Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Animating Microworlds from Scripts and Relational Constraints

  • Conference paper
Computer Animation ’90

Abstract

This paper discusses a method for producing computer-generated microworlds populated by synthetic actors, using an expert system to interpret a script from known and inferred relational constraints. To generate an animated scene, the interactive user specifies a simplified script and a set of relational constraint rules. From these, the movements of the figures are generated automatically. The relationship between this work and that of other projects in figure animation is characterized, and the mechanism of the expert system is demonstrated with the aid of an example.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Allensworth C (1982) The Complete Play Production Handbook (Rev. Ed.). Harper and Row, Inc., 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong W, Green M, Lake R (1986) Near Real-Time Control of Human Figure Models. Proceedings Graphics Interface-86 Conference, pp 147–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Badler N (1986) Animating Human Figures: Perspectives and Directions. Proceedings Graphics Interface Conference, pp 115–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Badler N, Bajcsy R (1978) Three-Dimension Representations for Computer Graphics and Computer Vision. Computer Graphics, Vol. 2: (1), pp 153–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barhen J, Gulati S, Zak M (1989) Neural Learning of Constrained Nonlinear Transformations. I. E.E.E. Computer, Vol. 22: (6), pp 67–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergeron P, LaChapelle P (1985) Tony de Peltrie. Film, SIGGRAPH-85 Film Show, San Francisco, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brett C, Pieper S, Zeltzer D (1989) Putting it All Together: An Integrated Package for Viewing and Editing 3D Microworlds. In Zeltzer D (Ed.), Implementing and Interacting with Real-Time MicroWorlds, SIGGRAPH-89 Course 29, Boston Mass., pp 5–1 to 5–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks F P (1989) Walkthrough–A Dynamic Graphics System for Simulating Virtual Buildings. In Zeltzer D (Ed.), Implementing and Interacting with Real-Time MicroWorlds, SIGGRAPH-89 Course 29, Boston Mass., pp 3–1 to 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks R A (1983) Solving the Find-Path Problem by Good Representation of Free Space. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man and Cybernetics, Vol. 13: (3), pp 190–196.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Brotman L (1988) Motion Interpolation by Optimal Control. Computer Graphics, Vol. 22: (4), pp 309–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown G, Garwood A (1936) General Principles of Play Direction. Samuel French Ltd., 1936.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvert T, Chapman J, Patla A (1980) The Integration of Subjective and Objective Data in the Animation of Human Movement. Computer Graphics, Vol. 14: (3), pp 198–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvert T, Chapman J, Patla A (1982) Aspects of the Kinematic Simulation of Human Movement. I. E.E.E. Computer Graphics and Applications, Vol. 2: (9), pp 41–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dooley M (1982) Anthropometric Modelling Programs: A Survey. I. E.E.E. Computer Graphics and Applications, Vol. 2: (9), pp 17–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher S S (1989) Virtual Environments, Personal Simulation and Telepresence. In Zeltzer D (Ed.), Implementing and Interacting with Real-Time MicroWorlds, SIGGRAPH-89 Course 29, Boston Mass., pp 3–1 to 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Girard M (1987) Interactive Design of 3-D Computer-Animated Legged Animal Motion. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, Vol. 7: (6), pp 39–51.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Girard M, Maciejewski A (1985) Computational Modeling for the Computer Animation of Legged Figures. Computer Graphics, Vol. 19: (3), pp 263–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herbison-Evans D (1978) NUDES2:A Numerical Utility Displaying Ellipsoid Solids. Computer Graphics, Vol. 12: (3), pp 354–356.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isaacs P, Cohen M (1987) Controlling dynamic simulation with kinematic constraints,behavior functions, and inverse dynamics. Computer Graphics, Vol. 21:(4), pp 215–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan M I (1988) Supervised Learning and Systems with Excess Degrees of Freedom. Technical Report No. 88–27, COINS, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahn K (1979) Creation of Computer Animation from Story Descriptions. Ph.D. Thesis, Computer Science, M.I.T.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kochanek D, Bartels R, Booth K (1982) A Computer System for Smooth Keyframe Animation. M.Sc. Thesis, Computer Science, University of Waterloo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korein J, Badler N (1982) Techniques for Generating Goal-Directed Motion of Articulated Structures. I. E.E.E. Computer Graphics and Applications, Vol. 2: (9).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroyer B (1986) Animating with a Hierarchy. SIGGRAPH-86 Course Notes on Advanced Animation, Dallas, pp 266–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee C S (1982) Robot Arm Kinematics, Dynamics and Control. I. E.E.E. Transactions on Computers, Vol. 15: (2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano-Pérez (1983) Spatial Planning:A Configuration Space Approach. IEEE Transactions on Computers, Vol. 32: (2), pp 108–117.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Magnenat-Thalmann N, D.Thalmann (1987) The Direction of Synthetic Actors in the Film Rendezvous à Montréal“. I.E.E.E. Computer Graphics and Applications, Vol. 12, pp 9–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minsky M (1975) A Framework for Representing Knowledge. The Psychology of Computer Vision, McGraw Hill, pp 211–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muehle E (1987) FROBS: A Merger of Two Knowledge Representation Paradigms. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Utah.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul R (1981) Robot Manipulators: Mathematics, Programming and Control. MIT Press, 1981. Pixar Corp. (1986) Luxo Jr. Film, SIGGRAPH-86 Film Show, Dallas, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds C (1987) Flocks, Herds and Schools: A Distributed Behavior Model. Computer Graphics, Vol. 21: (4), pp 25–34.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Ridsdale G, Calvert T (1986) The Interactive Specification of Human Animation. Proceedings Graphics Interface-86 Conference, Vancouver, pp 121–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridsdale G J, Calvert T W (1987) The Director’s Apprentice. Technical Report No. TR-87–2, Computer Science, Simon Fraser University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steketee S, Badler N (1985) Parametric Keyframe Interpolation Incorporating Kinetic Adjustment and Phrasing Control. Computer Graphics, Vol. 19: (3), pp 255–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturman D (1984) Interactive Key Frame Animation of 3-D Articulated Models. Proceedings Graphics Interface Conference, pp 35–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturman D J, Zeltzer D, Pieper S (1989) Hands-on Interaction With Virtual Environment. In Zeltzer D (Ed.), Implementing and Interacting with Real-Time MicroWorlds, SIGGRAPH-89 Course 29, Boston Mass., pp 5–1 to 5–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Symbolics Graphics Division (1987) Stanley and Stella: Breaking the Ice. Film, Symbolics Corporation Graphics Division, 1987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilhelms J (1986) Virya — A Motion Control Editor for Kinematic and Dynamic Animation. Proceedings Graphics Interface-86 Conference, Vancouver, pp 141–146.

    Google Scholar 

  • Witkin A, Fleischer K, Barr A (1987) Energy Constraints on Parameterized Models. Computer Graphics, Vol. 21: (4), pp 225–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witkin A, Kass M (1988) Spacetime Constraints. Computer Graphics, Vol. 22: (4), pp 159–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeltzer D (1982) Motor Control Techniques for Figure Animation. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, Vol. 2: (9), pp 53–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeltzer D (1985) Towards an integrated view of 3-D computer animation. The Visual Computer, Vol. 1: (4), pp 249–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Computer Science Department, University of Utah, 3190 Merrill Bldg., Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, 84112

    Gary Ridsdale

  2. School of Computing Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada, V5A 1S6

    Tom Calvert

Authors
  1. Gary Ridsdale
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tom Calvert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Universitaire d’Informatique, 12, rue du Lac, CH-1207, Geneva, Switzerland

    Nadia Magnenat-Thalmann

  2. Computer Graphics Lab., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Daniel Thalmann

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Springer-Verlag Tokyo

About this paper

Cite this paper

Ridsdale, G., Calvert, T. (1990). Animating Microworlds from Scripts and Relational Constraints. In: Magnenat-Thalmann, N., Thalmann, D. (eds) Computer Animation ’90. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68296-7_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-68296-7_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-68298-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-68296-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation