Watch the course tutorials here:
What is the course about?
In this course we will examine a collection of tools that will allow us to create flowing trail-like patterns in Grasshopper.
We will first look at the Field component toolkit native to Grasshopper to setup vector fields using a collection of pre-defined forces and parameters. Vector fields define relationships between an array of points in 3D space, and an object or geometry. These fields can serve as attractors, create alignment, or even repel, and can be combined together to blend vectors into a flowing force field.
The course will then examine how we might create particle systems using the Anemone plugin, and use the behaviours documented in Craig Reynold’s ‘Boids’ theory to re-create flocking particle simulations based on the behavioural paths taken by flocks of birds.
What will you learn in each video?
- 6 tutorials
- 1hr, 14 minutes
- Anemone
The Fields toolkit in Grasshopper provides us with basic building blocks we need to generate a blended vector force field from a collection of pre-defined rules. Some of the forces we will examine include point charges, line charges and spin forces.
In this lesson we will examine how we can create flowing line patterns from our forces using the Field Line component in Grasshopper. We will examine the Biothing precedent and apply the logic in practice to recreate the patterns of the precedent.
Anemone can be used in place of the Field line component to create what is called a particle system that simulates flowing lines running through a field. In this lesson we will setup a vector field and run particles (or points) through the field using Anemone.
Craig Reynolds’ Boids simulation is an artificial life program which simulates the flocking behaviour of birds. The simulation breaks the flocking of birds down into 3 behaviours: separation, cohesion and alignment. In this lesson we will examine the separation behaviour and setup an Anemone loop to run particles in the simulation.
Craig Reynolds’ Boids simulation is an artificial life program which simulates the flocking behaviour of birds. The simulation breaks the flocking of birds down into 3 behaviours: separation, cohesion and alignment. In this lesson we will add the cohesion behaviour to our simulation in Anemone and run it in conjunction with our separation behaviour.
Craig Reynolds’ Boids simulation is an artificial life program which simulates the flocking behaviour of birds. The simulation breaks the flocking of birds down into 3 behaviours: separation, cohesion and alignment. In this lesson we will setup the alignment behaviour and combine it with the remaining behaviours in the Boids simulation to recreate the flocking patterns of birds as particle trail lines.
What are the learning objectives for the course?
- Use the Fields toolkit in Grasshopper to create field line patterns
- Understand the fundamentals of particle systems and how to apply them with loops in Anemone
- Explore & Understand the fundamentals of Craig Reynold's Boids theory
- Apply Boids theory as a particle system simulation in Grasshopper to create flocking patterns
Course image gallery:
