The Open Dynamics Engine (ODE) is a
physics engine
A physics engine is computer software that provides an approximate simulation of certain physical systems, typically classical dynamics, including rigid body dynamics (including collision detection), soft body dynamics, and fluid dynamics. I ...
written in C/C++. Its two main components are a
rigid body dynamics
In the physical science of dynamics, rigid-body dynamics studies the movement of systems of interconnected bodies under the action of external forces. The assumption that the bodies are '' rigid'' (i.e. they do not deform under the action ...
simulation engine and a
collision detection
Collision detection is the computational problem of detecting an intersection of two or more objects in virtual space. More precisely, it deals with the questions of ''if'', ''when'' and ''where'' two or more objects intersect. Collision detect ...
engine. It is
free software
Free software, libre software, libreware sometimes known as freedom-respecting software is computer software distributed open-source license, under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, distribut ...
licensed both under the
BSD license
BSD licenses are a family of permissive free software licenses, imposing minimal restrictions on the use and distribution of covered software. This is in contrast to copyleft licenses, which have share-alike requirements. The original BSD lic ...
and the
LGPL
The GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) is a free-software license published by the Free Software Foundation (FSF). The license allows developers and companies to use and integrate a software component released under the LGPL into their own ...
.
ODE was started in 2001 and has already been used in many applications and games, such as ''
Assetto Corsa'', ''
BloodRayne 2'', ''
Call of Juarez'', ''
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
''S.T.A.L.K.E.R.'' is a first-person shooter survival horror video game franchise developed by Ukrainian game developer GSC Game World. The series is set in an Parallel universe (fiction), alternate version of the present-day Chernobyl Exclusio ...
'', ''
Titan Quest'', ''
World of Goo'', ''
X-Moto'' and ''
OpenSimulator
OpenSimulator is an open-source software, open-source server platform originally launched in 2007 for hosting virtual worlds and metaverse environments. It is largely compatible with the virtual world ''Second Life'' but full compatibility is ...
''.
Overview
The Open Dynamics Engine is used for simulating the dynamic interactions between bodies in space. It is not tied to any particular graphics package although it includes a basic one called ''drawstuff''. It supports several geometries: box, sphere, capsule (cylinder capped with hemispheres),
triangle mesh
In computer graphics, a triangle mesh is a Types of mesh, type of polygon mesh. It comprises a set of triangles (typically in three dimensions) that are connected by their common Edge (geometry), edges or Vertex (geometry), vertices.
Many gra ...
, cylinder and
heightmap
In computer graphics, a heightmap or heightfield is a raster image used mainly as Discrete Global Grid in secondary elevation modeling. Each pixel stores values, such as surface elevation data, for display in 3D computer graphics. A height ...
.
Simulation
Higher level environments that allow non-programmers access to ODE include
Player Project
The Player Project (formerly Player/Stage Project) creates free and open-source software for research into robotics and sensor systems. Its components include the ''Player'' Computer network, network Server (computing), server and the ''Stage'' p ...
,
Webots
Webots is a free and open-source 3D robot simulator used in industry, education and research.
The Webots project started in 1996, initially developed by Dr. Olivier Michel at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerl ...
,
Opensimulator
OpenSimulator is an open-source software, open-source server platform originally launched in 2007 for hosting virtual worlds and metaverse environments. It is largely compatible with the virtual world ''Second Life'' but full compatibility is ...
,
anyKode Marilou and
CoppeliaSim
CoppeliaSim, formerly known as V-REP, is a robot simulator used in industry, education and research.
It was originally developed within Toshiba R&D and is currently being actively developed and maintained by Coppelia Robotics AG, a small company l ...
.
ODE is a popular choice for robotics simulation applications, with scenarios such as mobile robot locomotion and simple grasping. ODE has some drawbacks in this field, for example the method of approximating friction and poor support for joint-damping.
See also
*
OPAL
Opal is a hydrated amorphous form of silicon dioxide, silica (SiO2·''n''H2O); its water content may range from 3% to 21% by weight, but is usually between 6% and 10%. Due to the amorphous (chemical) physical structure, it is classified as a ...
– the Open Physics Abstraction Layer, originally built on top of ODE
*
Physics Abstraction Layer – The original Physics Abstraction Layer
*
Newton Game Dynamics
*
Bullet
A bullet is a kinetic projectile, a component of firearm ammunition that is shot from a gun barrel. They are made of a variety of materials, such as copper, lead, steel, polymer, rubber and even wax; and are made in various shapes and constru ...
– another open source physics engine used in commercial games and movies
*
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are small, striped rodents of subtribe Tamiina. Chipmunks are found in North America, with the exception of the Siberian chipmunk which is found primarily in Asia.
Taxonomy and systematics
Chipmunks are classified as four genera: '' ...
– a similar physics engine intended for 2D applications
*
Vortex (software)
*
Project Chrono
Project Chrono is a physics engine developed by University of Parma, University of Wisconsin-Madison and members of its open source community. It supports simulating rigid body dynamics, rigid and soft body dynamics, collision detection, vehicle ...
References
External links
* Bitbucket
ODE project pageOpen Dynamics Engine (ODE) Community Wiki
* (Old
Official ODE Homepage* (Obsolete
Python-ODE Bindings (pyode)The ode4j project, a Java port of ODEThe ODE.NET project, a C# wrapper for ODE
Computer physics engines
Free computer libraries
Software using the BSD license
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