POPX

Shortest Path

v1.3.0
Simulations

Summary

Shortest Path computes the optimal paths between Start Point Group and End Point Group on the path geometry input. The start and end groups reference the path geometry by default. If an Alternate Start/End Point Locations input is connected, the groups are referenced from that input and the solver finds the closest points on the path geometry to those locations, tagging them as start and end points accordingly. Neighbor connectivity can be determined by spatial distance or mesh connectivity, with an optional Cost Attribute to weight traversal costs for more controlled pathfinding.

The solver outputs Line Strips Paths and Path Geometry. Visualization tools allow coloring individual paths, highlighting start/end points, and displaying cost attributes. Use Lock Alternate Start/End Point Locations to freeze path endpoints and avoid recomputation when upstream geometry changes.

Parameters

Start Point GroupStartgroup
Group defining the start points for pathfinding. Sourced from path geometry, or nearest path points to alternate input if connected.
End Point GroupEndgroup
Group defining the end points for pathfinding. Sourced from path geometry, or nearest path points to alternate input if connected.
Cost AttributeCostattrib
Point attribute used as traversal cost weight for pathfinding.
IterationsIterations
Number of solver iterations for path computation.
Neighbors TypeNebrtype
Method for determining point connectivity.
By DistancedistanceConnectedconnected
Max Neighbors DistanceMaxdistance
Maximum search distance for neighbor connections. Enabled when Neighbors Type is By Distance.
Num Hash BucketsNumhashbuckets
Number of hash buckets for spatial neighbor lookups. Enabled when Neighbors Type is By Distance.
Max NeighborsMaxneighbors
Maximum number of neighbors per point.
Display Line Strips PathsDisplaylinestrips
Displays the computed paths as line strips in the viewport.
Display Path GeometryDisplaygeo
Displays the path geometry in the viewport.
Visualize PathsVisualizepaths
Colors each path with a unique color for identification.
Visualization SeedVisualizationseed
Random seed for visualization colors.
Visualize Start/End PointsVisualizestartend
Highlights start and end points in the viewport.
Visualize CostVisualizecost
Visualizes the cost attribute as a color gradient.
Lock Alternate Start/End Point LocationsLockalternate
Locks alternate start and end point locations to prevent recomputation.
Maximum Number of PathsMaxpaths
Maximum number of paths to compute.
Maximum Number of VerticesMaxverts
Maximum number of vertices across all paths.
Copy Topology Info Back to CPUCpureadback
Copies path topology information back to CPU for downstream processing.
Free Extra GPU MemoryFreeextragpumem
Free memory that has accumulated when output memory has grown and shrunk.

Inputs

Input 0POP
Path Geometry
Input 1POP
Alternate Start/End Point Locations

Outputs

Output 0POP
Line Strips Paths
Output 1POP
Path Geometry