Springie
-------- This message is to announce the release of version 1.00 of Springie.
Springie is a tensegrity simulation system, written in Java 1.1.
Springie can be found on the web at:
Feature summary
--------------- Springie allows simulation of four basic tensegrity elements:
- Struts - Solid members which exert force when compressed;
- Cables - tensile-only members, unable to handle compression;
- Nodes - Joints, hubs and connectors;
- Skins - These are membranes, which join gaps between struts;
The simulation is performed in a virtual world with either two or three spatial dimensions.
The simulated forces include compressive and tensile forces, electrostatic attraction and repulsion, elastic collisions, gravity and friction.
Models of physical objects can be dynamically manipulated in this environment.
Persistence of Springie's models is performed using XML.
Springie is written in Java 1.1 and runs as an applet or an appliction - and should be highly portable.
There's a low-bandwidth applet version, capable of loading models from compressed archives - for the purpose of rendering demonstration models on web pages.
Model import
------------ Springie allows import of models in a number of formats. It reads:
- .SPR files - An XML-based file format, Springie's native format;
- .EIG files -"Elastic Interval Geometry" files, from SpringDance;
- .RBF files - "Richard Buckminster Fuller" files, from Struck;
- .OFF files - "Object File Format" files - from Packinon / GeomView;
- .M files - "Mathematica" files - from Mathematica / LiveGraphics3D;
- .FABRIC files - associated with Fluidiom.
Model export
------------ Springie can also export models a range of formats:
- .SPR files - XML-based file format, native to Springie;
- .WRL files - offering VRML export;
- .POV files - POV-Ray export - generates high-quality still images;
- .EIG files - for SpringDance / Struck;
- .OFF files - for the packinon project - and many 3D model renderers.
Applications
------------ Springie was written primarily for the purpose of serving as a rapid prototyping system for the construction of physical tensegrity models - pylons, space frames, geodesic domes - and so on.
Explore the properties of such configurations in a simulated universe before embarking on construction allows rapid development of designs by allowing structural testing to be performed under simulation, where construction costs are minimised.
Springie was originally designed to explore the properties of hexagonal domes - see
In theory there may also be applications for Springie in modelling organisms' musculature and skeletal systems, and applications in modelling molecules - though these applications will require further work.
License
------- Springie has been placed into the public domain.
Links
----- Springie's URL again - a good place to start: