i-drop is a technology provided by the software manufacturer Autodesk. Using the "drag & drop" function, it enables contents to be imported from the Internet into the software application. For the light simulation, virtual luminaires can be downloaded with the relevant photometric data directly from the website of the luminaire manufacturer and included in the simulation program. The data comprise the 3D geometry, photometry and textures. A luminaire can be "dropped" directly into the required position in the light simulation scene. To align the luminaire automatically with the room surfaces or any surface normal, the "autogrid" function needs to have been previously activated. Using inverse kinematics, the luminaire is aligned with the target of the light source.
i-drop works with programs including VIZ 4 VIZrender, 3ds Max 5 and 6, AutoCAD, and DIALux. System requirement is the Microsoft Internet Explorer and activation of the Active X functions.