Stylistic control of ocean water simulations

This thesis presents a new method for controlling the look of an ocean water simulation for the purpose of creating cartoon-styled fluid animations. Two popular techniques to simulate fluid, a statistical height field method via the Fast Fourier Transform and the Stable Fluid method for dynamic effects, are connected smoothly via a blend domain, thus allowing a height field to drive a physical simulation. In addition, the height field can be stylized by utilizing a keyframing technique on wave amplitudes defined in the Fourier domain, allowing for creative control of the fluid’s surface. Such stylized height fields therefore can be simulated to exhibit natural fluid motion as well as to produce dynamic effects such as breaking waves that were previously unattainable in common fluid pipelines

The meaning of milk

On milk's many abstractions and derivative

Distance based heterogeneous volume modelling.

Natural objects, such as bones and watermelons, often have a heterogeneous composition and complex internal structures. Material properties inside the object can change abruptly or gradually, and representing such changes digitally can be problematic. Attribute functions represent physical properties distribution in the volumetric object. Modelling complex attributes within a volume is a complex task. There are several approaches to modelling attributes, but distance functions have gained popularity for heterogeneous object modelling because, in addition to their usefulness, they lead to predictability and intuitiveness. In this thesis, we consider a unified framework for heterogeneous volume modelling, specifically using distance fields. In particular, we tackle various issues associated with them such as the interpolation of volumetric attributes through time for shape transformation and intuitive and predictable interpolation of attributes inside a shape. To achieve these results, we rely on smooth approximate distance fields and interior distances. This thesis deals with outstanding issues in heterogeneous object modelling, and more specifically in modelling functionally graded materials and structures using different types of distances and approximation thereof. We demonstrate the benefits of heterogeneous volume modelling using smooth approximate distance fields with various applications, such as adaptive microstructures, morphological shape generation, shape driven interpolation of material properties through time and shape conforming interpolation of properties. Distance based modelling of attributes allows us to have a better parametrization of the object volume and design gradient properties across an object. This becomes more important nowadays with the growing interest in rapid prototyping and digital fabrication of heterogeneous objects and can find practical applications in different industries

Physical and chemical sensing applications of polypyrrole-coated foams

We live in a world of information, and emerging technologies, which compel us to look for new ways to collect, process, and distribute information. Today we are faced with an information overload problem as users struggle to locate the right information in the right way at the right time. In my view this is an “overload” of trivial information coupled with a gap in access to important information. Digitization of information and communications has seen the rise and rise of computers to a now ubiquitous position in our society. However, the problem remains as to how to merge the digital world with sensing, and respond to changes in the real world. Ubiquitous information systems are needed that will automatically sense and importantly, respond to changes in their environment and usage in order to deliver a more intelligent, proactive and personalized information service. These systems may be wearable, enabling them to disappear into our personal space, enhancing rather than burdening our daily activities. Conventional sensors are generally unsuitable for wearable body monitoring devices either due to their physical structure or their functional requirements. This thesis examines this area of wearable sensors, detailing the development and characterisation of novel sensing materials and outlines their performance in various on-body monitoring applications

Calibration Instrumentation for the Hydrogen Intensity and Real-Time Analysis eXperiment

The Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment (HIRAX) is a 21 cm neutral hydrogen intensity mapping experiment to be deployed in the Karoo Desert in South Africa. It aims to improve constraints on the dark energy equation of state through measurements of large-scale structure at high redshift, while doubling as a state-of-the-art fast radio burst (FRB) detector. This dissertation focuses on two aspects of the HIRAX instrument characterization: (1) optimizing the signal-to-noise of antennas, through the design and implementation of a custom test-bed for determining the noise temperature of radio antennas operating between 400-800MHz, and (2) mapping the HIRAX telescope beam pattern with a custom drone calibration system. The work described is critical to HIRAX\u27s development, both by informing final antenna design and providing the tools to generate beam maps that will factor into all cosmological analysis

A survey on personal computer applications in industrial design process

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Industrial Design, Izmir, 1999Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 157-162)Text in English, Abstract: Turkish and Englishxii, 194 leavesIn this thesis, computer aided design systems are studied from the industrial designer's point of view. The study includes industrial design processes, computer aided design systems and the integration aspects.The technical issues are priorly studied, including current hardware and software technologies. The pure technical concepts are tried to be supported with real-world examples and graphics. Several important design software are examined, whether by personal practice or by literature research, depending on the availability of the software.Finally, the thesis include a case study, a 17" LCD computer monitor designed with a set of graphic programs including two-dimensional and three-dimensional packages.Keywords: Computers, industrial design methods, design software, computer aided design

Free Words

"FREE WORDS is a book which belongs to whoever finds it. 3000 copies have been produced by artist Sal Randolph and are being distributed free worldwide. The books are placed on the shelves of bookstores and libraries creating an art situation that infiltrates public and commercial space." -- Artist's website

Animating Unpredictable Effects

Uncanny computer-generated animations of splashing waves, billowing smoke clouds, and characters’ flowing hair have become a ubiquitous presence on screens of all types since the 1980s. This Open Access book charts the history of these digital moving images and the software tools that make them. Unpredictable Visual Effects uncovers an institutional and industrial history that saw media industries conducting more private R&D as Cold War federal funding began to wane in the late 1980s. In this context studios and media software companies took concepts used for studying and managing unpredictable systems like markets, weather, and fluids and turned them into tools for animation. Unpredictable Visual Effects theorizes how these animations are part of a paradigm of control evident across society, while at the same time exploring what they can teach us about the relationship between making and knowing