Vortex (physics engine)
Encyclopedia
Vortex is a high-fidelity, realtime physics engine
developed by CMLabs Simulations that simulates rigid body dynamics
, collision detection
, contact determination, and dynamic reactions. Vortex adds accurate physical motion and interactions to objects in visual-simulation
applications for operator training, mission planning, product concept validation, vehicle and robotics
testing, haptics devices, immersive and virtual reality
(VR) environments.
The Vortex C++
SDK
has several modules that simulate physics-based particles, sensors, floating bodies, cable systems, grasping, and wheeled and tracked vehicles. Developers integrate their projects into 3D
visualization frameworks such as OpenSceneGraph
(OSG) and Vega Prime, and deploy them in environments that contain software-in-the-loop (SIL), MATLAB
, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and motion platform components.
in 2001. CMLabs was created when the management of MathEngine Canada Inc. purchased a portion of the business from MathEngine PLC, the parent company in the UK. MathEngine Canada Inc. was originally the research and development team responsible for creating the Karma physics simulation engine for computer games
.
CMLabs shifted its focus away from gaming to the visual simulation for training (VST) market, targeting Vortex at robotics and heavy-equipment operator training in both commercial and military applications.
The initial version of Vortex was launched in 2001. In April 2011, CMLabs released Version 5.0
, planetary
, academic, and military environments. It has also been used to simulate the movements and behaviour of animals and insects for scientific purposes. Sample examples are:
• The tEODor Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robot simulator developed by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) for training purposes. EADS uses Vortex to model the physical behaviour of the robot as it maneuvers in its simulated environment, interacting with other objects while processing user commands.
• A driverless vehicle designed by Carnegie Mellon University
’s Red Team Racing for the DARPA Grand Challenge
that uses Vortex for preplanning and onboard navigation to “accurately simulate the vehicle as it navigates the terrain, including both local area constraints and global path planning objectives.”
• Heavy-equipment operator training simulators such as tower crane
, mobile crane, crawler crane, and concrete pump
for the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario and the International Union of Operating Engineers
– Local 721. These simulators are used to prepare operators for proper equipment use and accident avoidance.
• Georgia State University
’s AnimatLab project, which is a simulation software environment that models how the body and nervous system dynamically interact in a Vortex-governed virtual physical world where relevant neural and physical parameters can be observed and manipulated.
Physics 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...
developed by CMLabs Simulations that simulates rigid body dynamics
Rigid body dynamics
In physics, rigid body dynamics is the study of the motion of rigid bodies. Unlike particles, which move only in three degrees of freedom , rigid bodies occupy space and have geometrical properties, such as a center of mass, moments of inertia, etc., that characterize motion in six degrees of...
, collision detection
Collision detection
Collision detection typically refers to the computational problem of detecting the intersection of two or more objects. While the topic is most often associated with its use in video games and other physical simulations, it also has applications in robotics...
, contact determination, and dynamic reactions. Vortex adds accurate physical motion and interactions to objects in visual-simulation
Simulation
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....
applications for operator training, mission planning, product concept validation, vehicle and robotics
Robotics
Robotics is the branch of technology that deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition, manufacture and application of robots...
testing, haptics devices, immersive and virtual reality
Virtual reality
Virtual reality , also known as virtuality, is a term that applies to computer-simulated environments that can simulate physical presence in places in the real world, as well as in imaginary worlds...
(VR) environments.
The Vortex C++
C++
C++ is a statically typed, free-form, multi-paradigm, compiled, general-purpose programming language. It is regarded as an intermediate-level language, as it comprises a combination of both high-level and low-level language features. It was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup starting in 1979 at Bell...
SDK
Software development kit
A software development kit is typically a set of software development tools that allows for the creation of applications for a certain software package, software framework, hardware platform, computer system, video game console, operating system, or similar platform.It may be something as simple...
has several modules that simulate physics-based particles, sensors, floating bodies, cable systems, grasping, and wheeled and tracked vehicles. Developers integrate their projects into 3D
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
visualization frameworks such as OpenSceneGraph
OpenSceneGraph
OpenSceneGraph is an open source 3D graphics application programming interface, used by application developers in fields such as visual simulation, computer games, virtual reality, scientific visualization and modeling....
(OSG) and Vega Prime, and deploy them in environments that contain software-in-the-loop (SIL), MATLAB
MATLAB
MATLAB is a numerical computing environment and fourth-generation programming language. Developed by MathWorks, MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages,...
, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL), and motion platform components.
History
Vortex is developed by CMLabs Simulations Inc., a private company established in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
in 2001. CMLabs was created when the management of MathEngine Canada Inc. purchased a portion of the business from MathEngine PLC, the parent company in the UK. MathEngine Canada Inc. was originally the research and development team responsible for creating the Karma physics simulation engine for computer games
Computer Games
"Computer Games" is a single by New Zealand group, Mi-Sex released in 1979 in Australia and New Zealand and in 1981 throughout Europe. It was the single that launched the band, and was hugely popular, particularly in Australia and New Zealand...
.
CMLabs shifted its focus away from gaming to the visual simulation for training (VST) market, targeting Vortex at robotics and heavy-equipment operator training in both commercial and military applications.
The initial version of Vortex was launched in 2001. In April 2011, CMLabs released Version 5.0
Use
Vortex has been employed in a wide range of commercial, military, and academic projects. To date, it has been used to simulate vehicles, robotics, and heavy equipment in hundreds of construction, mining, forestry, marine, subseaSubsea
Subsea is a general term frequently used to refer to equipment, technology, and methods employed in marine biology, undersea geology, offshore oil and gas developments, underwater mining, and offshore wind power industries.- Oil and gas :...
, planetary
Planetary
Planetary means relating to a planet or planets. It can also refer to:* Planetary , a comic book series by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday* Planetary habitability, the measure of an astronomical body's potential to develop and sustain life...
, academic, and military environments. It has also been used to simulate the movements and behaviour of animals and insects for scientific purposes. Sample examples are:
• The tEODor Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) robot simulator developed by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) for training purposes. EADS uses Vortex to model the physical behaviour of the robot as it maneuvers in its simulated environment, interacting with other objects while processing user commands.
• A driverless vehicle designed by Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
’s Red Team Racing for the DARPA Grand Challenge
DARPA Grand Challenge
The DARPA Grand Challenge is a prize competition for driverless vehicles, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the most prominent research organization of the United States Department of Defense...
that uses Vortex for preplanning and onboard navigation to “accurately simulate the vehicle as it navigates the terrain, including both local area constraints and global path planning objectives.”
• Heavy-equipment operator training simulators such as tower crane
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
, mobile crane, crawler crane, and concrete pump
Concrete pump
A concrete pump is a tool used for transferring liquid concrete by pumping. There are two types of concrete pumps.The first type of concrete pump is attached to a truck. It is known as a trailer-mounted concrete pump because it uses a remote-controlled articulating robotic arm to place concrete...
for the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario and the International Union of Operating Engineers
International Union of Operating Engineers
The International Union of Operating Engineers is a trade union within the AFL-CIO representing primarily construction workers who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, surveyors, and stationary engineers who maintain heating and other systems in buildings and industrial complexes, in the...
– Local 721. These simulators are used to prepare operators for proper equipment use and accident avoidance.
• Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
’s AnimatLab project, which is a simulation software environment that models how the body and nervous system dynamically interact in a Vortex-governed virtual physical world where relevant neural and physical parameters can be observed and manipulated.
Books
- David M. Bourg, Physics for Game Developers. O’Reilly, 2001.
- Murilo G. Coutinho, Dynamic Simulations of Multibody Systems. Springer-Verlag, 2001.
- Jack B. Kuipers, Quaternions and Rotation Sequences. Princeton University Press, 1998.
- Cornelius Lanczos, The Variational Principles of Mechanics. Dover Books, 1986.
See also
- Collision detectionCollision detectionCollision detection typically refers to the computational problem of detecting the intersection of two or more objects. While the topic is most often associated with its use in video games and other physical simulations, it also has applications in robotics...
- Game physicsGame physicsComputer animation physics or game physics involves the introduction of the laws of physics into a simulation or game engine, particularly in 3D computer graphics, for the purpose of making the effects appear more real to the observer...
- Physics enginePhysics engineA 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...
- Rigid body dynamicsRigid body dynamicsIn physics, rigid body dynamics is the study of the motion of rigid bodies. Unlike particles, which move only in three degrees of freedom , rigid bodies occupy space and have geometrical properties, such as a center of mass, moments of inertia, etc., that characterize motion in six degrees of...
- Robotics simulatorRobotics simulatorA robotics simulator is used to create embedded applications for a robot without depending physically on the actual machine, thus saving cost and time. In some case, these applications can be transferred on the real robot without modifications. The term robotics simulator can refer to several...