Algodoo
Encyclopedia
Overview
Algodoo is a physics-basedPhysics engine
A physics engine is computer software that provides an approximate simulation of certain physical systems, such as rigid body dynamics , soft body dynamics, and fluid dynamics, of use in the domains of computer graphics, video games and film. Their main uses are in video games , in which case the...
2D sandbox developed and sold by Algoryx Simulation AB
Algoryx Simulation AB
Algoryx Simulation AB was formed in 2007 in Umeå, Sweden as a spin-off company from Umeå University. Algoryx currently has two products Algodoo and AGX Multiphysics a professional physics engine for engineering and real-time simulations.-Awards:...
, and is the successor to the popular physics application Phun
Phun (2D Physics Sandbox)
Phun is a 2D physics engine created by Emil Ernerfeldt for his master thesis while he was studying at Umeå University in Sweden. It is based on the Constructionist learning paradigm, and free for non-commercial use...
. Algodoo was released on the 1st of September, 2009 after significant delays in production . Algodoo is marketed as an educational tool and has much functionality with touch screen computers, computers with accelerometers, and the Intel Classmate PC
Classmate PC
The Classmate PC, formerly known as Eduwise, is Intel's entry into the market for low-cost personal computers for children in the developing world. It is in some respects similar to the One Laptop Per Child trade association's Children's Machine , which has a similar target market...
. Algodoo's physics are based on the SPOOK linear constraint solver by Claude Lacoursière.
In October 2011, Algoryx released two new programs. Algodoo for Education and Algodoo 2.0.0
Simulations
SimulationSimulation
Simulation is the imitation of some real thing available, state of affairs, or process. The act of simulating something generally entails representing certain key characteristics or behaviours of a selected physical or abstract system....
s in Algodoo involves using the given tools (polygon creation, cut, brush, box, circle, gear, plane, chain, spring, fixate, hinge, tracer and laser pen) and features (CSG
Constructive solid geometry
Constructive solid geometry is a technique used in solid modeling. Constructive solid geometry allows a modeler to create a complex surface or object by using Boolean operators to combine objects...
, Velocity modification, attraction, refraction, killer/immortal objects, cutter objects, water and scripting) to create scenes with high levels of intricacy. The simple interface of Algodoo allows a new user to enjoy themselves by creating simple cars and making their creations come to life with only a few clicks and drags, while still not limiting the creativity of those who want to make very complex machines, creatively achieving simulation objectives in a variety of ways.
Algodoo allows users to modify the gravitational force, restitution
Coefficient of restitution
The coefficient of restitution of two colliding objects is a fractional value representing the ratio of speeds after and before an impact, taken along the line of the impact...
, friction
Friction
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and/or material elements sliding against each other. There are several types of friction:...
, refractive index
Refraction
Refraction is the change in direction of a wave due to a change in its speed. It is essentially a surface phenomenon . The phenomenon is mainly in governance to the law of conservation of energy. The proper explanation would be that due to change of medium, the phase velocity of the wave is changed...
, density
Density
The mass density or density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. The symbol most often used for density is ρ . In some cases , density is also defined as its weight per unit volume; although, this quantity is more properly called specific weight...
, layers of collision, controller acceleration, destruction and mirror keys, texture (allowing users to place a picture on an object) and color (and alpha channel) of a polygon, color and refractive index of water, fade distance, color and speed of light of a laser, color, speed, strength, impulse break limit, state, direction and controls of a hinge/motor, strength constant, damping factor and target length of a spring and fade time of a tracer, giving a lot of choices for users to change to get different results.
Changes
Although the GUI is essentially the same as in PhunPhun (2D Physics Sandbox)
Phun is a 2D physics engine created by Emil Ernerfeldt for his master thesis while he was studying at Umeå University in Sweden. It is based on the Constructionist learning paradigm, and free for non-commercial use...
, many significant changes have occurred in the scope of Algodoo's simulations. Two notable changes include a new optics modeling engine and a snap-to grid feature allowing for higher precision scene creation. The inclusion of optics has granted much more freedom in terms of using Algodoo's scripting language "Thyme", as one may now initiate events by hitting a geometry with a stream of laser light. Other notable changes include the inclusion of a velocities menu, allowing one to set a geometry's velocity to a set value, incompressible water, which allows for much more realistic fluid simulation, a plotting menu which allows one to compare and contrast different properties of a geometry, i.e. velocity at a certain time, position on the X and Y axis, velocity along the X and Y axis, etc, a new tab in the "options" menu that allows the user to visualize in real time many different forces that are affecting the objects in a scene,and many other new features, bug fixes, optimizations and improvements.
As it is based upon Phun, Algodoo still works upon a constructionist learning paradigm.