CS 285 - "SOLID MODELING"
Algorithms and Data Structures for
Procedural Design, Solid Modeling,
and Rapid Prototyping.

Home Page and Index, Spring 2002

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Catalog Entry

CS 285: (PROCEDURAL) SOLID MODELING
FULL COURSE TITLE: Procedural Solid Free-Form Modeling and Fabrication
INSTRUCTOR: Carlo H. Séquin
COURSE NUMBER: CS 285
COURSE CONTROL NUMBER: 27007
EXAM GROUP: 4
UNIT VALUE: 3 units
SEMESTER: Spring 2002
CLASS TIME: Mon/Wed 9:10-10:30am
LOCATION: 405 Soda Hall
PREREQUISITE: CS 184 (Foundations of Computer Graphics) or equivalent.

Course Description for Spring 2002

This course builds on our undergraduate course CS184 and/or on our new graduate graphics course CS 294-3 first offered in Fall 2001. It is complementary to the CAGD course CS284, which focusses in depth on splines and smooth surfaces, and it could also be taken as an advanced modeling course after the solid modeling course ME290D, taught by Prof. Sara McMains.

To minimize overlap with the above courses, in Spring 2002 CS285 will emphasize procedural modeling, as is appropriate for objects of high complexity and with a lot of inherent regularity and symmetry. We will consider the whole design process for such objects objects, from a conceptual vision to a concrete computer-based description that is suitable for use in a virtual-reality environment or for physical prototyping and manufacturing. The course will cover various modeling techniques, including volume representations, boundary representations, instantiation and boolean combinations of shapes, and procedural generation, ranging from simple sweeps to L-systems. It will also discuss effective data structures for representing various types of objects, as well as the process of making models from acquired data, e.g., via 3D scanners. In the end, we will use our Fused Deposition Modeling machine and our 3D Printer from Z-Corporation to actually fabricate some objects designed in this class.

Assignments

For the first several weeks, weekly assignments will be given to read, study, design, or program something.
The last 5 weeks are devoted to a project that can be done individually or in small groups.

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