Tweet
From: petern@bion.kth.se
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 92 13:21:08 +0200
Subject: Geometric Modeling (long)
Sender: Vision-List Digest 11, nr. 14
I had a request in comp.ai.vision around 24 of March:
> I am looking for public domain software for geometric modeling, to be
> used in a model-based recognition system. This system is supposed to
> deal with a few known man-made objects. C language, UNIX and X window
> versions are preferred. Any info will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks
>
> My address is:
> Peter Nordlund
> KTH (The Royal Institute of Technology), NADA, CVAP
> 100 44 Stockholm
> SWEDEN
> tel: +46-8-790 69 06
> fax: +46-8-723 03 02
> e-mail: petern@bion.kth.se
Here is a list of what I found out:
************** 1 **************
Thingworld,
a modeling system based on superquadrics
by Alex Pentland can be obtained by writing to:
Alex Pentland, Room E15-387, The Media Lab
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
20 Ames St., Cambridge MA 02139
*************** 2 *************
IRIT solid modeler,
IRIT solid modeler 3.0 is now available at an ftp site near you. IRIT is
a CSG based solid modeler. In 3.0 freeform surfaces are supported for the
first time. The solid modeler can run on quite a few platforms thanks to
the beta tester:
1. MSDOS using Borland TC/BC++.
2. MSDOS using DJGPP - the gcc port to MSDOS (386 systems only).
3. SGI 4D, Irix 3.x/4.0, using gl/x11.
4. i386 SVR4 using x11.
5. HP300/400, HPBSD, gcc using x11.
6. DEC 5000/200, gcc using x11.
7. IBM RS6000 using gl/x11.
8. HP snake, hpux using x11.
9. IBM PC, SYSV3.2, ISC 2.2.1, gcc 1.40 using x11.
10. Evans & Sutherland ESV.
11. SPARC, SUN O.S. 4.1.1, gcc 1.39 using x11.
MSDOS users should ftp the zip archives below. UNIX users should ftp only
iritsm3s.tar.Z (similar to iritsm3s.zip) which contains the C sources
required to build the package. Since simtel is down, it may take several
days for it to show up there. The UNIX version is in place already.
UNIX
ftp.uu.net [137.39.1.9]
/graphics/irit/iritsm3s.tar.Z
gondwana.ecr.mu.oz.au [128.250.1.63]
/pub/iritsm3s.tar.Z
MSDOS
wsmr-simtel20.army.mil [192.88.110.20]
IRITSM3S.ZIP IRIT 3.0 SOLID MODELER SRC. BC++, DJGPP, UNIX.
IRITSM3E.ZIP IRIT 3.0 EXECUTABLES USING BC++ 3.0.
IRIT386E.ZIP IRIT 3.0 EXECUTABLES USING DJGPP 1.05.
INTRLIB1.ZIP INTERACTION LIBRARY 1.0. BC++, DJGPP.
Simtel mirrors can be used as well (wuarchive.wustl.edu [128.252.135.4]).
Although iritsm3s.tar.Z and IRITSM3S.ZIP are similar and contain all the
necessary sources to build the package, iritsm3s.tar.Z also contain some
extra (/extra dir) files: gif images of models created using IRIT and
rendered using RAYSHADE, and a postscript file of the docs.
Here is what is new in version 3.0:
1. Normals are fully supported now. Although this increases memory requirements
(mainly a problem on IBM PC) all files dumped from IRIT now support normals
as well.
2. A new cut Boolean operation (overloading '/', i.e. C = A / B assigns to C
the regions in A out B).
A new merge Boolean operation (overloading '^', i.e. C = A ^ B assigns to
C all polygons of A and B merged (with no intersection tests.).
3. Support for freeform curves and surfaces (Bezier/NURBS).
All Boolean are still done using polygonal data the surfaces are converted
into (No intention to change that in the near future - direct Booleans on
surfaces requires support of trimmed surfaces and believe me - it is HARD).
However, quite a few tools to manipulate and maintain the curves and surfaces
are provided and include:
a. direct creation of curves and surfaces by specifying control mesh/poly.
b. evaluation of surface/curve, tangents, normals.
c. subdivision/refinement.
d. degree raising (only Bezier).
e. high level surface creation: ruled srf/extrude/srf of revolution/sweep.
f. curve constructor out of curve/point pieces.
g. conversion to polygons of surfaces including normals.
4. Support for SGI 4D systems using gl has been added.
5. lists are much more enhanced now and more functions can now get a list
of objects where before they could get a single object only (for example
ability to dump to file/read from file list of objects instead of one).
This enable merging the *.ply and *.mat into single data files *.dat which
also include the freeform data (curves and surfaces).
6. Ability to handle closed and open loops within the same polygon (see
cubes.irt).
7. Much improved documentation.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Elber Gershon gershon@cs.utah.edu
918 University village Tel: (801) 582-1807 (Home)
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108-1180 Tel: (801) 581-5642 (Work)
***************** 3 ****************
BRL-CAD,
PRESS RELEASE
10-Oct-1991
For Immediate Release, Distribution Unlimited.
The U. S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory (BRL) is proud to announce
the availibility of Release 4.0 of the BRL-CAD Package.
The BRL-CAD Package is a powerful Constructive Solid Geometry (CSG)
based solid modeling system. BRL-CAD includes an interactive geometry
editor, a ray tracing library, two ray-tracing based lighting models,
a generic framebuffer library, a network-distributed image-processing
and signal-processing capability, and a large collection of related
tools and utilities. Release 4.0 is the latest version of software which
has been undergoing continuous development since 1979.
The most significant new feature for Release 4.0 is the addition of
n-Manifold Geometry (NMG) support based on the work of Kevin Weiler.
The NMG software converts CSG solid models into approximate
polygonalized boundary representations, suitable for processing by
subsequent applications and high-speed hardware display.
BRL-CAD is used at over 800 sites located throughout the world.
It is provided in source code form only, and totals more than 280,000
lines of "C" code.
BRL-CAD supports a great variety of geometric representations, including
an extensive set of traditional CSG primitive solids such as blocks,
cones and torii, solids made from closed collections of Uniform B-Spline
Surfaces as well as Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline (NURBS) Surfaces,
purely faceted geometry, and n-Manifold Geometry (NMG). All geometric
objects may be combined using boolean set-theoretic operations such as
union, intersection, and subtraction.
Material properties and other attribute properties can be associated
with geometry objects. This combining of material properties with
geometry is a critical part of the link to applications codes. BRL-CAD
supports a rich object-oriented set of extensible interfaces by means of
which geometry and attribute data are passed to applications.
A few of the applications linked to BRL-CAD include:
*) Optical Image Generation (including specular/diffuse reflection,
refraction, multiple light sources, and articulated animation)
*) An array of military vehicle design and evaluation V/L Codes
*) Bistatic laser analysis
*) Predictive Synthetic Aperture Radar Codes (including codes due to ERIM)
*) High-Energy Laser Damage
*) High-Power Microwave Damage
*) Weights and Moments-of-Inertia
*) Neutron Transport Code
*) PATRAN [TM] and hence to ADINA, EPIC-2, NASTRAN, etc.
for structural/stress analysis
*) X-Ray image calculation
BRL-CAD requires the UNIX operating system and is supported on more than
a dozen product lines from workstations to supercomputers, including:
Alliant FX/8 and FX/80, Alliant FX/2800, Apple Macintosh II, Convex C1,
Cray-1, Cray X-MP, Cray Y-MP, Cray-2, Digital Equipment VAX, Gould/Encore
PN 6000/9000, IBM RS/6000, Pyramid 9820, Silicon Graphics 3030, Silicon
Graphics 4D ``Iris'', Sun Microsystems Sun-3, and the Sun Microsystems
Sun-4 ``SparcStation''. Porting to other UNIX systems is very easy, and
generally only takes a day or two.
You may obtain a copy of the BRL-CAD Package distribution materials in
one of two ways:
1. FREE distribution with no support privileges: Those users with
online access to the DARPA InterNet may obtain the BRL-CAD Package via
FTP file transfer, at no cost, after completing and returning a signed
copy of the printed distribution agreement. A blank agreement form is
available only via anonymous FTP from host ftp.brl.mil (address
128.63.16.158) from file "brl-cad/agreement". There are encrypted
FTP-able files in several countries around the world. Directions on how
to obtain and decrypt the files will be sent to you upon receipt of your
signed agreement. One printed set of BRL-CAD documentation will be
mailed to you at no cost. Note that installation assistance or telephone
support are available only with full service distributions.
2. FULL SERVICE distribution: The Survivability/Vulnerability
Information Analysis Center (SURVIAC) administers the supported BRL-CAD
distributions and information exchange programs for BRL through the
SURVIAC Aberdeen Satellite Office. The full service distribution cost is
US$500. There is no cost to US Government Agencies. A copy of the
BRL-CAD pacage will be provided to you on your choice of magnetic tape
media. You may also elect to obtain your copy via network FTP. One
printed set of BRL-CAD documentation will be mailed to you. BRL-CAD
maintenance releases and errata sheets will be provided at no additional
charge, and you will have access to full technical assistance by phone,
FAX, letter, or E-mail. Complete and return a signed copy of the
distribution agreement and survey form with a check or purchase order
payable to "BA&H/SURVIAC" and mail to:
BRL-CAD Distribution
SURVIAC Aberdeen Satellite Office
1003 Old Philadelphia Road
Suite 103
Aberdeen MD 21001 USA
For further details, call Ms. Carla Moyer at USA (410)-273-7794, send
E-mail to , FAX your letter to USA (410)-272-6763,
or write to the above address.
Those sites selecting the free distribution may upgrade to full service
status at any time. All users have access to the BRL-CAD Symposia,
workshops, user's group, and BRL-CAD mailing list via E-mail.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Muuss Glenn M. Gillis
Advanced Computer Systems SURVIAC
Ballistic Research Lab Aberdeen Satellite Office