How to properly rotate and move objects in JBullet?

Game Mechanics
#1

Ok, I’ve just about gotten JBullet integrated into my game engine now. I have a couple of issues/questions though before I can proceed further:

  1. With an animated mesh, what happens if the mesh “animates” itself into a collidable object? Will JBullet back it out? Or will everything “explode?”

  2. How do I properly rotate or move an object from user input? Once again, I’m worried that if I directly setRotation() or setLocation() into a collidable object that things might “explode.” Is there a proper way to handle user input for these things and still maintain fluid user control?

#2

I’m still a bullet newbie so take my answers with a grain of salt.

  1. The collidable object will be backed out. Check out the Static Concave Mesh Demo on the JBullet site. Press g to start animating the mesh.

  2. If you need to move an object you should use a kinamatic rigid body. Read more about it in the user manual. Also most of the demos switch between kinematic an dynamic when you drag an object with the mouse.

#3

Yep, that explained it! I also discovered that if you manually set the Mass to 0 you can also take control of the object.

Thanks!