]> git.mxchange.org Git - flightgear.git/blobdiff - src/FDM/flight.cxx
- Added ultra-light traffic is now a separate traffic class that can have its
[flightgear.git] / src / FDM / flight.cxx
index 2845c8e3b35be515dbc93c37ba35fdb56d37b10f..1f4a6acfced63891050937d38164eebe18c462c0 100644 (file)
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 //
 // Written by Curtis Olson, started May 1997.
 //
-// Copyright (C) 1997  Curtis L. Olson  - curt@infoplane.com
+// Copyright (C) 1997  Curtis L. Olson  - http://www.flightgear.org/~curt
 //
 // This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 // modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
 //
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 // along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
-// Foundation, Inc., 675 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
+// Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301, USA.
 //
 // $Id$
 
+#ifdef HAVE_CONFIG_H
+#  include "config.h"
+#endif
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 
 #include <simgear/constants.h>
 #include <simgear/debug/logstream.hxx>
 #include <simgear/math/sg_geodesy.hxx>
+#include <simgear/scene/model/placement.hxx>
+#include <simgear/scene/material/mat.hxx>
 #include <simgear/timing/timestamp.hxx>
 
 #include <Scenery/scenery.hxx>
-#include <FDM/LaRCsim/ls_interface.h>
 #include <Main/globals.hxx>
 #include <Main/fg_props.hxx>
+#include <FDM/groundcache.hxx>
 
 #include "flight.hxx"
 
@@ -51,15 +56,16 @@ inline void init_vec(FG_VECTOR_3 vec) {
 }
 
 // Constructor
-FGInterface::FGInterface() {
+FGInterface::FGInterface()
+  : remainder(0)
+{
     _setup();
 }
 
-FGInterface::FGInterface( double dt ) {
+FGInterface::FGInterface( double dt )
+  : remainder(0)
+{
     _setup();
-//     delta_t = dt;
-//     remainder = elapsed = multi_loop = 0;
-    remainder = 0;
 }
 
 // Destructor
@@ -77,8 +83,22 @@ FGInterface::_calc_multiloop (double dt)
   dt += remainder;
   remainder = 0;
   double ml = dt * hz;
-  int multiloop = int(floor(ml));
+  // Avoid roundoff problems by adding the roundoff itself.
+  // ... ok, two times the roundoff to have enough room.
+  int multiloop = int(floor(ml * (1.0 + 2.0*DBL_EPSILON)));
   remainder = (ml - multiloop) / hz;
+
+  // If we artificially inflate ml above by a tiny amount to get the
+  // closest integer, then subtract the integer from the original
+  // slightly smaller value, we can get a negative remainder.
+  // Logically this should never happen, and we definitely don't want
+  // to carry a negative remainder over to the next iteration, so
+  // never let the remainder go below zero.
+  // 
+  // Note: this fixes a problem where we run 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3... loops
+  // of the FDM when in fact we want to run 2, 2, 2, 2, 2...
+  if ( remainder < 0 ) { remainder = 0; }
+
   return (multiloop * speedup);
 }
 
@@ -184,17 +204,28 @@ FGInterface::common_init ()
 
     // Set initial position
     SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_INFO, "...initializing position..." );
-    set_Longitude( fgGetDouble("/position/longitude-deg")
-                   * SGD_DEGREES_TO_RADIANS );
-    set_Latitude( fgGetDouble("/position/latitude-deg")
-                  * SGD_DEGREES_TO_RADIANS );
-    double ground_elev_m = globals->get_scenery()->get_cur_elev();
+    double lon = fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/longitude-deg")
+      * SGD_DEGREES_TO_RADIANS;
+    double lat = fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/latitude-deg")
+      * SGD_DEGREES_TO_RADIANS;
+    double alt_ft = fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/altitude-ft");
+    double alt_m = alt_ft * SG_FEET_TO_METER;
+    set_Longitude( lon );
+    set_Latitude( lat );
+    SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_INFO, "Checking for lon = "
+            << lon*SGD_RADIANS_TO_DEGREES << "deg, lat = "
+            << lat*SGD_RADIANS_TO_DEGREES << "deg, alt = "
+            << alt_ft << "ft");
+
+    double ground_elev_m = get_groundlevel_m(lat, lon, alt_m);
     double ground_elev_ft = ground_elev_m * SG_METER_TO_FEET;
-    if ( fgGetBool("/sim/startup/onground")
-         || fgGetDouble("/position/altitude-ft") < ground_elev_ft ) {
-        fgSetDouble("/position/altitude-ft", ground_elev_ft);
+    _set_Runway_altitude ( ground_elev_ft );
+    if ( fgGetBool("/sim/presets/onground") || alt_ft < ground_elev_ft ) {
+        fgSetDouble("/position/altitude-ft", ground_elev_ft + 0.1);
+        set_Altitude( ground_elev_ft + 0.1);
+    } else {
+        set_Altitude( alt_ft );
     }
-    set_Altitude( fgGetDouble("/position/altitude-ft") );
 
     // Set ground elevation
     SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_INFO,
@@ -204,39 +235,39 @@ FGInterface::common_init ()
     // Set sea-level radius
     SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_INFO, "...initializing sea-level radius..." );
     SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_INFO, " lat = "
-            << fgGetDouble("/position/latitude-deg")
-            << " alt = " << fgGetDouble("/position/altitude-ft") );
+            << fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/latitude-deg")
+            << " alt = " << get_Altitude() );
     double sea_level_radius_meters;
     double lat_geoc;
-    sgGeodToGeoc( fgGetDouble("/position/latitude-deg")
+    sgGeodToGeoc( fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/latitude-deg")
                     * SGD_DEGREES_TO_RADIANS,
-                  fgGetDouble("/position/altitude-ft") * SG_FEET_TO_METER,
+                  get_Altitude() * SG_FEET_TO_METER,
                   &sea_level_radius_meters, &lat_geoc );
     _set_Sea_level_radius( sea_level_radius_meters * SG_METER_TO_FEET );
 
     // Set initial velocities
     SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_INFO, "...initializing velocities..." );
-    if ( !fgHasNode("/sim/startup/speed-set") ) {
+    if ( !fgHasNode("/sim/presets/speed-set") ) {
         set_V_calibrated_kts(0.0);
     } else {
-        const string speedset = fgGetString("/sim/startup/speed-set");
+        const string speedset = fgGetString("/sim/presets/speed-set");
         if ( speedset == "knots" || speedset == "KNOTS" ) {
-            set_V_calibrated_kts( fgGetDouble("/velocities/airspeed-kt") );
+            set_V_calibrated_kts( fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/airspeed-kt") );
         } else if ( speedset == "mach" || speedset == "MACH" ) {
-            set_Mach_number( fgGetDouble("/velocities/mach") );
+            set_Mach_number( fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/mach") );
         } else if ( speedset == "UVW" || speedset == "uvw" ) {
             set_Velocities_Wind_Body(
-                                     fgGetDouble("/velocities/uBody-fps"),
-                                     fgGetDouble("/velocities/vBody-fps"),
-                                     fgGetDouble("/velocities/wBody-fps") );
+                                     fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/uBody-fps"),
+                                     fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/vBody-fps"),
+                                     fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/wBody-fps") );
         } else if ( speedset == "NED" || speedset == "ned" ) {
             set_Velocities_Local(
-                                 fgGetDouble("/velocities/speed-north-fps"),
-                                 fgGetDouble("/velocities/speed-east-fps"),
-                                 fgGetDouble("/velocities/speed-down-fps") );
+                                 fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/speed-north-fps"),
+                                 fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/speed-east-fps"),
+                                 fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/speed-down-fps") );
         } else {
             SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_ALERT,
-                    "Unrecognized value for /sim/startup/speed-set: "
+                    "Unrecognized value for /sim/presets/speed-set: "
                     << speedset);
             set_V_calibrated_kts( 0.0 );
         }
@@ -244,11 +275,11 @@ FGInterface::common_init ()
 
     // Set initial Euler angles
     SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_INFO, "...initializing Euler angles..." );
-    set_Euler_Angles( fgGetDouble("/orientation/roll-deg")
+    set_Euler_Angles( fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/roll-deg")
                         * SGD_DEGREES_TO_RADIANS,
-                      fgGetDouble("/orientation/pitch-deg")
+                      fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/pitch-deg")
                         * SGD_DEGREES_TO_RADIANS,
-                      fgGetDouble("/orientation/heading-deg")
+                      fgGetDouble("/sim/presets/heading-deg")
                         * SGD_DEGREES_TO_RADIANS );
 
     SG_LOG( SG_FLIGHT, SG_INFO, "End common FDM init" );
@@ -297,6 +328,17 @@ FGInterface::bind ()
   fgSetArchivable("/position/altitude-ft");
   fgTie("/position/altitude-agl-ft", this,
         &FGInterface::get_Altitude_AGL); // read-only
+  fgSetArchivable("/position/ground-elev-ft");
+  fgTie("/position/ground-elev-ft", this,
+        &FGInterface::get_Runway_altitude); // read-only
+  fgSetArchivable("/position/ground-elev-m");
+  fgTie("/position/ground-elev-m", this,
+        &FGInterface::get_Runway_altitude_m); // read-only
+  fgTie("/environment/ground-elevation-m", this,
+        &FGInterface::get_Runway_altitude_m); // read-only
+  fgSetArchivable("/position/sea-level-radius-ft");
+  fgTie("/position/sea-level-radius-ft", this,
+        &FGInterface::get_Sea_level_radius); // read-only
 
                                // Orientation
   fgTie("/orientation/roll-deg", this,
@@ -312,10 +354,29 @@ FGInterface::bind ()
        &FGInterface::set_Psi_deg);
   fgSetArchivable("/orientation/heading-deg");
 
+  // Body-axis "euler rates" (rotation speed, but in a funny
+  // representation).
+  fgTie("/orientation/roll-rate-degps", this,
+       &FGInterface::get_Phi_dot_degps);
+  fgTie("/orientation/pitch-rate-degps", this,
+       &FGInterface::get_Theta_dot_degps);
+  fgTie("/orientation/yaw-rate-degps", this,
+       &FGInterface::get_Psi_dot_degps);
+
+                                // Ground speed knots
+  fgTie("/velocities/groundspeed-kt", this,
+        &FGInterface::get_V_ground_speed_kt);
+
                                // Calibrated airspeed
   fgTie("/velocities/airspeed-kt", this,
        &FGInterface::get_V_calibrated_kts,
        &FGInterface::set_V_calibrated_kts,
+       false);
+
+                               // Mach number
+  fgTie("/velocities/mach", this,
+       &FGInterface::get_Mach_number,
+       &FGInterface::set_Mach_number,
        false);
 
                                // Local velocities
@@ -368,14 +429,31 @@ FGInterface::bind ()
   fgTie("/velocities/glideslope", this,
   &FGInterface::get_Gamma_vert_rad,
   &FGInterface::set_Gamma_vert_rad );
-  fgTie("/velocities/side-slip-rad", this,
+  fgTie("/orientation/side-slip-rad", this,
        &FGInterface::get_Beta); // read-only
-  fgTie("/velocities/side-slip-deg", this,
+  fgTie("/orientation/side-slip-deg", this,
   &FGInterface::get_Beta_deg); // read-only
-  fgTie("/velocities/alpha-deg", this,
+  fgTie("/orientation/alpha-deg", this,
   &FGInterface::get_Alpha_deg); // read-only
   fgTie("/accelerations/nlf", this,
   &FGInterface::get_Nlf); // read-only
+
+                                // NED accelerations
+  fgTie("/accelerations/ned/north-accel-fps_sec",
+        this, &FGInterface::get_V_dot_north);
+  fgTie("/accelerations/ned/east-accel-fps_sec",
+        this, &FGInterface::get_V_dot_east);
+  fgTie("/accelerations/ned/down-accel-fps_sec",
+        this, &FGInterface::get_V_dot_down);
+
+                                // Pilot accelerations
+  fgTie("/accelerations/pilot/x-accel-fps_sec",
+        this, &FGInterface::get_A_X_pilot);
+  fgTie("/accelerations/pilot/y-accel-fps_sec",
+        this, &FGInterface::get_A_Y_pilot);
+  fgTie("/accelerations/pilot/z-accel-fps_sec",
+        this, &FGInterface::get_A_Z_pilot);
+
 }
 
 
@@ -390,18 +468,30 @@ FGInterface::unbind ()
 {
   bound = false;
 
-  fgUntie("/fdm/time/delta_t");
-  fgUntie("/fdm/time/elapsed");
-  fgUntie("/fdm/time/remainder");
-  fgUntie("/fdm/time/multi_loop");
+  // fgUntie("/fdm/time/delta_t");
+  // fgUntie("/fdm/time/elapsed");
+  // fgUntie("/fdm/time/remainder");
+  // fgUntie("/fdm/time/multi_loop");
   fgUntie("/position/latitude-deg");
   fgUntie("/position/longitude-deg");
   fgUntie("/position/altitude-ft");
   fgUntie("/position/altitude-agl-ft");
-  fgUntie("/orientation/heading-deg");
-  fgUntie("/orientation/pitch-deg");
+  fgUntie("/position/ground-elev-ft");
+  fgUntie("/position/ground-elev-m");
+  fgUntie("/environment/ground-elevation-m");
+  fgUntie("/position/sea-level-radius-ft");
   fgUntie("/orientation/roll-deg");
+  fgUntie("/orientation/pitch-deg");
+  fgUntie("/orientation/heading-deg");
+  fgUntie("/orientation/roll-rate-degps");
+  fgUntie("/orientation/pitch-rate-degps");
+  fgUntie("/orientation/yaw-rate-degps");
+  fgUntie("/orientation/side-slip-rad");
+  fgUntie("/orientation/side-slip-deg");
+  fgUntie("/orientation/alpha-deg");
   fgUntie("/velocities/airspeed-kt");
+  fgUntie("/velocities/groundspeed-kt");
+  fgUntie("/velocities/mach");
   fgUntie("/velocities/speed-north-fps");
   fgUntie("/velocities/speed-east-fps");
   fgUntie("/velocities/speed-down-fps");
@@ -410,11 +500,13 @@ FGInterface::unbind ()
   fgUntie("/velocities/wBody-fps");
   fgUntie("/velocities/vertical-speed-fps");
   fgUntie("/velocities/glideslope");
-  fgUntie("/velocities/side-slip-rad");
-  fgUntie("/velocities/side-slip-deg");
-  fgUntie("/velocities/alpha-deg");
   fgUntie("/accelerations/nlf");
-  
+  fgUntie("/accelerations/pilot/x-accel-fps_sec");
+  fgUntie("/accelerations/pilot/y-accel-fps_sec");
+  fgUntie("/accelerations/pilot/z-accel-fps_sec");
+  fgUntie("/accelerations/ned/north-accel-fps_sec");
+  fgUntie("/accelerations/ned/east-accel-fps_sec");
+  fgUntie("/accelerations/ned/down-accel-fps_sec");
 }
 
 /**
@@ -448,8 +540,7 @@ void FGInterface::_updateGeodeticPosition( double lat, double lon, double alt )
     _set_Geodetic_Position( lat, lon, alt );
 
     _set_Sea_level_radius( sl_radius * SG_METER_TO_FEET );
-    _set_Runway_altitude( globals->get_scenery()->get_cur_elev()
-                          * SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+    _update_ground_elev_at_pos();
 
     _set_sin_lat_geocentric( lat_geoc );
     _set_cos_lat_geocentric( lat_geoc );
@@ -457,25 +548,6 @@ void FGInterface::_updateGeodeticPosition( double lat, double lon, double alt )
     _set_sin_cos_longitude( lon );
 
     _set_sin_cos_latitude( lat );
-
-    /* Norman's code for slope of the terrain */
-    /* needs to be tested -- get it on the HUD and taxi around */
-    /* double *tnorm = scenery.cur_normal;
-
-       double sy = sin ( -get_Psi() ) ;
-       double cy = cos ( -get_Psi() ) ;
-
-       double phitb, thetatb, psitb;
-       if ( tnorm[1] != 0.0 ) {
-           psitb = -atan2 ( tnorm[0], tnorm[1] );
-       }
-       if ( tnorm[2] != 0.0 ) {        
-          thetatb =  atan2 ( tnorm[0] * cy - tnorm[1] * sy, tnorm[2] );
-          phitb = -atan2 ( tnorm[1] * cy + tnorm[0] * sy, tnorm[2] );  
-       }       
-       
-       _set_terrain_slope(phitb, thetatb, psitb) 
-     */
 }
 
 
@@ -505,8 +577,7 @@ void FGInterface::_updateGeocentricPosition( double lat_geoc, double lon,
     _set_Geodetic_Position( lat_geod, lon, alt );
 
     _set_Sea_level_radius( sl_radius2 * SG_METER_TO_FEET );
-    _set_Runway_altitude( globals->get_scenery()->get_cur_elev()
-                          * SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+    _update_ground_elev_at_pos();
 
     _set_sin_lat_geocentric( lat_geoc );
     _set_cos_lat_geocentric( lat_geoc );
@@ -514,27 +585,15 @@ void FGInterface::_updateGeocentricPosition( double lat_geoc, double lon,
     _set_sin_cos_longitude( lon );
 
     _set_sin_cos_latitude( lat_geod );
-
-    /* Norman's code for slope of the terrain */
-    /* needs to be tested -- get it on the HUD and taxi around */
-    /* double *tnorm = scenery.cur_normal;
-
-       double sy = sin ( -get_Psi() ) ;
-       double cy = cos ( -get_Psi() ) ;
-
-       double phitb, thetatb, psitb;
-       if ( tnorm[1] != 0.0 ) {
-           psitb = -atan2 ( tnorm[0], tnorm[1] );
-       }
-       if ( tnorm[2] != 0.0 ) {        
-          thetatb =  atan2 ( tnorm[0] * cy - tnorm[1] * sy, tnorm[2] );
-          phitb = -atan2 ( tnorm[1] * cy + tnorm[0] * sy, tnorm[2] );  
-       }       
-       
-       _set_terrain_slope(phitb, thetatb, psitb) 
-     */
 }
 
+void FGInterface::_update_ground_elev_at_pos( void ) {
+    double lat = get_Latitude();
+    double lon = get_Longitude();
+    double alt_m = get_Altitude()*SG_FEET_TO_METER;
+    double groundlevel_m = get_groundlevel_m(lat, lon, alt_m);
+    _set_Runway_altitude( groundlevel_m * SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+}
 
 // Extrapolate fdm based on time_offset (in usec)
 void FGInterface::extrapolate( int time_offset ) {
@@ -742,6 +801,273 @@ void FGInterface::_busdump(void) {
     SG_LOG(SG_FLIGHT,SG_INFO,"altitude_agl: " << altitude_agl );
 }
 
+bool
+FGInterface::prepare_ground_cache_m(double ref_time, const double pt[3],
+                                    double rad)
+{
+  return ground_cache.prepare_ground_cache(ref_time, SGVec3d(pt), rad);
+}
+
+bool FGInterface::prepare_ground_cache_ft(double ref_time, const double pt[3],
+                                          double rad)
+{
+  // Convert units and do the real work.
+  SGVec3d pt_ft = SG_FEET_TO_METER*SGVec3d(pt);
+  return ground_cache.prepare_ground_cache(ref_time, pt_ft, rad*SG_FEET_TO_METER);
+}
+
+bool
+FGInterface::is_valid_m(double *ref_time, double pt[3], double *rad)
+{
+  SGVec3d _pt;
+  bool valid = ground_cache.is_valid(*ref_time, _pt, *rad);
+  sgdCopyVec3(pt, _pt.data());
+  return valid;
+}
+
+bool FGInterface::is_valid_ft(double *ref_time, double pt[3], double *rad)
+{
+  // Convert units and do the real work.
+  SGVec3d _pt;
+  bool found_ground = ground_cache.is_valid(*ref_time, _pt, *rad);
+  sgdScaleVec3(pt, _pt.data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET);
+  *rad *= SG_METER_TO_FEET;
+  return found_ground;
+}
+
+double
+FGInterface::get_cat_m(double t, const double pt[3],
+                       double end[2][3], double vel[2][3])
+{
+  SGVec3d _end[2], _vel[2];
+  double dist = ground_cache.get_cat(t, SGVec3d(pt), _end, _vel);
+  for (int k=0; k<2; ++k) {
+    sgdCopyVec3( end[k], _end[k].data() );
+    sgdCopyVec3( vel[k], _vel[k].data() );
+  }
+  return dist;
+}
+
+double
+FGInterface::get_cat_ft(double t, const double pt[3],
+                        double end[2][3], double vel[2][3])
+{
+  // Convert units and do the real work.
+  SGVec3d pt_m = SG_FEET_TO_METER*SGVec3d(pt);
+  SGVec3d _end[2], _vel[2];
+  double dist = ground_cache.get_cat(t, pt_m, _end, _vel);
+  for (int k=0; k<2; ++k) {
+    sgdScaleVec3( end[k], _end[k].data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+    sgdScaleVec3( vel[k], _vel[k].data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+  }
+  return dist*SG_METER_TO_FEET;
+}
+
+// Legacy interface just kept because of JSBSim
+bool
+FGInterface::get_agl_m(double t, const double pt[3],
+                       double contact[3], double normal[3], double vel[3],
+                       int *type, double *loadCapacity,
+                       double *frictionFactor, double *agl)
+{
+  const SGMaterial* material;
+  SGVec3d _contact, _normal, _vel;
+  bool ret = ground_cache.get_agl(t, SGVec3d(pt), 2.0, _contact, _normal,
+                                  _vel, type, &material, agl);
+  sgdCopyVec3(contact, _contact.data());
+  sgdCopyVec3(normal, _normal.data());
+  sgdCopyVec3(vel, _vel.data());
+  if (material) {
+    *loadCapacity = material->get_load_resistance();
+    *frictionFactor = material->get_friction_factor();
+
+  } else {
+    *loadCapacity = DBL_MAX;
+    *frictionFactor = 1.0;
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+bool
+FGInterface::get_agl_m(double t, const double pt[3],
+                       double contact[3], double normal[3], double vel[3],
+                       int *type, const SGMaterial **material, double *agl)
+{
+  SGVec3d _contact, _normal, _vel;
+  bool ret = ground_cache.get_agl(t, SGVec3d(pt), 2.0, _contact, _normal,
+                                  _vel, type, material, agl);
+  sgdCopyVec3(contact, _contact.data());
+  sgdCopyVec3(normal, _normal.data());
+  sgdCopyVec3(vel, _vel.data());
+  return ret;
+}
+
+// Legacy interface just kept because of JSBSim
+bool
+FGInterface::get_agl_ft(double t, const double pt[3],
+                        double contact[3], double normal[3], double vel[3],
+                        int *type, double *loadCapacity,
+                        double *frictionFactor, double *agl)
+{
+  // Convert units and do the real work.
+  SGVec3d pt_m = SG_FEET_TO_METER*SGVec3d(pt);
+
+  const SGMaterial* material;
+  SGVec3d _contact, _normal, _vel;
+  bool ret = ground_cache.get_agl(t, pt_m, 2.0, _contact, _normal, _vel,
+                                  type, &material, agl);
+  // Convert units back ...
+  sgdScaleVec3( contact, _contact.data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+  sgdScaleVec3( vel, _vel.data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+  sgdCopyVec3( normal, _normal.data() );
+  *agl *= SG_METER_TO_FEET;
+
+  // return material properties if available
+  if (material) {
+    // FIXME: convert units?? now pascal to lbf/ft^2
+    *loadCapacity = 0.020885434*material->get_load_resistance();
+    *frictionFactor = material->get_friction_factor();
+  } else {
+    *loadCapacity = DBL_MAX;
+    *frictionFactor = 1.0;
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+bool
+FGInterface::get_agl_m(double t, const double pt[3], double max_altoff,
+                       double contact[3], double normal[3], double vel[3],
+                       int *type, const SGMaterial** material, double *agl)
+{
+  SGVec3d _contact, _normal, _vel;
+  bool found = ground_cache.get_agl(t, SGVec3d(pt), max_altoff, _contact,
+                                    _normal, _vel, type, material, agl);
+  sgdCopyVec3(contact, _contact.data());
+  sgdCopyVec3(normal, _normal.data());
+  sgdCopyVec3(vel, _vel.data());
+  return found;
+}
+
+bool
+FGInterface::get_agl_ft(double t, const double pt[3], double max_altoff,
+                        double contact[3], double normal[3], double vel[3],
+                        int *type, const SGMaterial** material, double *agl)
+{
+  // Convert units and do the real work.
+  SGVec3d pt_m = SG_FEET_TO_METER*SGVec3d(pt);
+  SGVec3d _contact, _normal, _vel;
+  bool ret = ground_cache.get_agl(t, pt_m, SG_FEET_TO_METER * max_altoff,
+                                  _contact, _normal, _vel,
+                                  type, material, agl);
+  // Convert units back ...
+  sgdScaleVec3( contact, _contact.data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+  sgdScaleVec3( vel, _vel.data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+  sgdCopyVec3( normal, _normal.data() );
+  *agl *= SG_METER_TO_FEET;
+  return ret;
+}
+
+
+double
+FGInterface::get_groundlevel_m(double lat, double lon, double alt)
+{
+  // Compute the cartesian position of the given lat/lon/alt.
+  SGVec3d pos = SGVec3d::fromGeod(SGGeod::fromRadM(lon, lat, alt));
+
+  // FIXME: how to handle t - ref_time differences ???
+  SGVec3d cpos;
+  double ref_time, radius;
+  // Prepare the ground cache for that position.
+  if (!is_valid_m(&ref_time, cpos.data(), &radius)) {
+    bool ok = prepare_ground_cache_m(ref_time, pos.data(), 10);
+    /// This is most likely the case when the given altitude is
+    /// too low, try with a new altitude of 10000m, that should be
+    /// sufficient to find a ground level below everywhere on our planet
+    if (!ok) {
+      pos = SGVec3d::fromGeod(SGGeod::fromRadM(lon, lat, 10000));
+      /// If there is still no ground, return sea level radius
+      if (!prepare_ground_cache_m(ref_time, pos.data(), 10))
+        return 0;
+    }
+  } else if (radius*radius <= distSqr(pos, cpos)) {
+    /// We reuse the old radius value, but only if it is at least 10 Meters ..
+    if (!(10 < radius)) // Well this strange compare is nan safe
+      radius = 10;
+
+    bool ok = prepare_ground_cache_m(ref_time, pos.data(), radius);
+    /// This is most likely the case when the given altitude is
+    /// too low, try with a new altitude of 10000m, that should be
+    /// sufficient to find a ground level below everywhere on our planet
+    if (!ok) {
+      pos = SGVec3d::fromGeod(SGGeod::fromRadM(lon, lat, 10000));
+      /// If there is still no ground, return sea level radius
+      if (!prepare_ground_cache_m(ref_time, pos.data(), radius))
+        return 0;
+    }
+  }
+  
+  double contact[3], normal[3], vel[3], agl;
+  int type;
+  // Ignore the return value here, since it just tells us if
+  // the returns stem from the groundcache or from the coarse
+  // computations below the groundcache. The contact point is still something
+  // valid, the normals and the other returns just contain some defaults.
+  get_agl_m(ref_time, pos.data(), 2.0, contact, normal, vel, &type, 0, &agl);
+  SGGeod geod = SGGeod::fromCart(SGVec3d(contact));
+  return geod.getElevationM();
+}
+  
+bool
+FGInterface::caught_wire_m(double t, const double pt[4][3])
+{
+  SGVec3d pt_m[4];
+  for (int i=0; i<4; ++i)
+    sgdCopyVec3(pt_m[i].data(), pt[i]);
+  
+  return ground_cache.caught_wire(t, pt_m);
+}
+
+bool
+FGInterface::caught_wire_ft(double t, const double pt[4][3])
+{
+  // Convert units and do the real work.
+  SGVec3d pt_m[4];
+  for (int i=0; i<4; ++i)
+    sgdScaleVec3(pt_m[i].data(), pt[i], SG_FEET_TO_METER);
+    
+  return ground_cache.caught_wire(t, pt_m);
+}
+  
+bool
+FGInterface::get_wire_ends_m(double t, double end[2][3], double vel[2][3])
+{
+  SGVec3d _end[2], _vel[2];
+  bool ret = ground_cache.get_wire_ends(t, _end, _vel);
+  for (int k=0; k<2; ++k) {
+    sgdCopyVec3( end[k], _end[k].data() );
+    sgdCopyVec3( vel[k], _vel[k].data() );
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+bool
+FGInterface::get_wire_ends_ft(double t, double end[2][3], double vel[2][3])
+{
+  // Convert units and do the real work.
+  SGVec3d _end[2], _vel[2];
+  bool ret = ground_cache.get_wire_ends(t, _end, _vel);
+  for (int k=0; k<2; ++k) {
+    sgdScaleVec3( end[k], _end[k].data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+    sgdScaleVec3( vel[k], _vel[k].data(), SG_METER_TO_FEET );
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+void
+FGInterface::release_wire(void)
+{
+  ground_cache.release_wire();
+}
 
 void fgToggleFDMdataLogging(void) {
   cur_fdm_state->ToggleDataLogging();