Physical Simulation

Physical simulation allows simulated agents to behave in a physically realistic fashion. This means that agents in the simulated world can be configured to behave just as real objects do, according to the laws of physics. If a ball is placed in the air above a floor, for example, physical simulation can be used to make the ball realistically fall toward the floor and bounce. Among other things, physical simulation can be used for realistic simulation of robots, vehicles and animals. The current version of breve uses portions of the excellent ODE physical simulation engine.

Even though it is incredibly useful, physical simulation can add complexity and potential instabilities to a simulation. This chapter begins with the section When to Use Physical Simulation ([link]), which discusses when it is appropriate to use physical simulation and possible alternatives to full physical simulation. You should read this section first to help you decide whether physical simulation is necessary for your simulation.