OpenSim
Summary
OpenSim is a free, open-source platform for modeling and simulating movement and interaction among humans, animals, robots, and their environment. Its graphical interface visualizes models and supports creating and analyzing simulations. Models can contain rigid bodies, joints, constraints, contact, muscles, and other actuators. Movement analysis tools include inverse kinematics, inverse dynamics, static optimization, and forward dynamics; Computed Muscle Control can generate muscle-driven forward simulations. The API can be used through Matlab, Python, Java, and C++, while GUI scripting uses an embedded Jython shell. Plugins can add analyses and model components, but must be built for the same OpenSim version and platform. The GUI is distributed for 64-bit Windows and Mac; there is no public Linux GUI distribution, though the API source can be built for Linux. OpenSim provides documentation, tutorials, and a discussion forum, and is intended for research and teaching as well as academic and commercial applications. Downloading requires a SimTK account.
Who it is for
OpenSim suits researchers and educators modeling movement or teaching related methods. Developers can use its API from several languages, while Linux users can build the API from source rather than use a public Linux GUI.
What is good
- Free and open source under Apache 2.0.
- Includes tools for movement analysis and simulation.
- API supports Matlab, Python, Java, and C++.
- Documentation, tutorials, and a discussion forum are available.
What to know first
- No public Linux GUI distribution is available.
- Plugins must match the OpenSim version and platform.
- Downloading requires a SimTK account.
Verdict
OpenSim offers modeling and analysis tools for research, teaching, and other academic or commercial uses. Check the platform limitation and plugin compatibility requirements before adopting it.
OpenSim plans and pricing
All plansCompared on physics simulation software
- Free plan
- Yesgithub.com
- Delivery mode
- desktopgithub.com
- Lesson library
- Yesgithub.com
- Authoring tools
- Yesgithub.com
- 3D visuals
- Yesgithub.com
- Data export
- Yesgithub.com
Facts
- Free plan
- Yesgithub.com · 21 Sept 2026
- Delivery mode
- desktopgithub.com · 21 Sept 2026
- Lesson library
- Yesgithub.com · 21 Sept 2026
- Authoring tools
- Yesgithub.com · 21 Sept 2026
- 3D visuals
- Yesgithub.com · 21 Sept 2026
- Data export
- Yesgithub.com · 21 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- OpenSim models humans, animals, robots, and the environment, and simulates their interaction and movement.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Interface
- OpenSim includes a graphical interface for visualizing models and generating and analyzing simulations.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Modeling
- Models can include rigid bodies, joints, constraints, contact, muscles, and other actuators.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Movement analysis
- OpenSim provides tools for inverse kinematics, inverse dynamics, static optimization, and forward dynamics.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Muscle simulations
- Computed Muscle Control can generate muscle-driven forward simulations of movement.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Scripting
- The API can be used through Matlab, Python, Java, and C++, while GUI scripting uses an embedded Jython shell.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Extensibility
- Plugins can add analyses and model components, but must be built for the same OpenSim version and platform.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Data import
- OpenSim 4.0 added support for reading marker and force data in C3D files.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Supported systems
- The GUI is distributed for 64-bit Windows and Mac; the documentation says there is no public Linux GUI distribution.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Linux API
- The API source can be built for Windows, Mac, and Linux.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- License
- The GUI and API are open source under Apache 2.0, while models, examples, and plugins may have their own licenses.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- OpenSim provides documentation, tutorials, and a discussion forum where users can seek help from experts.opensim.stanford.edu · 30 Sept 2026
- Audience
- The project describes OpenSim as suitable for research and teaching and welcomes academic and commercial applications.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
- Security
- The pages reviewed describe OpenSim's software licenses but do not state security certifications or compliance programs.opensimconfluence.atlassian.net · 30 Sept 2026
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Sources
- github.com/opensim-org/opensim-core· checked 21 Sept 2026
- opensimconfluence.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OpenSim/pages/53114269/Abou· checked 30 Sept 2026
- opensimconfluence.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OpenSim/pages/53087561/Open· checked 30 Sept 2026
- opensimconfluence.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OpenSim/pages/53089874· checked 30 Sept 2026
- opensimconfluence.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OpenSim/pages/53089879· checked 30 Sept 2026
- opensimconfluence.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OpenSim/pages/53090303/New%· checked 30 Sept 2026
- opensimconfluence.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/OpenSim/pages/53086437· checked 30 Sept 2026
- opensim.stanford.edu· checked 30 Sept 2026