hard disk or memory, or in a storage medium such as a CD-RW or CD-R, and the computer's processor may read and execute the program code stored in the storage means or storage medium.

[0344] The functions realized by the components described herein may be implemented in a circuit or processing circuitry, including general-purpose processors, application-specific processors, integrated circuits, ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), CPUs (a Central Processing Unit), conventional circuits, and / or combinations thereof, programmed to realize the functions described herein. A processor is considered to be a circuit or processing circuitry, including transistors and other circuits. A processor may be a programmed processor that executes a program stored in memory.

[0345] In this specification, circuitry, unit, and means are hardware programmed to perform or execute the functions described herein. Such hardware may be any hardware disclosed herein, or any hardware known to be programmed to perform or execute the functions described herein.

[0346] If the hardware is a processor that is considered to be a type of circuitry, then the circuitry, means, or unit is a combination of hardware and software used to constitute the hardware and / or processor.

[0347] While several embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, these embodiments can be implemented in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications are permitted without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents.

[0348] (Note) The details described in each of the above embodiments are noted below.

[0349] (Note 1) A program for operating a computer having one or more computer processors, configured to store in a memory unit information identifying a celestial body including at least one of a star, planet, or satellite, and an environmental model that acts on the object of analysis in the celestial body in association with each other, the program causing one or more computer processors to perform the following steps: defining the three-dimensional space of a celestial body according to the information identifying the celestial body to be analyzed; setting parameters to be used for the analysis of the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body according to the environmental model of the celestial body; performing physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to the parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; and outputting the results of the physical calculations.

[0350] (Note 2) The program as described in Appendix 1, wherein in the defining step, multiple grid points are defined to divide the three-dimensional space of the celestial body at predetermined intervals according to information identifying the celestial body to be analyzed; in the setting step, parameters to be used for the analysis of the target object are set at each of the multiple grid points defined for the celestial body according to the environmental model of the celestial body; in the physical calculation step, physical calculations are performed on the target object in three-dimensional space according to the parameters set at each grid point, and in the output step, the results of the physical calculations for each grid point are output.

[0351] (Note 3) The program, as described in Appendix 2, further involves one or more computer processors performing the steps of: obtaining information on the spacing between each grid point for defining grid points; defining each grid point with the obtained spacing in the defining step; estimating the error rate of the calculation when performing the physical calculation with the spacing of each defined grid point in the performing step; and outputting the information on the spacing between each grid point and the result of the estimated error rate when performing the physical calculation with grid points defined at that spacing.

[0352] (Note 4) The program described in Appendix 3 is configured to store information about the spacing between grid points and the history of physical calculations performed based on that grid point spacing in a memory unit, and in the output step, outputs the information about the actual spacing between grid points as information about the actual physical calculations performed.

[0353] (Note 5) The program is one of the programs described in any of Appendix 2 to 4, which causes one or more computer processors to perform the steps of acquiring information on the hardware resources for the physical calculations in the step of performing the physical calculations, and determining the interval between each grid point for defining the grid points according to the acquired information on the hardware resources, and in the defining step, defines each grid point at the determined interval.

[0354] (Note 6) The program is one of the programs described in any of Appendix 2 to 5, which causes one or more computer processors to perform the steps of obtaining information for the purpose of the physical calculation in the step of performing the physical calculation, and determining the interval between each grid point for defining the grid point according to the obtained information for the purpose of the physical calculation, and in the defining step, defines each grid point at the determined interval.

[0355] (Note 7) A program as described in any of Appendix 2 to 6, which, in the step of performing physical calculations, sets data corresponding to some grid points of a celestial body, and generates data for all grid points of the celestial body by performing physical calculations based on the data set for some grid points.

[0356] (Note 8) The program described in Appendix 7, which, in the step of performing physical calculations, generates data for all grid points of a celestial body and notifies the user when the generation of data for all grid points is complete.

[0357] (Note 9) A program as described in any of Appendix 7 to 8, wherein, in the step of performing physical calculations, data corresponding to some grid points is set in association with time information, and in the step of generating data for the entire grid points of a celestial body, physical calculations are performed for each grid point as time progresses based on the data set for some grid points and the time information of said data, thereby generating data for the entire grid points in association with the elapsed time information.

[0358] (Note 10) A program as described in any of the appendices 7 to 9, which, in the step of performing physical calculations, accepts a specification of the time range for which physical calculations are performed, sets data corresponding to some grid points at a specific point in time, and outputs the result of generating data for the entire grid points of a celestial body for the specified time range.

[0359] (Note 11) A program as described in either Appendix 1 or 2, wherein, in the defining step, multiple particle objects representing the object to be analyzed are placed in a three-dimensional virtual space corresponding to the three-dimensional space of a celestial body, and in the step of performing physical calculations, physical calculations are performed by calculating the interactions between particles for each particle object according to parameters set according to the environmental model of the celestial body.

[0360] (Note 12) A program as described in any of the appendices 1 to 3, wherein the memory unit is configured to hold a physical model containing calculation formulas corresponding to physical laws and an environmental model for each celestial body, and in the step of performing physical calculations, the physical calculations are performed using the physical model and the environmental model of the celestial body being analyzed.

[0361] (Note 13) The program described in Appendix 12 is configured in its memory unit to store information on terrain data representing the terrain of each celestial body, and in the step of performing physical calculations, it performs physical calculations using a physical model, an environmental model of the celestial body to be analyzed, and the terrain data of the celestial body.

[0362] (Note 14) The program, as described in Appendix 13, further causes one or more computer processors to perform a step of receiving an operation from a user to specify a celestial body, and performs physical calculations using terrain data and environmental models associated with the celestial body specified by the user.

[0363] (Note 15) The program is one of the programs described in any of Appendix 1 to 6, which causes one or more computer processors to perform the steps of: accepting registration of an environment model for each celestial body and storing the accepted environment model in a memory unit; and receiving a specification from the user for a registered environment model for the celestial body to be analyzed; and setting parameters according to the specified environment model in the setting step.

[0364] (Note 16) The program, as described in Appendix 15, stores information of registered users who have registered an environment model in a storage unit, and further grants benefits to the registered user who registered the environment model in accordance with the fact that the registered environment model has been designated for setting parameters on one or more computer processors.

[0365] (Note 17) The program is one of the programs described in any of Appendix 1 to 8, which causes one or more computer processors to perform the steps of: accepting registration of physical laws and storing information of calculation formulas for physical calculations based on the accepted physical laws in a memory unit; accepting specification of physical laws to be used for physical calculations from a user; and performing physical calculations in a step in which physical calculations are performed according to calculation formulas based on the specified physical laws.

[0366] (Note 18) The memory unit stores information of the result of transforming the environment model information so that the rendering engine can process the data, and the program causes one or more computer processors to perform the steps of: acquiring information that identifies the rendering engine, and outputting information of the result of transforming the rendering engine according to the acquired information that identifies the rendering engine, as described in any of the appendices 1 to 9.

[0367] (Note 19) A program as described in any of Appendix 2 to 10, wherein the memory unit is configured to hold information that may change depending on the altitude or atmospheric pressure of a celestial body as an environmental model, and in the setting step, the parameters used for analysis are set according to the altitude or atmospheric pressure of multiple grid points defined for the celestial body.

[0368] (Note 20) The program described in Appendix 19 is configured in its memory unit to hold information on at least one of the following as an environmental model: gravitational constant, air, radiation, electromagnetic waves, and temperature in a celestial body.

[0369] (Note 21) The program described in Appendix 20 calculates the interaction of multiple objects being analyzed due to collisions in three-dimensional space during the physical calculation step.

[0370] (Note 22) The program described in Appendix 21 performs the following steps in the physical calculation process: calculating the interaction, which involves calculating the magnetic force accumulated in an object by electromagnetic waves, and calculating collisions with other objects based on the magnetic force accumulated in the object.

[0371] (Note 23) A program as described in any of Appendix 21 to 24, wherein the memory unit is configured to store information of terrain data representing the terrain of each celestial body, and in the step of performing physical calculations, it calculates the behavior of fluid or sand that collides with an object when the object moves along the terrain data.

[0372] (Note 24) A program described in any of Appendix 20 to 15 that calculates the interaction of radiation with a device in the step of performing physical calculations.

[0373] (Note 25) A method for operating a computer comprising one or more computer processors, wherein the memory unit is configured to store in association information identifying a celestial body including at least one of a star, planet, or satellite, and an environmental model that acts upon the object of analysis in the celestial body, the method comprising: one or more computer processors performing the steps of: defining the three-dimensional space of a celestial body according to information identifying the celestial body to be analyzed; setting parameters to be used for the analysis of the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body according to the environmental model of the celestial body; performing physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to the parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; and outputting the results of the physical calculations.

[0374] (Note 26) An information processing device, configured to store in a memory unit information that identifies a celestial body including at least one of a star, planet, or satellite, and an environmental model that acts on the object of analysis in the celestial body in association with each other, wherein the control unit of the information processing device performs the following steps: defining the three-dimensional space of the celestial body according to the information that identifies the celestial body to be analyzed; setting parameters to be used for the analysis of the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body according to the environmental model of the celestial body; performing physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to the parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; and outputting the results of the physical calculations.

Claims

1. A program for operating a computer having one or more computer processors, The memory unit is configured to store information identifying a celestial body, which includes at least one of a star, planet, or moon, and an environmental model that affects the object of analysis within that celestial body, in association with each other. The program is configured on one or more computer processors. The steps include defining the three-dimensional space of the celestial body according to the information that identifies the celestial body to be analyzed, In the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body, the step of setting parameters to be used for the analysis of the object to be analyzed according to the environmental model of the celestial body, The steps include: performing physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; A program that performs the step of outputting the results of the aforementioned physics calculation.

2. In the step defined above, a plurality of grid points are defined that divide the three-dimensional space of the celestial body at predetermined intervals, according to the information that identifies the celestial body to be analyzed. In the setting step described above, at each of the plurality of grid points defined for the celestial body, parameters used for the analysis of the object to be analyzed are set according to the environmental model of the celestial body. In the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculations, the physical calculations of the effects exerted on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space are performed at each grid point according to the parameters set at each grid point. The program according to claim 1, wherein in the output step, the results of the physical calculation for each grid point are output.

3. The program further provides the one or more computer processors with: The procedure involves obtaining information about the spacing between each grid point for defining the aforementioned grid points. In the step defined above, each grid point is defined at the acquired interval, In the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculation, the error rate of the calculation when the physical calculation is performed using the interval of each defined grid point is estimated. The program according to claim 2, wherein in the output step, information on the interval between each grid point and the result of estimating the error rate when a physical calculation is performed by defining grid points at said intervals are output.

4. The memory unit is configured to store information about the spacing of grid points and a history of physical calculations performed based on that grid point spacing in association with each other. The program according to claim 3, wherein in the output step, information on the actual spacing of the grid points is output as information on the actual physical calculations performed.

5. The program further provides the one or more computer processors with: The steps include: obtaining information on the hardware resources used for the physical calculations in the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculations; The system is made to perform the step of determining the spacing between each grid point for defining the grid point, in accordance with the acquired information on the hardware resources. The program according to claim 2, wherein in the step of defining above, each grid point is defined at a determined interval.

6. The program further provides the one or more computer processors with: In the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculation, information for the purpose of the physical calculation is obtained, The system is made to perform the step of determining the spacing between each grid point for defining the grid point, in accordance with the information obtained for the purpose of the physical calculation, The program according to claim 2, wherein in the step of defining above, each grid point is defined at a determined interval.

7. In the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculation, Setting data corresponding to some of the grid points of the aforementioned celestial body, The system generates data for the entire grid points of the celestial body by performing physical calculations based on data set for some of the aforementioned grid points. The program according to claim 2.

8. In the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculation, The program according to claim 7, which generates data for all grid points of the celestial body and notifies when the generation of data for all grid points is completed.

9. In the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculation, In setting data corresponding to some of the aforementioned grid points, the data corresponding to some of the aforementioned grid points is set in association with time information, The program according to claim 7, which generates data for the entire grid points of the celestial body by performing physical calculations on each grid point in accordance with the passage of time, based on data set for some of the grid points and the time information of said data, thereby generating data for the entire grid points in association with the information of elapsed time.

10. In the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculation, We accept the specification of the time interval for performing physics calculations. In setting data corresponding to some of the aforementioned grid points, the data corresponding to some of the aforementioned grid points at a specific point in time is set. The program according to claim 7, which outputs the result of generating data for the entire grid points of the celestial body over a specified time interval.

11. In the step defined above, multiple particle objects representing the object to be analyzed are placed in a three-dimensional virtual space corresponding to the three-dimensional space of the celestial body. The program according to claim 1, wherein in the step of performing the physical calculation, the program performs the physical calculation by calculating the interaction between particles for each particle object according to parameters set according to the environment model of the celestial body.

12. The memory unit is configured to hold a physical model that includes calculation formulas corresponding to physical laws, and the environmental model for each celestial body. The program according to claim 1, wherein in the step of performing the physical calculation, the program performs the physical calculation using the physical model and the environmental model of the celestial body to be analyzed.

13. The memory unit is configured to store information on terrain data representing the terrain of each celestial body. The program according to claim 12, wherein in the step of performing the physical calculation, the program performs the physical calculation using the physical model, the environmental model of the celestial body to be analyzed, and the topographic data of the celestial body.

14. The program further provides the one or more computer processors with: The system then performs a further step that allows the user to specify a celestial body. The program according to claim 13, which performs the physical calculations using the terrain data and environment model associated with the celestial body specified by the user.

15. The program further provides the one or more computer processors with: For each celestial body, the process involves receiving registration of the environmental model and storing the received environmental model in the storage unit. The system performs the following steps: receiving a specification from the user for the registered environmental model for the celestial body to be analyzed; The program according to claim 1, wherein in the setting step, the parameters are set according to the specified environment model.

16. The storage unit stores information about registered users who have registered the aforementioned environmental model. The program further provides the one or more computer processors with: The program according to claim 15, which grants a benefit to the registered user who registered the environment model, in accordance with the fact that the registered environment model has been designated for setting the parameters.

17. The program further provides the one or more computer processors with: The steps include: accepting registration of physical laws and causing the storage unit to store information of the calculation formula for the physical calculation based on the accepted physical laws; The system performs the following steps: receiving the user's specification of the physical laws to be used in the physics calculation; The program according to claim 1, wherein in the step of performing the physical calculation, the physical calculation is performed according to the calculation formula based on the specified physical law.

18. In the aforementioned storage unit, for each rendering engine, information of the converted result obtained by converting the environment model information is stored so that the data can be processed in that rendering engine. The program further provides the one or more computer processors with: A step of obtaining information that identifies the rendering engine, The program according to claim 1, which causes the program to perform the step of outputting information of the conversion result corresponding to the rendering engine in accordance with the information that identifies the rendering engine that has been acquired.

19. The memory unit is configured to hold information that may change depending on the altitude or atmospheric pressure of a celestial body as the environmental model. The program according to claim 2, wherein in the setting step, parameters used for the analysis are set according to the altitude or atmospheric pressure of the plurality of grid points defined for the celestial body.

20. The program according to claim 19, wherein the memory unit is configured to hold information on at least one of the gravitational constant, air, radiation, electromagnetic waves, and temperature of a celestial body as the environmental model.

21. The program according to claim 20, wherein in the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculation, the program calculates the interaction due to collisions of multiple objects to be analyzed in the three-dimensional space.

22. The program according to claim 21, wherein, in the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculation, the program calculates the interaction by calculating the magnetic force accumulated in an object by electromagnetic waves and by calculating a collision with another object based on the magnetic force accumulated in the object.

23. The memory unit is configured to store information on terrain data representing the terrain of each celestial body. The program according to claim 21, wherein in the step of performing the aforementioned physical calculations, the program calculates the behavior of fluid or sand that collides with the object when the object is moved along the terrain data.

24. The program according to claim 20, wherein in the step of performing the physical calculation, the program calculates the interaction of the radiation with the device.

25. A method for operating a computer having one or more computer processors, The memory unit is configured to store information identifying a celestial body, which includes at least one of a star, planet, or moon, and an environmental model that affects the object of analysis within that celestial body, in association with each other. The above method involves one or more computer processors, The steps include defining the three-dimensional space of the celestial body according to the information that identifies the celestial body to be analyzed, In the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body, the step of setting parameters to be used for the analysis of the object to be analyzed according to the environmental model of the celestial body, The steps include: performing physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; A method for performing the step of outputting the results of the aforementioned physics calculation.

26. An information processing device, The memory unit is configured to store information identifying a celestial body, which includes at least one of a star, planet, or moon, and an environmental model that affects the object of analysis within that celestial body, in association with each other. The control unit of the information processing device, The steps include defining the three-dimensional space of the celestial body according to the information that identifies the celestial body to be analyzed, In the three-dimensional space defined for the celestial body, the step of setting parameters to be used for the analysis of the object to be analyzed according to the environmental model of the celestial body, The steps include: performing physical calculations on the object of analysis in the three-dimensional space according to parameters set according to the environmental model and calculation formulas based on physical laws; An information processing device that performs the step of outputting the result of the aforementioned physical calculation.

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