Linear damping misunderstanding

Development World Creation
, ,
1

Hello! I have an issue with physics simulation. I’m doing a physical movement of my player’s space ship based on aplying forces, and I have the main engine’s thrust force and maximum speed from game mechanics. My moving model, which I try to implement, is thrust force and damping force, which is (-damping_factor * velocity), e.g.:

acceleration * mass = Force_Thrust - linear_damping * velocity

The maximum speed absolute value in this model must be (F_thrust / damping_factor), and doesn’t depend from mass of rigidbody. I tried to implement this with “inbox” linear damping property of Static Mesh Component, but as I discovered it’s behaviour is different from my expectations. I thought, that changing of mass only affects to acceleration of my ship, but not to maximum velocity. But in real it affects to the velocity and my calculations are wrong. It is also followed from documentation, which says, that value of 30 is enough for any phisical body to stop it’s falling with gravity. So, my questions are:

  1. How does linear damping property of Static mesh aplies to the movement?
  2. Can I use anyway physical damping property for my flying model?
2

Hi Polterageist,

  1. Linear damping it is force that applies to the object to reduce linear movement. Yes, you are right: object mass affects on ‘stopping speed’.

  2. Yes, you should take into account object mass: velocity* damping_factor*mass=linear_damping and update it every tick (but it is not very convenient)

I think the best way to implement your physics model it is to apply it manually for rigid body.

Best regards,

3

Thank you for your answer.