B3. Physics & Animation

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Learning Outcomes

• Explain the role of physics engines in Unity for XR realism. Before class, read about Unity’s physics engines (PhysX vs. Box2D) and explore how they contribute to realistic XR experiences.
• Add and configure a Rigidbody component in Unity. As preparation, open Unity, attach a Rigidbody to a GameObject, and test settings like Use Gravity, Is Kinematic, and Mass to see their effects in play mode.
• Identify and use different collider types in Unity. Ahead of the session, review collider types, attach one to a primitive shape, and toggle Is Trigger to compare collision detection with trigger events.
• Create and apply Physic Materials to modify object interactions. In advance, learn about properties like Dynamic Friction and Bounciness, then create a Physic Material and apply it to a GameObject to see how movement and surface response change.
• Set up and experiment with joints in Unity. For your prep work, review hinge and fixed joints, then connect two GameObjects with a Hinge Joint to observe how they behave under gravity.
• Describe the basics of animating GameObjects in Unity. Prior to class, review animation terminology and the Animation window to get familiar with keyframes, clips, and controllers.
• Create a simple hover animation using the Animation window. Before arriving, animate a cube’s Y-position to float up and down smoothly over 5 seconds, ensuring the motion loops seamlessly.
• Design and use an Animator Controller to manage state transitions. As a pre-class exercise, create an Animator Controller for your animated cube and set up a parameter-driven transition (e.g., Idle → Bounce).
• Import external animations into Unity. In preparation, review the process for importing .FBX animations from tools like Blender or Maya, then practice importing one into Unity for use in a scene.

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Physics in Unity

Unity’s built-in 3D physics system enables objects to interact realistically using physical principles such as gravity, collisions, force, motion, and constraints. These mechanics are fundamental to developing engineering simulations, digital twins, and real-time system visualizations, especially when modeling equipment behavior or human-machine interactions. Physics systems bring immersion, realism, and interactivity to XR:

• Immersion: Realistic object behavior enhances user presence in virtual environments.
• Real-Time Interaction: Physics enables objects to respond naturally to user input (e.g., throwing, grabbing, pushing).
• Human-Machine Interface Simulation: Physics allows for accurate modeling of interactions between humans and devices (e.g., levers, touch panels, virtual machines).
• Robotics & Digital Twins: Simulating mechanical systems and sensors with correct forces and constraints helps replicate real-world behavior.
• Spatial Awareness: Physics-driven collisions and movement inform spatial reasoning, which is vital in training and simulation apps.

In XFactory, the realistic movement of drones in logistics, robotic arms in assembly, or a quadruped robot navigating a tech station floor all rely on properly applied Unity physics principles.

Core Physics Features

• Character Control: Configures physics-based control systems for first-person and third-person characters, enabling realistic movement and interaction. Ideal for player-controlled avatars in action, adventure, and simulation games.

• Rigidbody Physics: Applies physics-based behavior to GameObjects using Rigidbody components, allowing for gravity, forces, torque, and momentum. Common in any dynamic object interaction, such as rolling balls, falling crates, or physics-based puzzles.

• Collision: Uses Collider components to detect and configure collisions between GameObjects, supporting both physical and trigger interactions. Essential for environment interaction, player movement boundaries, and hit detection.

• Joints: Connects GameObjects using joints to simulate physical behaviors such as pivoting, movement constraints, and mechanical linkages. Useful in building systems like swinging doors, suspension bridges, or robotic arms.

• Articulations: Sets up complex systems of rigid bodies and joints with more advanced constraints and physical accuracy, useful for robotics and machinery. Best for simulating biomechanics or robotic systems with precise motion and control requirements.

• Cloth: Simulates fabric behavior for character clothing, flags, curtains, and other dynamic textiles in real-time. Adds realism to clothing and decorative elements in characters and environments.

• Multi-Scene Physics: Manages and simulates separate physics contexts across multiple scenes in a single project, useful for layered or modular level design. Enables complex simulation setups like multiplayer environments or split gameplay areas.

• Physics Profiler Module: Analyzes and monitors physics performance metrics in your application to identify and resolve bottlenecks. Critical for optimizing physics-heavy scenes and maintaining smooth frame rates on target hardware.

Unity’s Physics Engines

Unity provides two main physics engines to simulate object behaviors:

• NVIDIA PhysX: Used for 3D physics simulation (handling depth-based interactions in 3D space). PhysX powers rigidbody dynamics, collision detection, joints, and other essential features for realistic object behavior in three dimensions. It is widely used in games and simulations for its performance and accuracy.

• Box2D: Used for 2D physics (interactions in a flat plane using only X and Y axes). Box2D provides lightweight and efficient physics tailored for side-scrollers, puzzle games, or schematic simulations where depth is not required.

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Rigidbody

A Rigidbody component applies Newtonian physics (laws of motion) to a GameObject, allowing it to move and rotate in a realistic way based on physics calculations. By adjusting properties like mass, drag, and constraints, developers can fine-tune how the object behaves in different environments. The Rigidbody component makes a GameObject responsive to:

• Gravity: The natural force pulling objects downwards
• External and Internal Forces: A push or pull on an object (e.g., propulsion)
• Collisions: Interactions between physical objects with contact
• Joints and Mechanical Constraints: Restrictions on movement or rotation

Rigidbody Properties

• Mass: Determines how resistant the object is to forces ($F = ma$, where $m$ is mass).
• Linear Damping: Simulates linear air resistance or surface friction (slows linear motion). It is called Drag in older versions of Unity.
• Angular Damping: Simulates resistance to rotational motion (slows spinning). It is called Angular Drag in older versions of Unity.
• Automatic Center of Mass: If enabled, Unity automatically calculates the object’s center of mass from its collider shapes. Disabling allows you to set a custom center—useful for asymmetrical objects.
• Automatic Tensor: Controls whether Unity auto-calculates the inertia tensor (rotational mass distribution). Turn off to manually adjust inertia for advanced simulations like flywheels or robotic arms.
• Use Gravity: Enables the object to fall naturally under simulated gravity.
• Is Kinematic: If enabled, disables physics interaction—object must be moved via script or animation (useful for controlled robotic arms or assembly parts).
• Interpolate: Smooths position/rotation updates between physics steps (prevents jitter in motion rendering).
• Collision Detection: Determines how accurately collisions are handled (e.g., continuous detection prevents fast objects from tunneling).
• Constraints: Locks position or rotation on specific axes (useful for stability in industrial machines).

Adding a Rigidbody

Let’s simulate a large shipping crate falling onto an industrial scale in the logistics station. This example demonstrates how to apply realistic physics to a GameObject so it reacts naturally to gravity, impact, and damping forces.

1. Add Rigidbody:
   • Select the box prefab instance in the scene (Box_Large_01a_Prefab_01 positioned above Industrial_Scale_01a_Prefab_01).
   • In the Inspector, click Add Component > Rigidbody to enable physics-based motion.
   • This allows the box to fall, collide, and respond to gravity, force, and surface interaction.
2. Adjust Rigidbody Properties:
   • Mass = 40 to represent the realistic weight of a loaded crate.
   • Linear Damping = 0.5 to simulate moderate air or surface resistance, slowing linear motion gradually.
   • Angular Damping = 0.3 to slightly reduce rotational spin after impact, ensuring the crate remains stable and upright.
   • Interpolate = Interpolate to smooth physics updates between frames to reduce jitter, especially when the object moves slowly or is pushed by other objects.
   • Use Gravity = Enabled to allow the crate to fall naturally onto the scale.
   • Is Kinematic = Disabled to ensures the crate responds dynamically to physics forces and collisions.
   • Collision Detection = Discrete, appropriate for large, slow-moving crates; use Continuous only if the object moves rapidly.
3. Run the Scene:
   • Press Play to simulate the drop.
   • Watch the crate fall with realistic weight, settle naturally on the scale, and respond to physical forces in a stable and believable way—mirroring real-world logistics handling like robotic loading or warehouse stacking.

   

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Colliders

A Collider defines an object’s physical boundary for detecting and resolving collisions. It is essential for interactivity in XR simulations. Colliders don’t cause motion; they only define space for collision detection (when and where objects make contact). They can be either primitive shapes (like boxes, spheres, capsules) for performance or mesh-based for more accurate representations. Colliders can also be set as triggers to detect overlap events without physically blocking movement.

In XFactory, use a Mesh Collider on the quadruped robot for precise collision zones or use a Box Collider for tools or crates for simplicity and performance.

Types of Colliders

• Box Collider: A cuboid (rectangular prism) boundary used for boxy or regular-shaped objects. In XFactory, this is ideal for simulating crates, pallets, racks, or the forklift body where clean, flat surfaces define the object’s shape.

• Sphere Collider: A spherical boundary used for round or symmetrical objects. Useful in XFactory for parts like robotic ball joints, spherical sensor modules, or small scanning devices dropped from drones.

• Capsule Collider: A cylindrical collider with rounded ends, well-suited for elongated or humanoid shapes. In XFactory, apply it to mobile drone bodies or the quadruped robot’s legs to model their streamlined movement.

• Mesh Collider: Uses the actual mesh geometry of an object for detailed and precise collision detection. In XFactory, Mesh Colliders are used for complex machinery such as CNC machines, 3D printers, or the car body in the welding station, where accurate geometry matters for realistic interaction.

• Terrain Collider: A collider specialized for large, natural or irregular ground surfaces created with Unity’s Terrain system. This is useful in XFactory’s exterior scene to simulate the factory yard, roads, or loading zones with varied terrain elevation.

Adding a Collider

Now, let’s simulate the barcode scanner in the XFactory logistics station falling onto the table. This demonstrates how Unity’s physics system handles collisions using different collider types, and how collider choice affects realism and performance.

1. Use the Table as Ground for the Scanner:
   • In the Hierarchy, locate the table object already present in the scene (e.g., Table_01a).
   • Ensure the table has a Box Collider or Mesh Collider component.
   • If it’s missing, add one via Inspector > Add Component > Box Collider or > Mesh Collider.
   • This acts as the flat surface the scanner will land on, simulating a physical tabletop.

   

2. Prepare the Barcode Scanner:
   • In the Hierarchy, locate the barcode scanner object (e.g., Scanner_01a_Prefab_01), which should already be positioned above the table.
   • Add a Rigidbody component to the barcode scanner.
   • Set Mass = 2 (represents a lightweight handheld scanner).
   • Set Linear Damping = 0.1 and Angular Damping = 0.4 (adds light air resistance and rotational stability).
   • Set Use Gravity = Enabled and Interpolate = Interpolate.
3. Add a Box Collider to the Barcode Scanner:
   • Select the barcode scanner in the Hierarchy.
   • Add a Box Collider via Inspector > Add Component > Box Collider. This approach is fast and efficient, but less accurate for non-boxy shapes. It is useful for general physics approximations.

   

4. Add a Mesh Collider to the Barcode Scanner:
   • Remove the Box Collider from the barcode scanner.
   • Add a Mesh Collider. In the Inspector, enable Convex to allow physics simulation with the Rigidbody. This approach closely matches the scanner’s shape but can be more performance-intensive.

   

   You can switch between Box Collider and Mesh Collider to observe how each affects fall behavior and collision accuracy.

5. Run the Scene:
   • Press Play to simulate.
   • Watch as the barcode scanner falls from its elevated position and collides with the tabletop.
   • Compare the results between the two collider types.
   • Box Collider is faster, but may not align perfectly with the scanner’s geometry.
   • Mesh Collider is More precise collisions, better realism, but may cause more processing overhead—especially in large-scale scenes.

   

This test is useful for evaluating collider strategies when balancing performance vs. physical accuracy in real-time simulations like AR/VR training or robotics prototyping.

Trigger Zones

Is Trigger (a checkbox in the Collider component) enables an object to detect when something enters, exits, or stays within its collider without physically interacting (no collision force is applied). Use this for non-physical detection systems—for example, when a box passes into a scanner area at the logistics station, triggering inventory logging or sensor activation in a digital twin simulation.

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Physic Materials

In Unity, a Physic Material allows fine-tuning how objects slide, bounce, or stick when they collide. This affects both realism and safety simulation. You can adjust properties like friction and bounciness to achieve the desired physical behavior. Physics materials are often used on colliders to create varied surface interactions, such as slippery ice or rough terrain.

In XFactory, apply a high-friction material to the robot’s end-effector to prevent tool slippage, or a bouncy material to a tire being tested in the assembly station.

Physic Material Properties

• Dynamic Friction: Friction applied when an object is already in motion, affecting how easily it slides across a surface and how much force is required to keep it moving (e.g., a forklift’s tire sliding slightly on a smooth concrete floor).

• Static Friction: Friction that resists the start of movement when an object is at rest, determining how much force is needed to overcome initial inertia (e.g., a crate resisting movement as it is pushed).

• Bounciness: Controls how much energy is retained after a collision, directly affecting how high or far an object rebounds (e.g., a tire bouncing slightly during a vertical drop).

• Friction Combine: Defines how friction values from two colliding surfaces are combined—using options like Minimum, Maximum, Average, or Multiply—to determine the resulting surface interaction (e.g., simulating the contact between a rubber tire and a metal loading ramp).

• Bounce Combine: Determines how bounciness values from two surfaces are blended during impact, which influences how much an object rebounds (e.g., a plastic tool dropped on the concrete floor).

Use these properties to fine-tune interactions in simulations where physical realism—such as sliding resistance, bounce-back, or grip—is critical.

Adding Physic Material

Let’s simulate the tire sitting on a wooden pallet in the assembly station rolling off and bouncing across the floor. This exercise demonstrates how to use a Physic Material to control surface properties like friction and bounciness, simulating realistic motion and impact behavior.

1. Locate and Prepare the Tire:
   • In the Hierarchy, locate the tire object already positioned on a wooden pallet in the assembly station (e.g., Tire on Pallet_01a).
   • Ensure the tire has a Rigidbody component assigned to its parent GameObject to enable physics simulation. If missing, add it via Inspector > Add Component > Rigidbody. Set Mass = 50, Linear Damping = 0.2, Angular Damping = 0.5, Interpolate = Interpolate, and Collision Detection = Discrete.
   • Add a Collider to allow the tire to interact with surfaces. Use either a Capsule Collider (simpler and efficient) or a Mesh Collider (for detailed shape - enable Convex). Make sure to assign the Mesh Collider to the child GameObjects that contain both the Mesh Filter and Mesh Renderer, as the collider requires a mesh to function properly.

   

2. Create a Physic Material:
   • In the Project window, navigate to Assets > Materials > Physic Material (or a similar path to ensure proper organization).
   • Right-click and choose Create > Physics Material, then name it TireMaterial.
   • In the Inspector, configure the material to define how the tire behaves when rolling and bouncing.
   • Dynamic Friction = 0.3 simulates rolling resistance and contact with the floor.
   • Static Friction = 0.4 requires some force to get the tire moving from rest.
   • Bounciness = 0.6 allows moderate bounce upon impact.
   • Bounce Combine = Maximum prioritizes the higher bounciness value during collisions.

   

3. Assign Physic Material to the Tire:
   • Select the tire in the scene.
   • In the Collider component (e.g., Mesh Collider) of the child GameObject with rubbery material, assign the TireMaterial to the Material field by dragging it from the Project window.
   • This controls how the tire interacts with the floor and other surfaces as it moves and collides.

   

4. Ensure Floor, Walls, and Pallet Have Colliders:
   • Select the shop floor object (Floor_Merged) and add a Box Collider so it can register collisions.
   • Repeat the same for the walls (Walls_Merged).
   • The wooden pallet should also have a Box Collider to support realistic contact when the tire rolls off its edge.
5. Set Up the Tire for Movement:
   • Use the Move Tool and Rotate Tool to position the tire above and near the edge of the pallet.
   • Tilt it slightly or raise one side so that it naturally begins to roll off the pallet when gravity is applied at runtime.

   

6. Run the Simulation:
   • Press Play to start the scene.
   • Watch the tire roll off the pallet, bounce on the floor, and gradually come to rest based on the defined mass, damping, bounciness, and friction values.
   • Try switching between a Box Collider and a Mesh Collider on the tire to observe how collider shape influences accuracy and realism.

   

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Joints

Joints connect Rigidbody objects to simulate mechanical constraints, linkages, and articulated mechanisms (multi-part moving systems like robot arms or doors). They allow for controlled relative motion between objects and can restrict movement along specific axes or apply forces to maintain alignment. Unity provides various joint types, such as Hinge Joint, Fixed Joint, and Spring Joint, to suit different physical behaviors and interactions.

In XFactory, use Hinge Joint joints for the robotic arm at the welding station, or Fixed Joint joints to attach tools to the assembly robot on a mobile base.

Types of Joints

• Hinge Joint: Allows rotation around one axis, making it suitable for simulating mechanical pivots and simple articulated motion. This can be used for simulating robotic gripper movements or the swinging door of a storage cabinet in the logistics area.

• Fixed Joint: Locks two objects together rigidly so they move as one while still reacting to external forces and collisions. This is ideal for attaching tools to the robot on the mobile base in the assembly station.

• Spring Joint: Connects objects with spring-like behavior, allowing for controlled elasticity and damping during movement. This can be used to simulate shock-absorbing mounts for equipment or cable tensioning in the production station.

• Configurable Joint: Provides detailed control over movement and rotation constraints along all axes, supporting complex mechanical interactions. This is useful for advanced simulation of a 6-DOF robotic arm in the tech station or fine-tuning a robotic gripper mechanism in the assembly area.

Simulating a Joint

Let’s simulate the opening and closing motion of a door using a hinged door. This example demonstrates how to configure a Hinge Joint to replicate realistic door articulation, commonly used in physical environments where interactive mechanics are needed. This setup is suitable for building realistic simulations for access control, safety barriers, or interactive environments.

1. Use Existing Door in the Scene:
   • In the Hierarchy, locate a hinged door GameObject in the XFactory scene (e.g., Door_01 or another appropriate door object).
   • Ensure the door is a separate GameObject, parented under a static door frame or wall (e.g., Door_01_Prefab_01), which serves as the stable base.
2. Add Hinge Joint to the Door:
   • Select the door GameObject.
   • In the Inspector, click Add Component > Hinge Joint.
   • Unity will automatically add a Rigidbody if one is not present (required for physics joints).
   • In the Rigidbody component, verify that both Is Kinematic and Use Gravity are disabled (so the door reacts to physics but isn’t pulled down by gravity unnecessarily).
3. Configure Hinge Joint Settings in the Inspector:
   • Leave the Connected Body field empty. Unity will automatically connect the joint to the nearest static object (i.e., the door frame) as long as that object does not have a Rigidbody.
   • Set the Anchor to the hinge side of the door—typically near the edge where the door rotates. Use Scene view Gizmos to adjust and preview the rotation axis.
   • Set the Axis to define the direction of rotation. For most doors, use (0, 1, 0) if the door rotates around the Y-axis.
4. Apply Joint Limits:
   • Enable Use Limits.
   • Expand the Limits section of the Hinge Joint.
   • Set Min = -90 and Max = 0 (so the door opens towards outside).
   • This constrains the door to swing open up to 90°, simulating realistic physical constraints of a hinged door.
5. Enable Motor (Optional):
   • Enable Use Motor.
   • Set Target Velocity = -45 (degrees per second), so the door opens counterclockwise.
   • Set Force = 50 to define how strongly the motor pushes.
   • Set Free Spin = false to allow precise controlled rotation.

   

6. Run the Scene:
   • Press Play to test the simulation.
   • The door should rotate naturally within the defined limits.
   • If Use Motor is enabled, the door will automatically begin swinging open—simulating an automated door mechanism.
   • Make sure the Static box on the top right of the Inspector is unchecked.

   

Joints are important for simulating real-time, physics-based interactions, allowing objects like doors to respond dynamically to forces, collisions, and user input. Unlike animations—which play predefined motions—joints enable interactive, physically accurate behavior that’s essential for realistic simulations.

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Animating GameObjects

Unity’s animation system is a powerful tool for adding movement and dynamic behavior to objects within a scene. Animations enhance interactive experiences by making characters, environments, and UI elements feel more engaging and lifelike. While complex character animations (such as facial expressions or fluid movements) are typically created in external digital content creation software like Maya, 3ds Max, and Blender, Unity also provides built-in tools for creating scene-based animations (such as moving platforms, opening doors, robotic arm movement, or UI transitions).

In XFactory, animations can be used to illustrate a forklift loading a box onto a rack, a robotic arm assembling engine components, or CNC machinery operating as part of a production process. These animations not only improve realism but also support educational and operational objectives in engineering simulations.

Core Concepts

• Animation Clips: An Animation Clip is a timeline of movement and property changes applied to GameObjects. Each clip consists of keyframes, which record specific attributes (like position, rotation, scale, or material properties) at precise moments. Unity then interpolates the changes between keyframes to create smooth, continuous motion.

  In XFactory, you can use an animation clip to show a drone lifting off from the logistics station and scanning QR codes on boxes.

• Animator Controller: An Animator Controller manages different animation clips and defines how an object transitions between them. It provides logic to switch between animations using conditions such as user input, machine states, or scripted triggers.

  A robotic arm in the assembly station might switch between “Idle”, “Pick Part”, and “Assemble Part” states depending on a simulation event.

• Animation States and Transitions: These are part of the Animator Controller. Each state represents a single animation (e.g., “Idle”, “Moving”, “Operating”), and transitions define when and how an object shifts from one state to another. Conditions like a sensor detecting an object or a timer completing can trigger transitions.

  The mobile robot in XFactory might transition from “Waiting” to “Moving to Assembly Station” when the operator triggers a command.

• Rigging and Skeletal Animation: For complex models like humanoid figures or articulated robots, a rig is used. A rig consists of a skeleton (a hierarchy of bones) that drives mesh deformation. Skeletal animation manipulates these bones to animate the model.

  The quadruped robot in the tech station requires a skeletal rig to animate each leg’s movement while walking across the lab floor.

• Keyframes: Keyframes mark when specific properties of a GameObject change. Unity’s Animation Window allows users to define keyframes for objects manually. Between keyframes, Unity calculates the in-between frames to ensure smooth transitions.

  Keyframes can animate the movement of a welding robot arm in the welding station as it joins two car parts.

• Blend Trees: A Blend Tree blends between multiple animations based on input parameters (e.g., speed, direction). This is useful for continuous movement where smooth transitions are necessary.

  A mobile robot in the assembly area could use a Blend Tree to blend between turning, accelerating, and reversing animations.

• Animation Events: These allow you to trigger code or actions at a specific frame of an animation. Useful for syncing animations with sound, effects, or gameplay logic.

  During a robotic machine tending animation, an event can be triggered when the part hits the machine table or tending table to play a thud sound and activate a vibration effect.

Animation Methods

• Using the Animation Window (In-Editor Animation): Unity’s Animation Window enables visual keyframe-based animation directly within the editor. Ideal for animating simple or mechanical objects that require straightforward motion. In XFactory, you can animate the opening and closing of the CNC machine’s door or a forklift belt moving pallets from one station to another.

• Animator Controller Setup: The Animator Controller manages logic-driven animations. It enables objects to change animations dynamically based on simulation or user-defined conditions. In XFactory, the CNC machine in the production station starts its “Processing” animation when the simulation triggers a start command.

• Importing Animations from External Software: For complex motion and high-quality rigs, animations are often created in tools like Maya, 3ds Max, or Blender, then exported as .FBX files and imported into Unity. These can be configured for humanoid or generic rigs in Unity’s import settings. In XFactory, you can import detailed quadruped movement sequences created in Blender to use in the exhibition station simulation.

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Animation Window

Let’s create an animation in Unity, focusing on a flying drone in a logistics station that moves between racks, hovers to scan packages, and lands/takes off. For a drone, this includes flying between racks (Position), hovering to scan (Scale or light pulse), landing / Take-off (Position, Scale), and scanning pulse effect (Material color, Emission, or Scale). This kind of animation enhances realism for warehouse simulations, drone fleet management systems, or XR-based operational training.

Creating an Animation Clip

An Animation Clip is a Unity asset that stores timed transformations (position, rotation, scale, etc.). Let’s start by creating a simple hover and scan animation for the drone:

1. Open your XFactory Unity scene and navigate to the logistics station.
2. In the Hierarchy, select the drone GameObject (Drone) or the scanning component (Eye).
3. Open the Animation window (Window > Animation > Animation) and click Create.
4. Name the clip Drone_HoverScan and save it in an Animations folder.
5. Select the drone GameObject (Drone) in the Hierarchy.
   • Add a Transform > Position property to create a hovering effect.
   • Start with Y = 0.50, move to Y = 0.55 at 0.5s, and return to Y = 0.50 at 1s for a gentle hover loop.

   

6. Select the scanning component (Eye).
   • In the Inspector, click Add Component > Animator if it doesn’t already have one.
   • Create a new animation for this component.
   • Add Transform > Scale to simulate a pulsing scan light.
   • Set initial scale to (1, 1, 1), increase to (1.2, 1.2, 1.2) at 0.25s, and back to (1, 1, 1) at 0.5s.

   

7. Press the Play button in the Unity Editor. Observe the drone gently bobbing up and down while the scanner component pulses in scale, simulating a live hover-and-scan behavior.

If the animation doesn’t play, make sure the object has an Animator component and that your clip is assigned to it. You can also loop the animation by enabling Loop Time in the Animation clip’s settings (Inspector > Loop Time).

Smoothing an Animation

To make the drone’s hover animation feel more realistic, you can smooth its vertical motion using Unity’s Curves editor, which controls the speed and acceleration of animated values.

1. Open the Animation window and select your Drone_HoverScan clip.
2. Switch to Curves mode using the Curves icon in the bottom-left of the timeline.
3. Select the Transform.Position.y curve.
4. Right-click on keyframes and choose Auto or Ease In Out to apply natural acceleration and deceleration.

5. Adjust curve handles to fine-tune the timing and smoothness of the rise and fall.

   

This gives the drone a more natural hover effect, mimicking how drones subtly slow down before changing vertical direction—ideal for training simulations or drone fleet visualizations.

Recording an Animation

Now, let’s animate the emission color of the drone’s scanner eye to pulse from yellow → red → yellow, simulating an active scanning state. In this example, we will use the recording method to add it manually.

1. Select the material applied to the Eye GameObject. In the Inspector:
   • Ensure the shader is URP/Lit or another shader that supports emission.
   • Check the Emission box to enable emission properties.
   • Set the initial Emission Color to a visible value like yellow.

2. In the Hierarchy, select the Eye GameObject. Open the ScannerPulse clip.

3. Click the record button (red circle) in the Animation window.

4. In the Inspector, under the Material section:
   • Click the color box next to Emission Color and change it to red.
   • Move the playhead to 0.1s, then change the color back to yellow.
   • Move the playhead to 0.2s, and return to red again.
   • Click record again to stop recording.

   

5. Select the ScannerPulse animation clip in the Project window. In the Inspector, check Loop Time so the pulse continues during runtime.

6. When you press Play, the drone’s eye will now emit a glowing pulse that cycles between red and yellow—simulating an active scanning state.

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Animator Controller

The Animator in Unity is a robust system for managing and controlling animations on GameObjects. In engineering environments like XFactory, it enables lifelike simulation of robots, machinery, and UI behaviors. Whether animating a quadruped robot at the exhibit station or a robotic arm in the manufacturing station, the Animator allows smooth transitions between dynamic states.

Core Concepts

• Animator Component: Attached to a GameObject, it links to an Animator Controller that drives the animation logic.
• Animator Controller: The control hub for animations, defining states, transitions, and parameters.
• State Machine: Organizes animation states (e.g., Idle, Walking) and controls how they transition.
• Parameters: Input values that trigger transitions:
  • Bool: Toggle behavior (IsEngaged)
  • Int: Mode selector (OperationMode)
  • Float: Sensor values (MotorLoad)
  • Trigger: One-time actions (StartWalking, ReturnToBase)

For the quadruped robot in XFactory, typical states may include Idle → Scanning → Walking → Returning.

Animate with Animator

Let’s use Unity’s Animator to control simple drone states—hovering and moving—using basic transitions. This is a simpler setup than animating limb joints and is ideal for creating modular drone behavior like patrolling, scanning, or flying between zones.

1. Set Up the Scene:
   • Open your Unity scene with the drone in the logistics station.
   • Select the root GameObject (Drone).
   • In the Inspector, add an Animator component if it is not already present.
2. Set Up the Animator Controller:
   • In the Project window, locate the auto-created Animator Controller (e.g., Drone).
   • Double-click to open the Animator window.
   • Drag your Drone_HoverScan animation into the grid—this becomes a new state.
   • Right-click and choose Make Transition from Entry to Drone_HoverScan.

   

3. Create a Simple Patrol Movement Animation:
   • With Drone still selected, create a new clip named Drone_MoveForward.
   • Animate Transform.Position.z to simulate basic forward motion. Set z = -10 in Frame 0 and z = -8.5 in Frame 2s.
   • Save and stop recording.

   

4. Build the State Machine:
   • Switch to the Animator window.
   • Drag Drone_MoveForward into the grid.
   • Create a transition from Drone_Hover → Drone_MoveForward.
   • Add a new Trigger parameter named StartFlying.
   • Set this as the transition condition.
   • Create a return transition from Drone_MoveForward → Drone_Hover.
   • Add another Trigger called ReturnToHover.
   • Uncheck Has Exit Time and reduce Transition Duration (e.g., 0.1) for instant state changes.

   

5. Test the Setup:
   • Enter Play mode.
   • Open the Animator window while the scene is running.
   • Manually click the StartFlying trigger. The drone should fly forward.
   • Click ReturnToHover. The drone returns to hover mode.

   

6. Optional State Ideas:
   • ScanPulse: Animate emission color for the eye using material properties.
   • Land: Animate the Y-position to descend onto a platform.
   • Idle: No animation—used for drones in standby.
   • TakeOff: One-time lift-off motion before switching to hover.

This Animator-based setup is perfect for simple autonomous drone behavior, simulation training, or AI-driven animation without scripting complex logic.

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Importing Animations

Detailed animations, such as walk or patrol cycles for quadruped robots, are often created in tools like Blender or Maya. To use an existing animation in Unity, you can create animations in Blender (free, open-source 3D suite) or Maya(industry-standard for animation pipelines). Alternatively, you can download ready-made animations from Mixamo (free animation library by Adobe - works best with biped rigs but can be adapted with retargeting), TurboSquid, Sketchfab, or ActorCore. Now, let’s use an imported animation to animate the quadruped robot in XFactory:

1. Import the Animation File:
   • Download or export the animation as an .FBX file.
   • Drag it into your Unity project’s Assets > Animations > Spot folder.
   • Select the .FBX file in the Project window.
   • In the Inspector, switch to the Rig tab.
   • Set Animation Type to Generic.
   • In Avatar Definition, choose Create From This Model since the FBX has its own skeleton. Set the Root node = CINEMA_4D_EDITOR.
   • Click Apply.

   

   Generic animation type is ideal for Spot’s robotic skeleton. Avoid Humanoid unless you’re retargeting from a biped source.

2. Assign to the Model:
   • In the Project window, create a new Animator Controller, e.g., Spot_Controller.
   • Drag your animation clips into the Animator window as states.
   • Select your Spot model in the Hierarchy.
   • In the Inspector, assign Spot_Controller to the Animator component.
   • Set Avatar = WALKAvatar.

   

3. Test the Animator:
   • Open the Animator window and enter Play mode.
   • Manually trigger the animation by adding Trigger parameters like StartWalk, StartScan, etc. or by setting up transitions based on those triggers in the Animator state machine.
   • Click each trigger to preview Spot’s motion live in-scene.

   

For XR or robotics simulations, combine animation states with logic from scripts or input devices to control Spot’s behavior in real time.

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Key Takeaways

In Unity, mastering physics and animation tools allows you to create immersive, realistic XR experiences that respond naturally to user interactions. By using Rigidbody components, colliders, and physic materials, you can control how objects move, collide, and react to forces, balancing performance with accuracy. Joints provide physically accurate mechanical connections, while animation systems—through clips, controllers, and imported assets—bring objects and environments to life with dynamic, responsive behaviors. Together, these features enable simulations that blend visual engagement with authentic physical interaction, essential for engineering, training, and interactive storytelling in XR.