Getting Started

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You can download AnimatLab from this Download page. Just download the install file and run it.

If you are brand new to using AnimatLab I recommend that you start with the following tutorials. They will show you how to get around in the user interface, and how to do things like create a new project, open an existing project, add organisms and charts, etc..

1.	User Interface. (12 MB, 7 Minutes)
	Demonstrates the basics of how to use the AnimatLab application and how to interact with the user interface.

2.	Neural Network Editor. (17 MB, 11 Minutes)
	Demonstrates the basics of how to use the neural network editor to build the control system for an organism.

3.	Biomechanical editor. (13 MB, 12 Minutes)
	Demonstrates the basics of how to use the biomechanical editor to build the body of an organism or structure.

4.	Line Charts. (23 MB, 16 Minutes)
	Describes how to use line charts to collect data from items in the simulation.

Next, These tutorials will give you a basic understanding of how to use the neurons and synapses in AnimatLab. This will allow you to build the neural control systems for your organisms. This is only a few of the tutorials available on using neural networks. You can find the complete list by going to the neural networks tutorial page.

1.	Integrate And Fire Neurons. (14 MB)
	Describes the integrate-and-fire neural model and how to use it in AnimatLab.

2.	Spiking Chemical Synapses. (11 MB)
	Spiking chemical synapses can be used to connect the integrate-and-fire neurons of the realistic neural module. It simulates a standard synapse that releases transmitter when the pre-synaptic neuron spikes.

3.	Normal Firing Rate Neuron. (21 MB)
	Firing rate neurons are a more abstract representation of neurons. The firing frequency is proportional to the membrane voltage. This tutorial describe the properties of this model.

Finally, these tutorials describe some of the basics you will need to build the bodies of your organisms. This will allow you complete the sensory-motor feedback loop by simulating both the neural and biomechanical components of a behavior.

1.	Hinge. (18 MB, 13 Minutes)
	Shows you how to use the hinge, and walks you through creating a simple pendulum and verifying its period. It also shows how to change the behavior of the joint limits to make them springier or more damped.

2.	Muscle. (41 MB, 27 Minutes)
	Demonstrates how the muscle model works, what its properties are, and how to use it.

3.	Stretch Receptor. (22 MB, 14 Minutes)
	Shows how the stretch receptor model works, what its properties are, and how to use it.

4.	Joint Angle. (18 MB, 18 Minutes)
	This tutorial demonstrates how to use joint angle information in your neural networks.

Once you have mastered these concepts you are well on your way to building models of your organsism. You can look at the other tutorials as you need them.