Hi there, this is my first post so hello to everyone!

I'm looking for appropriate 3d package and among others I've found also Houdini. I'm not sure if what I want is possible with such tool, so I'd like some advice from experienced Houdini user.
I'd like to use 3d package for bird flight simulation, if this is possible… wind forces, gravity, take-off with wings flapping, landing, etc.
What I want: When the bird is flapping with wings, I want it to “produce” some kinetic energy, so I can then apply wind etc. and see what happens
After that I'd like to make some user input to control bird animation (first keyboard, then wiimote is possible candidate).
So with all that I'd have home-made bird flight simulator to test how different wing shapes, body mass, etc, is responding to wind, gravity, …
Just to better explain my field of interest, here are some links: iBird Flight Simulator ( http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=5556354&page=1 [abcnews.go.com] , http://gizmodo.com/5031263/ibird-avian-flight-simulator-makes-you-feel-like-icarus), [gizmodo.com] or Bird Flight Animations project ( http://grail.cs.washington.edu/projects/flight/ [grail.cs.washington.edu] , http://grail.cs.washington.edu/projects/flight/wu2003realistic.html [grail.cs.washington.edu] ).
I've seen Gas solver tutorial and it gave me hope that maybe it is possible to do what I want (Gas solver looks pretty quality). I know that 3d package is not “physical simulation package” so I'd be very thankful if somebody who have insight can tell me- if this is possible with Houdini software.
Thanks in advance for any hint!
Milan
p.s.Sorry for long post.

I've found this in online Houdini help: ( http://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini9.5/dynamics/forces [sidefx.com] ): Drag - a retardant force that slows the forward motion of an object. This is not the same as air resistance, which would take into account the profile an object presents to the air.
So, according to this, I should turn away. Can somebody tell me if it is possible to simulate air resistance in Houdini?
Thanks for any reply,
Milan

There is potential for doing this with fluid simulations… but I honestly wouldn't know where to start. I imagine you're going to need to do some pretty in-depth delving to make something like this work.

kosirm
I've found this in online Houdini help: ( http://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini9.5/dynamics/forces [sidefx.com] ): Drag - a retardant force that slows the forward motion of an object. This is not the same as air resistance, which would take into account the profile an object presents to the air.
So, according to this, I should turn away. Can somebody tell me if it is possible to simulate air resistance in Houdini?
Thanks for any reply,
Milan

I asked this before - and there are a few potential solutions. (Thanks Jeff Lait for this)

In your Help Browser, go here: http://localhost:48627/examples/nodes/dop/fluidobject/VariableDrag [localhost]

One of these applies Drag only in the surface interface region of the velocity field - so flat, broad swatting fluids should get more drag than a column of fluid. eg, think of a bucket of water being tossed into the air - the water doesn't slow down much until it fans out.

Thanks, people, I think I have some picture now. I'll have to oversleep
Milan