A unified Pythagorean hodograph approach to the medial axis transform and offset approximation

AbstractAlgorithms based on Pythagorean hodographs (PH) in the Euclidean plane and in Minkowski space share common goals, the main one being rationality of offsets of planar domains. However, only separate interpolation techniques based on these curves can be found in the literature. It was recently revealed that rational PH curves in the Euclidean plane and in Minkowski space are very closely related. In this paper, we continue the discussion of the interplay between spatial MPH curves and their associated planar PH curves from the point of view of Hermite interpolation. On the basis of this approach we design a new, simple interpolation algorithm. The main advantage of the unifying method presented lies in the fact that it uses, after only some simple additional computations, an arbitrary algorithm for interpolation using planar PH curves also for interpolation using spatial MPH curves. We present the functionality of our method for G1 Hermite data; however, one could also obtain higher order algorithms

Construction and evaluation of PH curves in exponential-polynomial spaces

In the past few decades polynomial curves with Pythagorean Hodograph (for short PH curves) have received considerable attention due to their usefulness in various CAD/CAM areas, manufacturing, numerical control machining and robotics. This work deals with classes of PH curves built-upon exponential-polynomial spaces (for short EPH curves). In particular, for the two most frequently encountered exponential-polynomial spaces, we first provide necessary and sufficient conditions to be satisfied by the control polygon of the B\'{e}zier-like curve in order to fulfill the PH property. Then, for such EPH curves, fundamental characteristics like parametric speed or cumulative and total arc length are discussed to show the interesting analogies with their well-known polynomial counterparts. Differences and advantages with respect to ordinary PH curves become commendable when discussing the solutions to application problems like the interpolation of first-order Hermite data. Finally, a new evaluation algorithm for EPH curves is proposed and shown to compare favorably with the celebrated de Casteljau-like algorithm and two recently proposed methods: Wo\'zny and Chudy's algorithm and the dynamic evaluation procedure by Yang and Hong

Employing Pythagorean Hodograph curves for artistic patterns

In this paper we present a novel design element creator tool for the digital artist. The purpose of our tool is to support the creation of vines, swirls, swooshes and floral components. To create visually pleasing and gentle curves we employ Pythagorean Hodograph quintic spiral curves to join a hierarchy of control circles defined by the user. The control circles are joined by spiral segments with at least G2 continuity, ensuring smooth and seamless transitions. The control circles give the user a fast and intuitive way to define the desired curve. The resulting curves can be exported as cubic Bezier curves for further use in vector graphics applications

Mapping rational rotation-minimizing frames from polynomial curves on to rational curves

Given a polynomial space curve r(ξ) that has a rational rotation–minimizing frame (an RRMF curve), a methodology is developed to construct families of rational space curves r˜(ξ) with the same rotation–minimizing frame as r(ξ) at corresponding points. The construction employs the dual form of a rational space curve, interpreted as the edge of regression of the envelope of a family of osculating planes, having normals in the direction u(ξ)=r′(ξ)×r″(ξ) and distances from the origin specified in terms of a rational function f(ξ) as f(ξ)/‖u(ξ)‖. An explicit characterization of the rational curves r˜(ξ) generated by a given RRMF curve r(ξ) in this manner is developed, and the problem of matching initial and final points and frames is shown to impose only linear conditions on the coefficients of f(ξ), obviating the non–linear equations (and existence questions) that arise in addressing this problem with the RRMF curve r(ξ). Criteria for identifying low–degree instances of the curves r˜(ξ) are identified, by a cancellation of factors common to their numerators and denominators, and the methodology is illustrated by a number of computed examples