VIZA 679 -- Advanced Topics in Physically Based Modeling

Spring 2007

TuTh 4:10-5:40, Architecture C 307, 3 credits

Instructor: Donald H. House

Visualization Lab, phone: 5-3465, email: house@viz.tamu.edu
Office hours: Wednesday 3:00 - 4:45 or by appointment

Course Home Directory

/usr/local/misc/courses/viza679/2007/

Students

Schedule

Assignments

Projects

Paper Presentations

Introduction

Resource Reading Material

Links and Other Documentation

Introduction

Investigation of current research and advanced methods in choreographing motion for animation using a physics-based approach. Topics will be selected from the mainstream research literature in animation. Theoretical and methodological topics will be addressed, through both study and implementation. May be taken twice.

Resource Reading Material

Entry to the course is by permission of the instructor. All students will be expected to have either earned an A or B in VIZA 659 / CPSC 649 -- Physically Based Modeling or have had equivalent experience in physics-based simulation in a computer graphics context.

Course Objectives

The focus of the courese will be to explore advanced topics in Physically Based Modeling. The course has no text, as we will depend mainly on reading and understanding research papers, occasionally supplemented by notes.

We will begin by exploring the computer animation literature on fluid dynamics. We will start this topic with an examination of the Navier Stokes equations and look at several simulation methods that depend on making simplifying assumptions. As a simulation methodology we will use the finite-difference method of handling partial differential equations. We will also look at the problem of the visualization of fluid behavior.

The course will also cover, in more detail, some of the more difficult problems presented in VIZA 659 / CPSC 649, but not handled in detail. These will include 1) techniques for treating constrained motion (like a pendulum or a roller coaster car), and 2) techniques for handling stiff equations so cloth-like objects can be efficiently simulated.

The remainder of the course will be devoted to researching, developing and implementing individual "research" projects. Each student will submit a proposal for his or her project. Together we will develop a reading list of background material and research papers. Once projects are determined, a schedule of presentations for the remainder of the semester will be developed. Each student will be expected to contribute to these presentations, making regular progress reports and explaining key ideas and papers to the rest of the class.

Some starter ideas for course projects:

Since much of this course will run as a seminar, students with special expertise or experience with a topic are requested to let me know ahead of time, so that we can all benefit from this knowledge. To make sure that the classes are interesting and informative, everyone will be expected to attend class regularly, to have carefully read assigned readings, to have completed the programming assignments and to participate actively in class discussions.

Course Schedule

  1. Quick Review of Physically Based Modeling Basics
  2. Review of Navier Stokes Equations for Fluid Dynamics
  3. Methods for Treating Incompressible Flow
  4. Constrained Dynamics
  5. Simulation of Stiff Equations (Introduction to Cloth)
  6. Proposal and Scheduling of Individual Projects
  7. Progress Reports and Presentations of Research Papers Supporting the Projects
  8. Demonstration of Final Projects

Projects, Exams and Grading

This will be a project-oriented seminar course and will have no exams. Students will do an initial assigned projecton fluid dynamics. In addition, each student will design, plan and implement an individual (or group) project. The project will include a proposal, a research plan, two in-class progress reports, a final report and demonstration. In addition, each student will make at least two in-class presentations of research papers supporting their project. Each student (or group) will prepare visual documenting material for their project suitable for presentation to an audience.

The course grade will be weighted as follows:

The project grade will be broken down as follows: All work will be graded by demonstration or presentation in class. A late penalty of 10% per class session will be assessed for any scheduled item turned in late. A scheduled paper presentation that is missed will be cancelled and graded as 0. Late visual documentation will be graded as a 0.

For the assigned homework and the individual project, please turn in a directory containing 1) a text file containing a written description of your project and any special features or techniques you implemented including instructions for running your project, 2) your source code, and 3) an executable and any associated parameter or data files. Optionally, 4) you may wish to turn in compressed movie files for any prerendered animations.

Copyright

The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. By "handouts," I mean all materials generated for this class, which include but are not limited to the course notes, syllabi, exams, problems, in-class materials, review sheets, additional problem sets, and the contents of the class World Wide Web site. Because these materials are copyrighted, you do not have the right to copy the handouts, unless I expressly grant permission. For the contents of class World Wide Web sites, you have permission to make printouts strictly for your use in this class.

Plagiarism

In this course, we want to encourage collaboration and the free interchange of ideas among students and in particular the discussion of the project and homework assignments, approaches to solving them, etc.

However, we do not allow plagiarism, which, as commonly defined, consists of passing off as one's own the ideas, words, writings, etc., which belong to another. In accordance with this definition, you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you should have the permission of that person. Plagiarism is one of the worst academic sins, for the plagiarist destroys the trust among colleagues without which research cannot be safely communicated. If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please consult the latest issue of the Texas A&M University Student Rules , under the section on Academic Misconduct.

Americans with Disabilities Act

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Room 126 of the Student Services Building. The phone number is 845-1637.

Academic Integrity Statements

AGGIE HONOR CODE  “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.”

Upon accepting admission to Texas A&M University, a student immediately assumes a commitment to uphold the Honor Code, to accept responsibility for learning, and to follow the philosophy and rules of the Honor System. Students will be required to state their commitment on examinations, research papers, and other academic work. Ignorance of the rules does not exclude any member of the TAMU community from the requirements or the processes of the Honor System.

For additional information please visit: www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor/