Engineering Commons^™

Automatic 3d Human Modeling: An Initial Stage Towards 2-Way Inside Interaction In Mixed Reality, Yiyan Xiong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

3D human models play an important role in computer graphics applications from a wide range of domains, including education, entertainment, medical care simulation and military training. In many situations, we want the 3D model to have a visual appearance that matches that of a specific living person and to be able to be controlled by that person in a natural manner. Among other uses, this approach supports the notion of human surrogacy, where the virtual counterpart provides a remote presence for the human who controls the virtual character's behavior. In this dissertation, a human modeling pipeline is proposed for the …

Modeling And Simulation Of Soft Bodies, Jaruwan Mesit

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As graphics and simulations become more realistic, techniques for approximating soft body objects, that is, non-solid objects such as liquids, gases, and cloth, are becoming increasingly common. The proposed generalized soft body method encompasses some specific cases of other existing models enabling simulation of a variety of soft body materials by parameter adjustment. This research presents a general method of soft body model and simulation in which parameters for body control, surface deformation, volume control, and gravitation, can be adjusted to simulate different types of soft bodies. In this method, the soft body mesh structure maintains configuration among surface points …

Real-Time Cinematic Design Of Visual Aspects In Computer-Generated Images, Juraj Obert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Creation of visually-pleasing images has always been one of the main goals of computer graphics. Two important components are necessary to achieve this goal --- artists who design visual aspects of an image (such as materials or lighting) and sophisticated algorithms that render the image. Traditionally, rendering has been of greater interest to researchers, while the design part has always been deemed as secondary. This has led to many inefficiencies, as artists, in order to create a stunning image, are often forced to resort to the traditional, creativity-baring, pipelines consisting of repeated rendering and parameter tweaking. Our work shifts the …

A Computer Graphics Head-Up Display For Air-To-Air And Air-To-Ground Flight Simulation, Daryl R. Mair

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A computer graphics simulation of an aircraft Head-Up Display was designed using an RDS-3000 Ikonas Graphics Processor and a PDP-11/34 host computer system. The software control and display modules were accomplished using Ikonas microcode and Digital Equipment Corporation Fortran IV-PLUS. The Head-Up Display system consists of the basic flight data, which includes aerodynamic flight information, Roll/Pitch Ladder, and the Velocity Vector or Flight Path Marker. The system was designed for flexibility in modifications and evaluation of various weapons delivery systems. These will be adapted to specific needs by research scientists and engineers at the Visual Technology Research Simulator in Orlando, …

An Interactive Training Device Using A Laser Video Disc, Mary C. Bertrand

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this paper is to develop an interactive training system. Although the system developed was used to train tank gunners, the system concepts are generic in that they can be applied to many training scenarios. Applications of computer-based training systems are briefly discussed. The system concepts are defined and hardware and software subsystems are outlined. An architectural overview will precede a detailed discussion of subsystems.

Display Format Development Station, Paul A. Valentine

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An interactive Display Format Development Station (DFDS) was created to generate, modify, and document static background graphic displays for use in process control and monitoring environments. The purpose of the system is to organize and simplify the display generation process in order to reduce the costs associated with this activity. A review of the display generation process was done in order to identify the types of graphics constructs needed to generate the graphics display screens. Since the system uses an interactive process to generate the displays, the human interface software was developed to take advantage of various user friendly methods …

Survey Of Texture And Shading Techniques For Visual Flight Simulation, Walter R. Steiner

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Shading and texturing are two techniques that flight simulators can take advantage of to increase scene realism. Shading imitates the effects of light reflecting from a surface. Texture refers to superimposing a pattern on a surface to give the illusion of extra detail and realism.

In this report, several techniques for shading and texturing are evaluated with respect to their applicability to visual flight simulators.

The image quality produced by shading and texturing is a function of computation cost. The Phong model is found to produce the most realistic shading, but is too computationally expensive. The Gouraud shading model improves …

A High Level Programming Language And Graphics Simulator For The Heathkit Et-18 Hero Robot, Kenneth J. Sizemore

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

As modern industrial robots are used more in industry, the need for qualified programmers and operators will increase. Inexpensive robots are available for use as training systems, but these robots typically lack the high level tools, such as high level, languages and graphics simulators, that are available for the industrial robots. A high level programming language and a graphics simulator were developed for one of these training robots, the Heath ET-18 Hero Robot. The programs were designed to be executed on an IBM Personal Computer. The software was developed as part of an overall system which also includes a compiler …

Graphic Display Of Geographic Spatial Data, Jill G. Ashby

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This project developed computer graphics to display spatial and statistical data in a functional, appropriate and articulate manner. The spatial data creates mapping of Orange County focusing on traffic zones. The graphs display statistical data projecting from spatial areas presented in a simple form. The graphs produced by the system are geared towards an audience involved with transportation and planning decisions for Orange County. The graphics employ population, income, number of dwelling units, trip generation and trip production data based upon the 1980 census. The population, income, and number of dwelling unites statistics include predictions for 1985 through 2005 in …

Interactive Computer Aided Design And Animation Of Spatial Mechanisms, Emmet B. Peter

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The synthesis of planar and spatial mechanisms is often accomplished by either trial and error supplemented by computer analysis or by specific analytical techniques in the literature. In either case it is extremely helpful to be able to visualize a physical design as it emerges, and to see a graphic display of it in animated motion. This paper describes the development of a general interactive program for both analyzing and viewing a spatial 4-bar (RSSR) mechanism in animated motion. The analysis provides complete position, velocity, and acceleration information and, for the special case of the planar 4-bar, the same information …

Development Of A Graphics Display Controller, David R. Hudnall

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research is to define and develop a computer graphics display controller that will provide a high performance to cost ratio by employing state-of-the-art components and techniques. This report briefly defines the phrase "computer graphics display system" and the related technologies. The system requirements for a target display controller are developed and their hardware implications are presented. An architectural overview precedes a detailed explanation of all functional areas of the target system. This includes an overview of the VLSI graphic figure generator, which is the heart of the target system. Finally, the concept of hardware independent graphic …

A Mini-Computer Based General Purpose Interactive Computer Graphics Software System, Victor M. Haddock

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This research paper presents the description of a Mini-Computer Based General Purpose Interactive Computer Graphics Software System; which has been installed at the University of Central Florida, College of Engineering PDP 11/34 computer system. This system is a simplified version of MOVIE.BYU. MOVIE.BYU is a General Purpose Interactive Computer Graphics Software System that requires a computer with a word length of at least 32-bits. The MOVIE.BYU system was developed at the Brigham Young University, Utah. Extensive modification was required in order to satisfy the PDP 11/34 FORTRAN IV compiler. In addition, the program routines have been overlayed in order to …

A Microcomputer Implementation Of A Flight Simulator Visual Display System, Jerry Wayne Campbell

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The use of computer graphics has brought about a universal means of depicting phenomena or solving engineering problems. The combination of graphic and computer skills offers a solution to a number of technical needs. One major area that computer graphics can be used is in the field of flight simulation. The software packages necessary to project three-dimensional scenes for flight training are not very common. The purpose of this paper is to generate the programs necessary to allow the pilot to observe a three-dimensional scene from any location and angle. The report discusses some of the basic aspects of computer …

A Computer Graphics Analysis Of A Freeway Merge Control System, Thomas Alan Risher

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

In 1975, C.S. Bauer completed a doctoral dissertation at the University of Florida which treated the Green Band Merging Control System on I-75 in Tampa, Florida. In this work, Bauer suggested the possibility for the use of computer graphics as a toll for analysis of the bands generated by the Green Band Control System Simulation developed in his dissertation. The use of computer generated movies of the bands displayed to ramp drivers by the system allows the comparison of various band control strategies without the need for field implementation and testing. With the goal of producing such films in mind, …

A Search For A Computer Graphics System For The Small-Scale Computer User, Larry D. Holley

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents a review of several computer graphics systems. The need for a universal graphics language is discussed and some typical languages are investigated. Several types of display terminals have been researched and their advantages and disadvantages have been listed. A vector plotting routine has been programmed on a microprocessor system as a part of the research. A description of the vector plotting system is included in this paper. The system could be a "modular unit" for general purpose use with any alphanumeric raster-scan display terminal and a simple graphics language.

Computer Generated Holograms, Jeffrey James Gierloff

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Computer generated holograms have been made practical by the introduction of fast Fourier transform algorithms. The following discussion will brief the reader on the theory and concepts of optical holograms, the computer hologram, and the analogies of the computer hologram to its optical counterpart. Some of the programming aspects of the computer holograms are presented. The results of the generation of several computer holograms are presented, and conclusions drawn as to the effectiveness of this technique. Finally, some of the practical uses and advantages of the computer hologram are discussed.