Drag curve like a snake moves ..?

[highend3djojan-]

How can v "drag" a fixed-length curve along the moving path of an object? I mean a snake-like motion of curve, not just move.

[joojaa]

Ok just remeber that, the drag is a simulation so you MUST bake it before you send it to render because it gets different outcome form different positions*.  Just lock curve length and bind the first vertex to a locator that you then constrain to the object.

Tough its easier to do witha hair curve. Also if you just want a trail its easier to take it form a trail curve.

*and put it back to original position in frame one.

[senex]

Depends,
if the "snake-curve" is NOT weighted to joints (or influenced by any other deformers), you may be able to achieve the effect you're after with a "Wave Deformer". (under Animation / Create Deformers / Nonlinear > Wave) Just drag the deformer, or scroll the Offset attribute, to have the mesh (or Curve) deform.

If your mesh's deformation is already influenced by skinned weights (i.e. joints);
create your curve path, then geometry constraint the joints (or relevant control nodes) to the curve.

Hope this helps.
-ΦZ

[joojaa]

Ah yes the undulation is easy to do just make a second curve that is warped/curve defromed by the first curve and sine that.

if the "snake-curve" is NOT weighted to joints (or influenced by any other deformers),

why would that matter one way or another? you CAN stack deformers. just as long as sine comes frst in chain does not matter much, especially if you make it indirect.

PS: snakes have 4 modes of locomotion which one do you refeer to.

[highend3djojan-]

mm.. done somethin by using motion path (uValue=1 always), flow path object, draggerContext, appending new vertex at mouse position (on releaseCommand), deleting first vertex at other end, blah blah.. hope u got it.

and, u told to "lock curve length". But How?

[sqrlcub]

I think there's a sine wave option under the animation deformers menu that will do similar to what you want as well.