[ODE] is ode enought for me??

[Nate W]

On Fri, 12 Sep 2003, Jordi wrote:

> I think ODE is not useful for me, what do you think?

There are two parts to ODE, the rigid body dynamics and the collision
detection.  If I understand you correctly, ODE's dynamics will probably do
everything you want, but you are looking for a very different sort of
collision detection.  You would basically just be using your own collision
detection system to create contact joints between ODE bodies, and then use
ODE's dynamics to move the bodies accordingly.  See section 10.11.2 of the
documentation system.

ODE's collision detection system is relatively simple because joints are
implemented as special constraints rather than as contacts between, for
example, a pin and a hole.  This allows ODE to do interesting simulations
in real time using current hardware (slightly old hardware, even).  If
performance doesn't matter to you, then you could do away with the
'special' joints and just use contacts.

-- 

Nate Waddoups
Redmond WA USA
http://www.natew.com