From BlenderWiki
Synopsis
Since version 2.66 blender has a rigid body simulation integrated with the animation system. While it works well for simple cases, there are several limitations that make more complicated setups difficult or even impossible.
This projects aims at improving this system.
Deliverables
A improved rigid body simulation system in blender.
Better end user documentation.
Project Details
The current rigid body system works well, especially for simple cases. There are several limitations however that make more complicated setups difficult or even impossible.
Many of bullet's features aren't used yet and there are several features that can be added on the blender side as well. While working on the system over the last year, I collected todo items based on user feedback and my own ideas. Instead of adding big features (like integrating bullet's soft body system) it would be more beneficial to work on this todo list, polish the current system and add smaller features.
The main ones are:
- Add a system that allows more control over object de-/activation
- Improve support for very small (and very large) objects
- Improve support for concave shapes by adding compound shapes and convex decomposition
- Allow rigid bodies to be deformed
- Improve performance
See http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/User:Sergof/GSoC2012/todo for a more detailed list.
Apart from that I'd like to work more closely with users to find out what areas need more work and especially fix small annoyances to make the workflow smoother.
Project Schedule
Since I'm very familiar with the existing system I can start right away.
Most time will be spent on the de-/activation system (1-2 weeks), adding support for compound shapes (1 week) and convex decomposition (1 week). The rest of the tasks shouldn't take more than a few days each.
Also I'd like to take more time to write documentation (1-2 weeks).
Bio
I'm a german computer science student and blender user for 7 years. I've participated in last years GSoC, and been a regular contributor to blender for a year. This years Summer of Code would allow me to spend more time working on blender.
