QUESTIONS
(1) Does the COLLADA format support character animations like cal3d or rbody? (2) Can I use a tool such as 3D Studio Max, or Blender, or Maya to export COLLADA models?
(3) Can I then load those models into osgviewer?
(4) If so, what kind of control do you have over the animations? Can you do any animation blending?
(5) Where can I get information on this myself?
Thanks a lot!
Yes, COLLADA has support for skeleton and skin characters.
(2) Can I use a tool such as 3D Studio Max, or Blender, or Maya to export COLLADA models?
Yes (not yet with Blender AFAIK)
(3) Can I then load those models into osgviewer?
Only if more work is done on the COLLADA plug-in for Open Scene Graph to add skin/mesh support (and only if OSG has support for this feature)
(4) If so, what kind of control do you have over the animations? Can you do any animation blending?
COLLADA does support rigid body physics with constrained joints. It also has support for key-frame animation, morphing.
I do not know what OSG has support for.
(5) Where can I get information on this myself?
The COLLADA specification.
The COLLADA bool.
The Feeling Software Max and Maya plug-in information.
The Open Scene Graph website.
A few more:
pdf presentation about the 1.4.1 import/export provided at SigGraph 2006.
The OpenSceneGraph thread on collada.org.
Thanks a lot!
You are welcome !