2 research outputs found
Design notes on a single board multiprocessor for real-time contour surface display generation
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0097-8493(88)90013-1We present in this study a design for a VLSI multiprocessor capable of generating contour surface displays in real-time (one-thirtieth of a second). We begin by examining an application that requires real-time contour surface display generation. We sketch some outlines for an architecture based on a decomposable algorithm recently published. We then propose an architecture for a single board VLSI contour surface display generator that is pluggable into the Multibus of the Silicon Graphics, Inc. IRIS workstation.VHSIC Program OfficeU.S. Army Combat Developments Experimentation Center, Ford OrdNaval Ocean Systems Center, San Dieg
Isosurface modelling of soft objects in computer graphics.
There are many different modelling techniques used in computer graphics to describe a wide range of objects and phenomena. In this thesis, details of research into the isosurface modelling technique are presented. The
isosurface technique is used in conjunction with more traditional modelling techniques to describe the objects needed in the different scenes of an animation. The isosurface modelling technique allows the description
and animation of objects that would be extremely difficult, or impossible to describe using other methods. The objects suitable for description using isosurface modelling are soft objects. Soft objects merge elegantly with each
other, pull apart, bubble, ripple and exhibit a variety of other effects. The representation was studied in three phases of a computer animation project: modelling of the objects; animation of the objects; and the production of the images. The research clarifies and presents many
algorithms needed to implement the isosurface representation in an animation system. The creation of a hierarchical computer graphics animation system
implementing the isosurface representation is described. The scalar fields defining the isosurfaces are represented using a scalar field description language, created as part of this research, which is automatically generated from the hierarchical description of the scene. This language has many techniques for combining and building the scalar field from a variety of components. Surface attributes of the objects are specified within the graphics system. Techniques are described which allow the handling of
these attributes along with the scalar field calculation. Many animation techniques specific to the isosurface representation are presented. By the conclusion of the research, a graphics system was created which elegantly handles the isosurface representation in a wide variety of
animation situations. This thesis establishes that isosurface modelling of soft objects is a powerful and useful technique which has wide application in the computer graphics community