Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America, Inc.

Mitsubishi Electric Information Technology Center America, Inc (ita)

Brian Mirtich

Joseph W Marks

Brad Andalman

Jessica Hodgins

The present invention relates to a system and method for determining collisions between polyhedron objects represented by their features. Collisions are detected by determining the relative positions of closest features between pairs of polyhedra. The present invention is based upon comparisions of a feature from one polygon with a Voronoi region corresponding to a feature of another polyhedron. If a closest point from each feature is within the Voronoi region of the other feature, then the two features are the closest for that pair of objects. If the features are not within the Voronoi regions, then a new feature for one of the objects or polyhedra is selected based upon the position of the features relative to the Voronoi region. When a feature is of an edge type, the edge is clipped against the planes defining the Voronoi region. A new feature is selected based upon the relative positions of the points where the edge is clipped to the corresponding features defining the Voronoi region. In this manner, new features are selected which reduce the distance between features or which reduce the dimension of the selected feature without increasing the distance between features. New features are selected until the closests points are within the Voronoi region of the other feature, thus defining the closest features. The process is repeated for all pairs of objects and upon movement of any objects to continuously determine the closest features between sets of moving objects.

System and method for determining distances between polyhedrons by

A system generates and arranges animation sequences of articulated characs for review and selection by a user. Motion of articulated characters is based upon input parameters, such as torques at joints of the character. The system can be used to select appropriate parameters to obtain desirable motion of the articulated characters. The system generates a set of input vectors containing parameters of the motion. The input parameters are then processed to determine animation sequences and corresponding output vectors. The output vectors include characteristics of the motion. The input vectors are selected to provide a dispersed set of output vectors. A large number of random input vectors can be generated and then culled to leave a dispersed set of output vectors. Alternatively, a set of randomly generated input vectors of a predetermined size are randomly perturbed, to further disperse the output vectors. The system includes an interface for representing the output vectors and animation sequences in a manner which is easily reviewable by a user. The output vectors are displayed so that positions represent distances between the output vectors. The user can then select specific output vectors so that the corresponding animation sequence is displayed.

System for determining motion control of articulated linkages

A system generates and arranges animation sequences of particle motion for eview and selection by a user. Motion of particles in an animation sequence is based upon input parameters, such as creation point, creation rate, velocity, direction, and lifetime. The system can be used to select appropriate parameters to obtain desirable motion of the particles. The system generates a set of input vectors containing parameters of the motion. The input parameters are then processed to determine animation sequences and corresponding output vectors. The output vectors include characteristics of the motion. The input vectors are selected to provide a dispersed set of output vectors. A large number of random input vectors can be generated and then culled to leave a dispersed set of output vectors. Alternatively, a set of randomly generated input vectors of a predetermined size are randomly perturbed, to further disperse the output vectors. The system includes an interface for representing the output vectors and animation sequences in a manner which is easily reviewable by a user. The output vectors are displayed so that positions represent distances between the output vectors. The user can then select specific output vectors so that the corresponding animation sequence is displayed.

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Arlington, MA, United States of America

Brian Mirtich