Create Simulated Aeronautics Mod

Create Simulated Project (Aeronautics)

Skill by ara.so — Daily 2026 Skills collection.

What Is This Project?

The Simulated Project is a suite of NeoForge Minecraft mods that extend the Create mod with real-time physics-based contraptions. It consists of three interconnected mods:

Physics simulation is powered by Sable, a custom rigid-body physics engine built for Minecraft contraptions.

Installation (Player/Server)

Modrinth (Recommended)

1. Download from modrinth.com/project/create-aeronautics
2. Place the JAR(s) in your mods/ folder alongside dependencies

Required Dependencies

• NeoForge (matching the mod's target Minecraft version)
• Create mod (matching version)
• Sable physics library

Recommended Launcher

Use Modrinth App or Prism Launcher for dependency resolution.

Developer Setup (Building from Source)

Clone & Build

git clone https://github.com/Creators-of-Aeronautics/Simulated-Project.git
cd Simulated-Project
./gradlew build

Run in Dev Environment

# Start a development client
./gradlew runClient

# Start a development server
./gradlew runServer

# Generate IDE run configurations (IntelliJ)
./gradlew genIntellijRuns

Project Structure

Simulated-Project/
├── simulated/          # Core mod — assembly, physics API
├── aeronautics/        # Flying contraptions submod
├── offroad/            # Land vehicle submod
├── common/             # Shared utilities across submods
└── build.gradle        # Multi-project Gradle build

Core Concepts

1. Simulated Contraptions

Unlike vanilla Create contraptions (which move block-by-block along tracks), Simulated contraptions are assembled into physics objects with:

• Mass derived from block composition
• Moment of inertia for rotation
• Forces applied by thrusters, propellers, wheels

2. Assembly

Players assemble a contraption using a designated assembly block (similar to Create's mechanical bearing). Once assembled, the structure becomes a rigid physics body managed by Sable.

3. Force Providers

Blocks that apply forces to assembled contraptions:

• PropellerBlock — directional thrust (Aeronautics)
• HotAirBlock — upward buoyancy (Aeronautics)
• LevitationRockBlock — magical lift (Aeronautics)
• WheelBlock — ground traction and propulsion (Offroad)

Key API — Create Simulated Core

Registering a Custom Force Provider

import com.simulated.api.force.IForceProvider;
import com.simulated.api.contraption.SimulatedContraption;
import net.minecraft.core.BlockPos;
import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
import org.joml.Vector3f;

public class MyThrusterBlock extends Block implements IForceProvider {

    public MyThrusterBlock(Properties properties) {
        super(properties);
    }

    @Override
    public Vector3f getForce(SimulatedContraption contraption, BlockPos localPos, Level level) {
        // Return force vector in world space (Newtons equivalent)
        // Positive Y = upward lift, positive Z = forward thrust
        float thrustMagnitude = 500.0f;
        return new Vector3f(0, 0, thrustMagnitude);
    }

    @Override
    public Vector3f getTorque(SimulatedContraption contraption, BlockPos localPos, Level level) {
        // Torque applied around center of mass (optional)
        return new Vector3f(0, 0, 0);
    }
}

Registering Your Block with NeoForge

import net.neoforged.bus.api.IEventBus;
import net.neoforged.neoforge.registries.DeferredRegister;
import net.minecraft.core.registries.BuiltInRegistries;
import net.minecraft.world.level.block.Block;
import net.neoforged.neoforge.registries.DeferredHolder;

public class MyModBlocks {

    public static final DeferredRegister<Block> BLOCKS =
        DeferredRegister.create(BuiltInRegistries.BLOCK, "mymod");

    public static final DeferredHolder<Block, MyThrusterBlock> MY_THRUSTER =
        BLOCKS.register("my_thruster", () -> new MyThrusterBlock(
            Block.Properties.of().strength(2.0f)
        ));

    public static void register(IEventBus eventBus) {
        BLOCKS.register(eventBus);
    }
}

Accessing a SimulatedContraption at Runtime

import com.simulated.api.contraption.SimulatedContraption;
import com.simulated.api.contraption.SimulatedContraptionHandler;
import net.minecraft.world.entity.Entity;
import net.minecraft.world.level.Level;
import net.minecraft.world.phys.Vec3;

public class ContraptionUtils {

    /**
     * Get the simulated contraption an entity is riding, if any.
     */
    public static SimulatedContraption getRiddenContraption(Entity entity) {
        return SimulatedContraptionHandler.getContraptionForEntity(entity);
    }

    /**
     * Apply an impulse to a contraption's physics body directly.
     */
    public static void applyImpulse(SimulatedContraption contraption, Vec3 impulse) {
        contraption.getPhysicsBody().applyImpulse(
            new org.joml.Vector3f(
                (float) impulse.x,
                (float) impulse.y,
                (float) impulse.z
            )
        );
    }
}

Listening to Contraption Assembly Events

import com.simulated.api.event.ContraptionAssembleEvent;
import com.simulated.api.event.ContraptionDisassembleEvent;
import net.neoforged.bus.api.SubscribeEvent;
import net.neoforged.fml.common.EventBusSubscriber;

@EventBusSubscriber(modid = "mymod")
public class ContraptionEventHandler {

    @SubscribeEvent
    public static void onAssemble(ContraptionAssembleEvent event) {
        SimulatedContraption contraption = event.getContraption();
        // e.g., calculate custom mass modifier
        float customMass = contraption.getMass() * 0.8f;
        contraption.setMassOverride(customMass);

        System.out.println("Contraption assembled with " +
            contraption.getBlocks().size() + " blocks.");
    }

    @SubscribeEvent
    public static void onDisassemble(ContraptionDisassembleEvent event) {
        // Cleanup any custom data attached to this contraption
        MyContraptionData.remove(event.getContraption().getId());
    }
}

Aeronautics — Flight Mechanics

Propeller Configuration (In-Game)

Propellers are directional. Place them facing the direction you want thrust:

• Facing down → upward lift
• Facing back → forward thrust
• Speed (RPM) fed by Create's rotational network controls thrust magnitude

Hot Air Balloon

1. Place Balloon Canvas blocks in a dome shape above a heat source
2. Connect a Blaze Burner below the opening
3. Assemble — the trapped hot air provides buoyancy proportional to enclosed volume

Levitation Rock

• Rare ore providing passive vertical lift
• Useful for lighter-than-air vessels needing no fuel

Flight Control Pattern

// Example: Redstone-controlled pitch adjustment via a custom block entity
public class FlightControllerBlockEntity extends BlockEntity {

    public FlightControllerBlockEntity(BlockPos pos, BlockState state) {
        super(MyModBlockEntities.FLIGHT_CONTROLLER.get(), pos, state);
    }

    public void applyPitchInput(SimulatedContraption contraption, float pitchDelta) {
        // Torque around the X-axis to pitch the vehicle
        org.joml.Vector3f torque = new org.joml.Vector3f(pitchDelta * 100f, 0, 0);
        contraption.getPhysicsBody().applyTorqueImpulse(torque);
    }
}

Offroad — Land Vehicles

Wheel Setup