Robustness in solid modeling - a tolerance based, intuitionistic approach

Journal ArticleThis paper presents a new robustness method for geometric modeling operations. It computes geometric relations from the tolerances defined for geometric objects and dynamically updates the tolerances to preserve the properties of the relations, using an intuitionistic self-validation approach. Geometric algorithms using this approach are proved to be robust. A robust Boolean set operation algorithm using this robustness approach has been implemented and test examples are described in this paper as well

Solid reconstruction using recognition of quadric surfaces from orthographic views

International audienceThe reconstruction of 3D objects from 2D orthographic views is crucial for maintaining and further developing existing product designs. A B-rep oriented method for reconstructing curved objects from three orthographic views is presented by employing a hybrid wire-frame in place of an intermediate wire-frame. The Link-Relation Graph (LRG) is introduced as a multi-graph representation of orthographic views, and quadric surface features (QSFs) are defined by special basic patterns of LRG as well as aggregation rules. By hint-based pattern matching in the LRGs of three orthographic views in an order of priority, the corresponding QSFs are recognized, and the geometry and topology of quadric surfaces are recovered simultaneously. This method can handle objects with interacting quadric surfaces and avoids the combinatorial search for tracing all the quadric surfaces in an intermediate wire-frame by the existing methods. Several examples are provided

Signature Sequence of Intersection Curve of Two Quadrics for Exact Morphological Classification

We present an efficient method for classifying the morphology of the intersection curve of two quadrics (QSIC) in PR3, 3D real projective space; here, the term morphology is used in a broad sense to mean the shape, topological, and algebraic properties of a QSIC, including singularity, reducibility, the number of connected components, and the degree of each irreducible component, etc. There are in total 35 different QSIC morphologies with non-degenerate quadric pencils. For each of these 35 QSIC morphologies, through a detailed study of the eigenvalue curve and the index function jump we establish a characterizing algebraic condition expressed in terms of the Segre characteristics and the signature sequence of a quadric pencil. We show how to compute a signature sequence with rational arithmetic so as to determine the morphology of the intersection curve of any two given quadrics. Two immediate applications of our results are the robust topological classification of QSIC in computing B-rep surface representation in solid modeling and the derivation of algebraic conditions for collision detection of quadric primitives

New properties about the intersection of rotational quadratic surfaces and their applications in Architecture

A graphic conjecture is presented based on a singular property stated by Archimedes [287-212 B.C.] in his work On Conoids and Spheroids. This ancient text constitutes the starting argument for graphic research that has revealed an unknown property regarding the intersection of rotational quadratic surfaces which they share one of their foci. This article shows the heuristic geometric reasoning carried out stemming from Archimedes’ text transcriptions and a conjecture that can be deduced when the initial property is generalised for the rest of the quadratic surfaces. Moreover, an explanation is offered for the possibilities of this property to be used for the discretisation of architectural surfaces through the use of parametric design and digital fabrication

Robust boolean set operations for manifold solids bounded by planar and natural quadric surfaces

Journal ArticleThis paper describes our latest effort in robust solid modeling. An algorithm for set operations on solids bounded by planar and natural quadric surfaces, that handles all geometrically degenerate cases robustly, is described. We identify as the main reason for the lack of robustness in geometric modeling, that dependent relations are handled inconsistently by disregarding the dependencies. Instead of using explicit reasoning to make dependent decisions consistent, we show that redundant computation can be avoided by correctly ordering the operations, and redundant data can be eliminated in the set operation algorithm, so that the result is guaranteed to be a valid two-manifold solid

Tele-Autonomous control involving contact

Object localization and its application in tele-autonomous systems are studied. Two object localization algorithms are presented together with the methods of extracting several important types of object features. The first algorithm is based on line-segment to line-segment matching. Line range sensors are used to extract line-segment features from an object. The extracted features are matched to corresponding model features to compute the location of the object. The inputs of the second algorithm are not limited only to the line features. Featured points (point to point matching) and featured unit direction vectors (vector to vector matching) can also be used as the inputs of the algorithm, and there is no upper limit on the number of the features inputed. The algorithm will allow the use of redundant features to find a better solution. The algorithm uses dual number quaternions to represent the position and orientation of an object and uses the least squares optimization method to find an optimal solution for the object's location. The advantage of using this representation is that the method solves for the location estimation by minimizing a single cost function associated with the sum of the orientation and position errors and thus has a better performance on the estimation, both in accuracy and speed, than that of other similar algorithms. The difficulties when the operator is controlling a remote robot to perform manipulation tasks are also discussed. The main problems facing the operator are time delays on the signal transmission and the uncertainties of the remote environment. How object localization techniques can be used together with other techniques such as predictor display and time desynchronization to help to overcome these difficulties are then discussed

Complete Classification and Efficient Determination of Arrangements Formed by Two Ellipsoids

International audienceArrangements of geometric objects refer to the spatial partitions formed by the objects and they serve as an underlining structure of motion design, analysis and planning in CAD/CAM, robotics, molecular modeling, manufacturing and computer-assisted radio-surgery. Arrangements are especially useful to collision detection, which is a key task in various applications such as computer animation , virtual reality, computer games, robotics, CAD/CAM and computational physics. Ellipsoids are commonly used as bounding volumes in approximating complex geometric objects in collision detection. In this paper we present an in-depth study on the arrangements formed by two ellipsoids. Specifically, we present a classification of these arrangements and propose an efficient algorithm for determining the arrangement formed by any particular pair of ellipsoids. A stratification diagram is also established to show the connections among all the arrangements formed by two ellipsoids. Our results for the first time elucidate all possible relative positions between two arbitrary ellipsoids and provides an efficient and robust algorithm for determining the relative position of any two given ellipsoids, therefore providing the necessary foundation for developing practical and trustworthy methods for processing ellipsoids for collision analysis or simulation in various applications

Continuous collision detection for ellipsoids

We present an accurate and efficient algorithm for continuous collision detection between two moving ellipsoids. We start with a highly optimized implementation of interference testing between two stationary ellipsoids based on an algebraic condition described in terms of the signs of roots of the characteristic equation of two ellipsoids. Then we derive a time-dependent characteristic equation for two moving ellipsoids, which enables us to develop a real-time algorithm for computing the time intervals in which two moving ellipsoids collide. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated with several practical examples. © 2006 IEEE.published_or_final_versio