EDEM Custom Coupling with Unity3D or PyBullet

Gaetan Pans_21058

Good evening,

Would it be possible to create a coupling with EDEM and Untiy3D or Pybullet? The idea being to have an accurate discrete element modelling/particle interaction in other physics engines/renderers to incorporate machine learning of a robot through deformable terrain (to be modelled by EDEM).

Thanks

Gaetan

Richard Wood_20774

Hi,

Possible? Certainly. We have a coupling interface built into EDEM which you can connect to over TCP/IP, calling from any executable/binary you like. We have a coupling library (dll/so) with a range of public functions allowing you to get particle/geometry/contact/timestep information which you can do with as you wish. In the same way that we couple with CFD/MBD/FEA codes, you can connect to anything you like, such as  the programs you mention.

The only thing you have to do...is write the coupling

Cheers,

Richard

Prasad Avilala_20558

Hi Gaetans,

Looks like EDEM not coupled with Pybullet and Unity3D. However, looks linke Pybullet is Artificial neural network based workflow, EDEM is coupled with Hyperstudy which is ANN based work flow. Below is the link to explore EDEM+ Hyperstudy work flow

Altair Exchange - EDEM-HyperStudy Connector: Installers and User Guide

 

If i am correctly understood about Unity3D, it's like a Machine learning, EDEM is also coupled with romAI and also Altair has our own machine learning tools called rapid miner.

Please find below example of a romAI coupled with EDEM

Altair Exchange - Wheel Loader Simulation with romAI

 

thanks,

Prasad A

 

Gaetan Pans_21058

Richard Wood_20774 said:

Hi,

Possible? Certainly. We have a coupling interface built into EDEM which you can connect to over TCP/IP, calling from any executable/binary you like. We have a coupling library (dll/so) with a range of public functions allowing you to get particle/geometry/contact/timestep information which you can do with as you wish. In the same way that we couple with CFD/MBD/FEA codes, you can connect to anything you like, such as  the programs you mention.

The only thing you have to do...is write the coupling

Cheers,

Richard

Hi Richard,

Thank you for the quick reply. I am completely new to writing a coupling having never done it before. Any possible guidance, tutorials or resources on the first steps? It is not just accessing the data from the simulation through code, but generating the particles with EDEM's physics into another renderer. 

Thanks

Gaetan

Richard Wood_20774

Gaetan Pans_21058 said:

Hi Richard,

Thank you for the quick reply. I am completely new to writing a coupling having never done it before. Any possible guidance, tutorials or resources on the first steps? It is not just accessing the data from the simulation through code, but generating the particles with EDEM's physics into another renderer. 

Thanks

Gaetan

Hi,

https://community.altair.com/community/en/dynamics-coupling-interface-swing-door-example?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0121901

https://community.altair.com/community/en/edem-coupling-interface-applying-pressure-to-a-geometry?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0121935

These were written a long time ago but serve as simple introductions to the coupling interface. They're not full tutorials, but there are steps on how to use it at the bottom of one of those links and the source code is there too. These examples have very simple executables that control different aspects of EDEM. I know nothing about Unity3D or PyBullet, but in essence they would be replacing the simple executables from these examples.

Those examples will hopefully give you some insight into how to interact with the coupling. Clearly it's much easier if you have access to the source for the software you want to couple with. I'm assuming this isn't the case for you so it will depend on what API/libraries those software have available to users as to how you get the information in, so it will be something like:

EDEM -- Coupling interface -- [ an executable ]

or

EDEM -- Coupling interface -- [some API/library from Unity3D/PyBullet] --  [Software]

Cheers,

Richard

 

Gaetan Pans_21058

Richard Wood_20774 said:

Hi,

https://community.altair.com/community/en/dynamics-coupling-interface-swing-door-example?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0121901

https://community.altair.com/community/en/edem-coupling-interface-applying-pressure-to-a-geometry?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0121935

These were written a long time ago but serve as simple introductions to the coupling interface. They're not full tutorials, but there are steps on how to use it at the bottom of one of those links and the source code is there too. These examples have very simple executables that control different aspects of EDEM. I know nothing about Unity3D or PyBullet, but in essence they would be replacing the simple executables from these examples.

Those examples will hopefully give you some insight into how to interact with the coupling. Clearly it's much easier if you have access to the source for the software you want to couple with. I'm assuming this isn't the case for you so it will depend on what API/libraries those software have available to users as to how you get the information in, so it will be something like:

EDEM -- Coupling interface -- [ an executable ]

or

EDEM -- Coupling interface -- [some API/library from Unity3D/PyBullet] --  [Software]

Cheers,

Richard

 

Hi Richard,

Thanks will have a look, certainly heading in the right direction.

Gaetan