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The AnimatLab software allows you to combine biomechanical simulations with
biologically realistic neural network simulations. Find out more about what
AnimatLab can do by going to the main AnimatLab page.
AnimatLab is an open-source project.
All of the code that we have developed is available. In the biomechanics section
this includes the C++ source code that simulates a hill muscle model, and a
similar stretch receptor model. On the neural side, we provide the C++ source
code for several different neural models. This includes code for a leaky,
integrate and fire spiking neuron model. This model has a number of other
features like accommodation, calcium currents, and ion channels. The synapse C++ code
for the spiking neural model implements a number of important functions like hebbian learning, voltage dependence, and facilitation. We also provide the
C++ code
for a simpler firing rate neural model that has a number of different neuron
types like pacemaker neurons. All of the source code is contained within
C++ DLL libraries in Visual Studio 7 project files. The code for the GUI editor
is also provided in VB.net assemblies.
We use a commercial application called Vortex for the physics engine and the
core of this software is not available. Currently, there is no documentation and
very little in the way of comments for the source code. We do not have a
software developers kit (SDK) along with several video tutorials and a wizard
which makes it easy to build new plug-in modules for AnimatLab.
What will I need
| Visual Studio 7: |
Unfortunately, the current version of the SDK will only compile in visual studio 7 (2003).
The problem is that the older version of vortex we are using will not link correctly in the
new versions of visual studio. The next version of AnimatLab will use the latest vortex and
will work in visual studio 2008. However, until then we are stuck with using VS 7. Another problem
is that VS 7 will not install on a Windows Vista machine, so you will need to use an XP computer.
I am sorry for these problems, but I have not been able to find any way around them at the moment. |
| TortoiseSVN: |
The source code is hosted on Google code using the
TortoiseSVN subversion source
code control system. This means that you can always get the latest code by getting an update from the source code
repository. Google Code also has some really useful issue tracking software integrated into it. So if you want
to suggest changes or report a bug then this is the place to go. The link to the
Google code page is
http://code.google.com/p/animatlab/.
Also, you can download TortoiseSVN right
here. |
| AnimatLabSDK: |
You will still need to install the SDK. It
contains a number of binary files that are needed to compile successfully
that are not stored in the repository. So first install the SDK, and then do
an update in TortoiseSVN . You can get a copy of the SDK on Google Code or
right here: AnimatLabSDK.exe (31 Mb). |
Finally, I have created a number of video tutorials. The first one shows you
how to install everything correctly and goes over what is in the SDK and what
each library does. The other tutorials show you how to use the wizard to create
new plug-in module projects so you can add on to AnimatLab. You can watch these
video tutorials here: AnimatLab SDK Video Tutorials.
If you have any problems with downloading, installing, or running the
AnimatLabSDK then please post a message on the
AnimatLab forum
and I will try and help you through the problem.
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