There's a roller coaster simulator program named No Limits 
(http://www.nolimitscoaster.de - don't be scared by the .de, the site is 
in English) that uses beziers for creating roller coasters.  I'm 
currently working on a program that will convert a track made by it into 
a POV-Ray scene, complete with animation.

This is a test using a very simple "track".  I haven't actually written 
the program, but I'm creating it in such a way that POV-Ray itself is 
actually generating the coordinates of the spheres using SDL, as well as 
calculating all the physics.  By changing just some array declarations 
at the beginning that define the beziers that define the track, you can 
change the track and POV-Ray renders and animates.

The idea is that all my program will do is read the No Limits track file 
  and convert some binary data into some #declares and then add on a 
standard SDL code to put it all together into a scene.

-DJ

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Attachments:
Download 'bezier.avi.dat' (377 KB)

I couldn't see it

-- 
#macro G(b,e)b+(e-b)*C/50#end#macro _(b,e,k,l)#local C=0;#while(C<50)
sphere{G(b,e)+3*z.1pigment{rgb G(k,l)}finish{ambient 1}}#local C=C+1;
#end#end _(y-x,y,x,x+y)_(y,-x-y,x+y,y)_(-x-y,-y,y,y+z)_(-y,y,y+z,x+y)
_(0x+y.5+y/2x)_(0x-y.5+y/2x)            // ZK http://www.povplace.com

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Zeger Knaepen wrote:

> I couldn't see it
> 

Do you have DivX 6?  That's what its encoded in.  I used VirtualDub to 
take the image sequence and turn it into an AVI, and I used the DivX 6 
codec.

-DJ

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> Do you have DivX 6?

nope, I stopped at the last good version of DivX, which is 4.something, then I 
switched to XviD

I can open your animation, but I can't see anything but some weird colored 
blocks :)

> That's what its encoded in.  I used VirtualDub to take the image sequence and 
> turn it into an AVI, and I used the DivX 6 codec.

that DivX6-thing might not be such a good idea, most people here appreciate it 
more if it's encoded in standard MPEG-1

cu!
-- 
#macro G(b,e)b+(e-b)*C/50#end#macro _(b,e,k,l)#local C=0;#while(C<50)
sphere{G(b,e)+3*z.1pigment{rgb G(k,l)}finish{ambient 1}}#local C=C+1;
#end#end _(y-x,y,x,x+y)_(y,-x-y,x+y,y)_(-x-y,-y,y,y+z)_(-y,y,y+z,x+y)
_(0x+y.5+y/2x)_(0x-y.5+y/2x)            // ZK http://www.povplace.com

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Here's an MPEG1 version.  I cringed as I made it.  MPEG1 is so 
dated...why do people still use it when MPEG4 gives so much better results?

-DJ

DJ Wiza wrote:
> There's a roller coaster simulator program named No Limits 
> (http://www.nolimitscoaster.de - don't be scared by the .de, the site is 
> in English) that uses beziers for creating roller coasters.  I'm 
> currently working on a program that will convert a track made by it into 
> a POV-Ray scene, complete with animation.
> 
> This is a test using a very simple "track".  I haven't actually written 
> the program, but I'm creating it in such a way that POV-Ray itself is 
> actually generating the coordinates of the spheres using SDL, as well as 
> calculating all the physics.  By changing just some array declarations 
> at the beginning that define the beziers that define the track, you can 
> change the track and POV-Ray renders and animates.
> 
> The idea is that all my program will do is read the No Limits track file 
>  and convert some binary data into some #declares and then add on a 
> standard SDL code to put it all together into a scene.
> 
> -DJ

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Attachments:
Download 'bezier.m1v.mpg' (374 KB)

"DJ Wiza" <Kil### [at] sohcahtoanet> wrote in message 
news:4441da63@news.povray.org...
> Here's an MPEG1 version.  I cringed as I made it.  MPEG1 is so 
> dated...why do people still use it when MPEG4 gives so much better 
results?

a lot of reasons: MPEG1-codecs (or at least, the decoders) are included 
with every major OS, so everybody can see it, MPEG4 needs a faster 
computer, which not everyone has, and there appear to be a lot of 
sub-standards for MPEG4, so even if you have *an* MPEG4-decoder, you 
might not be able to see it.

It's more or less the same with MP3.  There are better alternatives than 
MP3, OGG Vorbis for instance, but everybody can play MP3 without hassle, 
which is not the case for OGG Vorbis, so MP3's what you should use if 
you want people to hear your music :(

To comment on the animation: looks good (except for the MPEG-artifacts 
of course :)) !  Is it just going to be spheres, or are you planning on 
making it a real (customizable) rollercoaster-object?  That'd be cool :)

cu!
-- 
#macro G(b,e)b+(e-b)*C/50#end#macro _(b,e,k,l)#local C=0;#while(C<50)
sphere{G(b,e)+3*z.1pigment{rgb G(k,l)}finish{ambient 1}}#local C=C+1;
#end#end _(y-x,y,x,x+y)_(y,-x-y,x+y,y)_(-x-y,-y,y,y+z)_(-y,y,y+z,x+y)
_(0x+y.5+y/2x)_(0x-y.5+y/2x)            // ZK http://www.povplace.com

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Zeger Knaepen wrote:
> a lot of reasons: MPEG1-codecs (or at least, the decoders) are included with every
major OS, so everybody can see it, MPEG4 needs a faster computer, which not everyone
has, and there appear to be a lot of sub-standards for MPEG4, so even if you have *an*
MPEG4-decoder, you might not be able to see it.

Yeah...I thought about that...there are so many MPEG4 codecs out there. 
  MS has one, plus there's DivX, XviD, and I'm sure many others.  I 
think I'll start attaching MPEG1 files with a link to a DivX file.  Or 
do you think I should do it the other way around?  Or perhaps upload both?
> 
> It's more or less the same with MP3.  There are better alternatives than MP3, OGG
Vorbis for instance, but everybody can play MP3 without hassle, which is not the case
for OGG Vorbis, so MP3's what you should use if you want people to hear your music :(

I don't use OGG Vorbis for that reason, pretty much.  I don't think Nero 
supports OGG when I want to create an audio CD, and converting to WAV 
manually is a pain.

> 
> To comment on the animation: looks good (except for the MPEG-artifacts of course :))
!  Is it just going to be spheres, or are you planning on making it a real
(customizable) rollercoaster-object?  That'd be cool :)
> 
> cu!

I'm currently in the process of rendering a new version with an actual 
track, complete with 2 running rails, a center spine, and track ties. 
It looks similar to a style Schwarzkopf used in his roller coasters. 
Eventually, I'll have all the track designs that No Limits supports. 
Although some, like the Intamin and B&M track styles, will require some 
extra coding.  B&M has a boxy design for their track, and Intamin's 
track ties actually connect forward in their design.

This picture shows the Schwarzkopf style I'm creating:
http://www.rcdb.com/ig2264.htm?picture=38
(Except my implementation doesn't have those small bars between the ties)

This is a typical B&M design:
http://www.rcdb.com/ig2528.htm?picture=45
Note the faceted spine shape.

And here's Intamin's design:
http://www.rcdb.com/ig594.htm?picture=9

Of course, there are many other designers, but they'll be easy to 
implement.  They just need different diameters/offsets for the rails and 
a different meshes for the ties.

For example, Arrow Dynamics:
http://www.rcdb.com/ig25.htm?picture=17

Premier:
http://www.rcdb.com/ig593.htm?picture=22

And more...

To see how all these designs look in No Limits, go to the screen shots 
section at http://www.nolimitscoaster.de/

(Of course, Ole Lange, the author of No Limits, doesn't use the company 
names, probably due to copyrights, with the except of Gerstlauer, who 
he's actually been working with to create their train/track designs.)

-DJ

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"DJ Wiza" <Kil### [at] sohcahtoanet> wrote in message 
news:44441929$1@news.povray.org...
> Yeah...I thought about that...there are so many MPEG4 codecs out 
there. 
>   MS has one, plus there's DivX, XviD, and I'm sure many others.  I 
> think I'll start attaching MPEG1 files with a link to a DivX file.  Or 

> do you think I should do it the other way around?  Or perhaps upload 
both?

I think you should post MPEG1 files here, and post a link to an 
XviD-file :p  But if DivX is your thing, then by all means, go for DivX 
:)
wouldn't post them both here though.

> I don't use OGG Vorbis for that reason, pretty much.  I don't think 
Nero 
> supports OGG when I want to create an audio CD, and converting to WAV 
> manually is a pain.

hmm, you know, I listened to an audio CD this weekend, only one track, 
and it suddenly hit me: I hadn't listened to a real audio CD for about 5 
years :)
 
> I'm currently in the process of rendering a new version with an actual 

> track, complete with 2 running rails, a center spine, and track ties. 
> It looks similar to a style Schwarzkopf used in his roller coasters. 
> Eventually, I'll have all the track designs that No Limits supports. 
> Although some, like the Intamin and B&M track styles, will require 
some 
> extra coding.  B&M has a boxy design for their track, and Intamin's 
> track ties actually connect forward in their design.

amazing, I'm looking forward to your next animations :)
 
> This picture shows the Schwarzkopf style I'm creating:
> http://www.rcdb.com/ig2264.htm?picture=38
> (Except my implementation doesn't have those small bars between the 
ties)
> 
> This is a typical B&M design:
> http://www.rcdb.com/ig2528.htm?picture=45
> Note the faceted spine shape.
> 
> And here's Intamin's design:
> http://www.rcdb.com/ig594.htm?picture=9

that one's high!! :)
 
> Of course, there are many other designers, but they'll be easy to 
> implement.  They just need different diameters/offsets for the rails 
and 
> a different meshes for the ties.
> 
> For example, Arrow Dynamics:
> http://www.rcdb.com/ig25.htm?picture=17
> 
> Premier:
> http://www.rcdb.com/ig593.htm?picture=22
> 
> And more...
> 
> To see how all these designs look in No Limits, go to the screen shots 

> section at http://www.nolimitscoaster.de/
> 
> (Of course, Ole Lange, the author of No Limits, doesn't use the 
company 
> names, probably due to copyrights, with the except of Gerstlauer, who 
> he's actually been working with to create their train/track designs.)

really interesting stuff, didn't know there were so many kinds of tracks 
:)

cu!
-- 
#macro G(b,e)b+(e-b)*C/50#end#macro _(b,e,k,l)#local C=0;#while(C<50)
sphere{G(b,e)+3*z.1pigment{rgb G(k,l)}finish{ambient 1}}#local C=C+1;
#end#end _(y-x,y,x,x+y)_(y,-x-y,x+y,y)_(-x-y,-y,y,y+z)_(-y,y,y+z,x+y)
_(0x+y.5+y/2x)_(0x-y.5+y/2x)            // ZK http://www.povplace.com

Post a reply to this message

Zeger Knaepen wrote:
> I think you should post MPEG1 files here, and post a link to an XviD-file :p  But if
DivX is your thing, then by all means, go for DivX :)
> wouldn't post them both here though.

In terms of Xvid vs DivX, from what I can see, they're about equal in 
terms of quality.  I only use DivX because I already have it and it can 
decode Xvid.  I don't have an Xvid encoder.

> hmm, you know, I listened to an audio CD this weekend, only one track, and it
suddenly hit me: I hadn't listened to a real audio CD for about 5 years :)

I don't have an MP3 CD player, or any other MP3 player for that matter, 
except for my computer.

> amazing, I'm looking forward to your next animations :)

As I said in my other message, I'm rendering a version with an actual 
track, though I'm thinking I should have done it without AA since its 
still only a "test" render.  3 1/2 hours of rendering and its only on 
frame 201 out of 400.

>>
>>And here's Intamin's design:
>>http://www.rcdb.com/ig594.htm?picture=9
> 
> 
> that one's high!! :)

Not really...its only 310 feet tall.  I rode it 56 times in 2002.  The 
drop is still fun, but it has completely lost the amazement factor.

If you want a doozy, check out Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in 
New Jersey.  Its 456 feet tall.  It doesn't have a lift hill, but rather 
uses a hydraulic launching system to accelerate you from 0-128 mph in 
3.8 seconds.

  > really interesting stuff, didn't know there were so many kinds of 
tracks :)

In case you couldn't already tell, I'm a roller coaster fanatic.  I've 
ridden over 100 roller coasters and have been to about 20 parks.  While 
that may seem like a lot, it really isn't.  I've met people at events 
that have ridden over 500 coasters, been to 50+ parks, and have even 
gone to other countries just to go to the theme parks.

Enjoy your ride.

-DJ

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