B. Thomaszewski, S. Coros, D. Gauge, V. Megaro, E. Grinspun, M. Gross
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Vancouver, Canada, August 10-14, 2014), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 64:1--64:9
Abstract
We present a design system for linkage-based characters, combining form and function in an aesthetically-pleasing manner.
Linkage-based character design exhibits a mix of discrete and continuous problems, making for a highly unintuitive design space that
is difficult to navigate without assistance. Our system significantly simplifies this task by allowing users to interactively browse different
topology options, thus guiding the discrete set of choices that need to be made. A subsequent continuous optimization step improves
motion quality and, crucially, safeguards against singularities. We demonstrate the flexibility of our method on a diverse
set of character designs, and then realize our designs by physically fabricating prototypes.
