Rhino/Grasshopper Time Nodes
Incorporate Grasshopper sliders into 4d.io simulations as time-controlled variables, preserving solver integrity across dynamic steps.
Grasshopper sliders often represent time variables—like daylight hours or structural movement—yet exporting them as static geometry loses time context. 4d.io allows you to bake time-based logic directly: sliders become keyframe parameters with defined ranges and easing curves. This keeps parametric intent intact while enabling simulation playback synced to real-world time.
Using the API, designers can define how time interacts with parametric dependencies—like applying linear interpolation for daily sun paths or sine curves for tidal changes. Solver constraints (e.g., joint limits or geometric continuity) are preserved as constraints during simulation steps, ensuring physically plausible transitions without manual correction.
For iterative reviews, teams modify Grasshopper timelines directly, then push updates to 4d.io to regenerate simulation segments. Changes propagate into the browser view instantly, and reviewers see how parametric adjustments affect timing and outcomes side by side. No intermediate baking or geometry export disrupts the workflow.
