Interactive Physics vs OpenSim
Interactive Physics
design-simulation.comOpenSim
opensim.stanford.eduSide by side
| Figure | Interactive Physics | OpenSim |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 17 | 1 |
| Spec score · Physics Simulation Software | 8.2 (#26) | 8.7 (#6) |
| Authoring tools | Yes | Yes |
| Data export | Yes | Yes |
| Delivery mode | desktop | desktop |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Lesson library | Yes | Yes |
| Modeling | Users can create circles, blocks, polygons, ropes, springs, dampers, pulleys, slots, actuators and motors. | Models can include rigid bodies, joints, constraints, contact, muscles, and other actuators. |
| Purpose | Interactive Physics is educational software for modeling and simulating physical phenomena in STEM education. | OpenSim models humans, animals, robots, and the environment, and simulates their interaction and movement. |
| Support | The maker lists [email protected] and a support forum, and says Homework/Student Editions do not include technical support. | OpenSim provides documentation, tutorials, and a discussion forum where users can seek help from experts. |
Plans
Interactive Physics
- Single User (node-locked)Price not published
- Additional Single UserPrice not published
- Single User (dongle-locked)Price not published
- 10 UserPrice not published
- 20 UserPrice not published
- 30 UserPrice not published
- Single User (node-locked) — Annual License$100 a year
- Single User (node-locked) — Paid Up License$249, paid once
- 10 User — Annual License$400 a year
- 20 User — Annual License$600 a year
In their own words
Interactive Physics
Interactive Physics has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
OpenSim
OpenSim models and simulates how humans, animals, robots, and their environment move and interact. Its graphical interface displays models and supports creating and analyzing simulations. Models can contain rigid bodies, joints, constraints, contact, muscles, and other actuators. Movement analysis tools include inverse kinematics, inverse dynamics, static optimization, and forward dynamics; Computed Muscle Control can generate muscle-driven forward simulations. The API is usable through Matlab, Python, Java, and C++, and GUI scripting uses an embedded Jython shell. Plugins can add analyses and model components, but must be built for the same OpenSim version and platform. The graphical interface is distributed for 64-bit Windows and Mac, while there is no public Linux GUI distribution; the API source can be built for Linux. OpenSim is free and open source under Apache 2.0, though models, examples, and plugins may have separate licenses. It is intended for research and teaching and welcomes academic and commercial applications. Documentation, tutorials, and a discussion forum are available. Downloading requires a SimTK account.