Rigs of Rods is an open-source vehicle simulator built around soft-body physics. Its vehicles, machines and objects respond to their construction, weight distribution and suspension, so physical design shapes how they move. The simulator also includes aircraft flight based on blade element theory and boats modeled with pressure-gradient buoyancy. AngelScript provides basic scripting support.
| Author: | Pierre-Michel Ricordel |
| License: | Open Source |
| Price: | FREE |
| Released: | Nov 20, 2016 |
| File size: | 118.00 MB |
| Downloads: | 308 |
| Keywords: | truck driving simulator, vehicle simulation game, aircraft flight simulator, simulation game, Open-source simulation, Realistic physics, Pierre-Michel Ricordel, Rigs, Rods, open source vehicle game, boat physics simulator, Vehicle behavior, drive trucks, Customizable content, soft body physics simulator, truck, truck simulator, Multiplayer support |
| Author URL: | http://rigsofrods.com/ |
Rigs of Rods is an open-source vehicle simulation game for people interested in how vehicles and machines behave under physical forces. Rather than treating each vehicle as a rigid object with a fixed response, it uses soft-body physics to model flexible structures. Weight distribution, construction and suspension affect how a vehicle moves, making its behavior depend on its physical design.
The soft-body system is central to driving and handling. A vehicle responds to its structure and suspension as it moves, so the simulation can show how different construction affects its motion. This approach also applies to machines and other objects, extending the experience beyond conventional truck driving. The result is a simulator focused on physical behavior as well as operating vehicles.
Rigs of Rods also simulates aircraft with a flight model based on blade element theory. Aircraft behavior is calculated from physical dimensions and wing airfoils, making this feature relevant to users interested in flight as well as ground vehicles. Boats use an elemental pressure-gradient model for buoyancy, allowing hull shape to influence movement in water and response to swell. Together, these systems cover land, air and water vehicles within the same simulation.
The program is built on the OGRE graphics engine and provides basic scripting support through AngelScript. Scripting gives users a way to work with simulation behavior programmatically, while the physics-based design makes the software useful for exploring vehicle construction and movement. It is aimed at players who enjoy simulation systems and experimentation, rather than only fast-paced racing or arcade driving. Basic dual-core processor support is included.
Rigs of Rods is open source under the GNU General Public License version 3. Its listed Windows support includes Windows 10, alongside earlier Windows releases; Windows 11 compatibility is not established here. The download is suited to users looking for a free vehicle simulator that combines truck-style driving with aircraft, boats and detailed physics. Its emphasis on physical construction can also appeal to users who want to compare how design choices shape a vehicle's response.