Interactive, Computation Assisted Design Tools

Realistic modeling, rendering, and animation of physical and virtual shapes have matured significantly over the last few decades. Yet, the creation and subsequent modeling of three-dimensional shapes remains a tedious task which requires not only artistic and creative talent, but also significant technical skill. The perfection witnessed in computer-generated feature films requires extensive manual processing and touch-ups. Every researcher working in graphics and related fields has likely experienced the difficulty of creating even a moderate-quality 3D model, whether based on a mental concept, a hand sketch, or inspirations from one or more photographs or existing 3D designs. This situation, frequently referred to as the content creation bottleneck, is arguably the major obstacle to making computer graphics as ubiquitous as it could be. Classical modeling techniques have primarily dealt with local or low-level geometric entities (e.g., points or triangles) and criteria (e.g., smoothness or detail preservation), lacking the freedom necessary to produce novel and creative content. A major unresolved challenge towards a new unhindered design paradigm is how to support the design process to create visually pleasing and yet functional objects by users who lack specialized skills and training. Most of the existing geometric modeling tools are intended either for use by experts (e.g., computer-aided design [CAD] systems) or for modeling objects whose visual aspects are the only consideration (e.g., computer graphics modeling systems). Furthermore, rapid prototyping, brought on by technological advances 3D printing has drastically altered production and consumption practices. These technologies empower individuals to design and produce original objects, customized according to their own needs. Thus, a new generation of design tools is needed to support both the creation of designs within the domain's constraints, that not only allows capturing the novice user's design intent but also meets the fabrication constraints such that the designs can be realized with minimal tweaking by experts. To fill this void, the premise of this thesis relies on the following two tenets: 1. users benefit from an interactive design environment that allows novice users to continuously explore a design space and immediately see the tradeoffs of their design choices. 2. the machine's processing power is used to assist and guide the user to maintain constraints imposed by the problem domain (e.g., fabrication/material constraints) as well as help the user in exploring feasible solutions close to their design intent. Finding the appropriate balance between interactive design tools and the computation needed for productive workflows is the problem addressed by this thesis. This thesis makes the following contributions: 1. We take a close look at thin shells--materials that have a thickness significantly smaller than other dimensions. Towards the goal of achieving interactive and controllable simulations we realize a particular geometric insight to develop an efficient bending model for the simulation of thin shells. Under isometric deformations (deformations that undergo little to no stretching), we can reduce the nonlinear bending energy into a cubic polynomial that has a linear Hessian. This linear Hessian can be further approximated with a constant one, providing significant speedups during simulation. We also build upon this simple bending model and show how orthotropic materials can be modeled and simulated efficiently. 2. We study the theory of Chebyshev nets--a geometric model of woven materials using a two-dimensional net composed of inextensible yarns. The theory of Chebyshev nets sheds some light on their limitations in globally covering a target surface. As it turns out, Chebyshev nets are a good geometric model for wire meshes, free-form surfaces composed of woven wires arranged in a regular grid. In the context of designing sculptures with wire mesh, we rely on the mathematical theory laid out by Hazzidakis~\cite{Hazzidakis1879} to determine an artistically driven workflow for approximately covering a target surface with a wire mesh, while globally maintaining material and fabrication constraints. This alleviates the user from worrying about feasibility and allows focus on design. 3. Finally, we present a practical design tool for the design and exploration of reconfigurables, defined as an object or collection of objects whose transformation between various states defines its functionality or aesthetic appeal (e.g., a mechanical assembly composed of interlocking pieces, a transforming folding bicycle, or a space-saving arrangement of apartment furniture). A novel space-time collision detection and response technique is presented that can be used to create an interactive workflow for managing and designing objects with various states. This work also considers a graph-based timeline during the design process instead of the traditional linear timeline and shows its many benefits as well as challenges for the design of reconfigurables

Reduction of connections for multibus organization

The multibus interconnection network is an attractive solution for connecting processors and memory modules in a multiprocessor with shared memory. It provides a throughput which is intermediate between the single bus and the crossbar, with a corresponding intermediate cost.Postprint (published version

Computational design of steady 3D dissection puzzles

Dissection puzzles require assembling a common set of pieces into multiple distinct forms. Existing works focus on creating 2D dissection puzzles that form primitive or naturalistic shapes. Unlike 2D dissection puzzles that could be supported on a tabletop surface, 3D dissection puzzles are preferable to be steady by themselves for each assembly form. In this work, we aim at computationally designing steady 3D dissection puzzles. We address this challenging problem with three key contributions. First, we take two voxelized shapes as inputs and dissect them into a common set of puzzle pieces, during which we allow slightly modifying the input shapes, preferably on their internal volume, to preserve the external appearance. Second, we formulate a formal model of generalized interlocking for connecting pieces into a steady assembly using both their geometric arrangements and friction. Third, we modify the geometry of each dissected puzzle piece based on the formal model such that each assembly form is steady accordingly. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on a wide variety of shapes, compare it with the state-of-the-art on 2D and 3D examples, and fabricate some of our designed puzzles to validate their steadiness

Modelado y simulación de células de fabricación reconfigurables

El presente trabajo fin de grado se centra en el desarrollo de modelos de programación lineal para la agrupación de células y la carga de un sistema de fabricación reconfigurable. En la primera parte del mismo se plantearán y resolverán dos modelos matemáticos sobre un sistema teórico con la ayuda de la herramienta LINGO en su versión 9. El primer modelo dará solución al problema de formación de células, minimizando las máquinas ociosas, y el segundo modelo dará solución al problema de carga de las mismas, con el objetivo de minimizar costes, consumo de mano de obra y consumo de energía, y conseguir cierto equilibrio entre máquinas, células y periodos de planificación. Posteriormente se diseñará y ejecutará una simulación con el software ARENA 7.0, donde se evaluarán diferentes escenarios. El fin de dicha simulación será la de completar y validar los resultados obtenidos del problema matemático. Los datos se recopilan del artículo “Cell design and multi-period machine loading in cellular reconfigurable manufacturing systems with alternative routing” (Eguía et al. 2017)Universidad de Sevilla. Grado en Ingeniería de Organización Industria

Context Aware Adaptable Applications - A global approach

Actual applications (mostly component based) requirements cannot be expressed without a ubiquitous and mobile part for end-users as well as for M2M applications (Machine to Machine). Such an evolution implies context management in order to evaluate the consequences of the mobility and corresponding mechanisms to adapt or to be adapted to the new environment. Applications are then qualified as context aware applications. This first part of this paper presents an overview of context and its management by application adaptation. This part starts by a definition and proposes a model for the context. It also presents various techniques to adapt applications to the context: from self-adaptation to supervised approached. The second part is an overview of architectures for adaptable applications. It focuses on platforms based solutions and shows information flows between application, platform and context. Finally it makes a synthesis proposition with a platform for adaptable context-aware applications called Kalimucho. Then we present implementations tools for software components and a dataflow models in order to implement the Kalimucho platform

Arquitectura de Alto Rendimiento para el Cálculo de la DCT

En este trabajo se han revisado los principales métodos de cálculo de la Transformada Discreta del Coseno y sus implementaciones. A partir de esta información se ha propuesto una arquitectura de cálculo de alto rendimiento que pone en práctica técnicas de aritmética de computadores en el desarrollo de operadores para crear una estructura compacta que calcula la transformada a partir de su formulación directa. Se ha implementado y simulado el funcionamiento de la arquitectura propuesta en tarjetas reconfigurables para el Procesamiento de señales digitales, para evaluar su rendimiento en términos de área, retardo y potencia consumida. Además, se ha calculado su rendimiento con un modelo homogéneo e independiente de la tecnología de implementación con el propósito de comparar sus prestaciones con las de otras técnicas conocidas

Códigos Reed Solomon para Sistemas Distribuidos de Energías Renovables y Smart Grids a través de Dispositivos Electrónicos Inteligentes sobre Tecnología FPGA

This research presents the design of the Reed Solomon codes oriented to their implementation on FPGAs - Intelligent Electronic Devices in VHDL, for the control and communication system of Distributed Systems of Renewable Energies and Smart Grids. This allows us to build a dynamic reconfiguration model of the network, facilitating the adaptation of the energy conversion and distribution system to environmental conditions and the demand for electricity. The design method consists in the definition of the architecture, in hardware description language, for the dynamic configuration of remote control and communication terminals, in order to facilitate the intelligent coupling of network components and the incorporation of various sources. The results show the distributed control scheme, the description of the support for the IEDs, the general neural model, the report of synthesis and behavior of a Reed Solomon code (n, k), defined for the transmission of parameters of the Smart equipment. Grids In this way, areconfigurable model for the application of intelligent devices in the management of the reconfigurable electrical network is provided, opening a space for research on energy efficiency.Esta investigación presenta el diseño de los códigos Reed Solomon orientados a su implementación sobre FPGAs, para el sistema de control y comunicación de Sistemas Distribuidos de Energías Renovables y Smart Grids. Esto nos permite construir un modelo de red eléctrica con capacidad de reconfiguración dinámica, facilitando la adaptación del sistema de conversión y distribución de energía a las condiciones del entorno y la demanda de electricidad. El método de diseño consiste en la definición de la arquitectura, en lenguaje de descripción de hardware, para la configuración dinámica de terminales remotos, a fin facilitar el acoplamiento inteligente de componentes de red y la diversificación de fuentes de energías para la migración hacia sistemas de potencia carbon-free. Los resultados muestran el esquema de control distribuido, la descripción VHDL para configuración de módulos en los dispositivos electrónicos inteligentes – IEDs, el modelo neuronal general, el reporte de síntesis y comportamiento de un código Reed Solomon, definido para la transmisión de parámetros del equipo de las Smart Grids. De esta forma, se proporciona un modelo reconfigurable para la aplicación de dispositivos inteligentes en la gestión de la red eléctrica reconfigurable, abriendo un espacio para la investigación sobre la eficiencia energética. Se logra así una propuesta de innovación científica que integra aplicaciones tecnológicas prácticas y modelo lógico-matemático, basado en operadores de concatenación realimentada – LFCS (n,k), para el soporte de funciones de control y comunicación, que ofrecen grandes bondades al área de sistemas distribuidos de energías renovables

Propuesta y análisis de manipulador paralelo reconfigurable

En este trabajo se propone y analiza un manipulador paralelo reconfigurable (MPR) concreto, que puede ser usado como mecanismo para la impresión 3D u operaciones de mecanizado. Un MPR es un tipo de robot que presenta una serie de ventajas, como mayor rigidez por ser paralelo y mayor flexibilidad al entorno de trabajo por ser reconfigurable. El análisis se realiza mediante un software cinemático llamado GIM, en el cual se pueden secuenciar movimientos y obtener datos cinemáticos de interés. El objetivo principal del trabajo es mostrar la movilidad y capacidad de reconfiguración del manipulador propuesto, de modo que queden bien definidas las características más importantes del mismo.Lan honetan mekanizatu operazioak eta 3D imprimagailu egiteko erabili ahal den manipuladore paralelo birkonfiguragarri (MPB) bat proposatzen eta aztertzen da. MPB abantail batzuk dituen robot mota bat da. Adibidez, zurruntasuna paralelo izateagatik edo ingurumen batera egokitzeko gaitasun gehiago birkonfiguragarri izateagatik. Manipuladorearen analisia GIM software zinematikoan egiten da. Software honetan mugimenduak sekuentziatu ahal dira eta datu zinematiko interesgarri lortu. Lanaren helburu nagusia MPBaren mugikortasun eta birkonfiguratzeko ahalmena frogatzea da. Modu honetan argi geratzen dira manipuladorearen ezaugarri garrantzitsuenak.In this work it is proposed and analyzed a parallel reconfigurable manipulator (PRM) which presents some advantages for certain op erations, such as 3D print or CNC machine tool. A PRM is a specific kind of robot, which presents some key advantajes, such as rigidity for being parallel and flexibility to the work environment for being reconfigurable. The analysis of the manipulator is done with a kinematic software called GIM, in which there can be sequenced movements and obtain kinematic data of interest. The main objective of the work is to show the mobility and reconfiguration capacity of the proposed manipulator. This way, the most important characteristics of the PRM will be well defined