Introduction
Computer-animated objects are ubiquitous in entertainment and training applications of computer graphics (e.g. videogames, feature films, surgical simulators, etc.). As opposed to tedious and rather inflexible key-frame animation, physics-based simulation offers a concise, but rich and flexible way of defining the behavior of animated objects, by allowing the laws of physics to determine or guide their motion. In contrast to the mathematical modeling of physical objects in computational physics, our primary concerns are artistic controllability, robustness and efficiency.
You can find more information on the simulation and animation group website.
Topics
Deep learning based physics simulations
We develop methods at the intersection of deep learning and physics simulations to solve some of the persistent problems in graphics. This includes our work on reduced order modeling and latent space integration, neural flow field recovery, and video-based reconstruction of flow fields.
Art-directable simulations with AI
In visual effects it is a key requirement to have art-directable numerical simulations and hence full control over the shape and motion of a body. We develop deep learning based methods to transfer styles from arbitrary input images to 3D smoke simulations, to compute smoke volumes and animations based on sketch inputs, and to control the motion of a fluid using keyframe inputs.
Physics-based digital humans
In the context of digital humans we develop techniques to model and animate faces using data and physics priors, applied to both visual effects and medical applications. This includes our work on reconstructing and simulating 3D faces for medical treatment planning, and on controlling physics-based facial animation.
Neural Augmentation of Simulation Representations of Robotic Systems
Digital twins that represent robotic systems with minimal sim-to-real gaps enable improved control and design. Within the scope of this effort, we augment simulation representations with neural networks to close sim-to-real gaps when modeling building blocks robotic systems are made of. Applications include surgical devices that require high-precision modeling, legged systems where accurate contact estimation is needed, and entertainment robots that can perform expressive animations.
Publications
L. Yang, G. Zoss, P. Chandran, M. Gross, B. Solenthaler, E. Sifakis, D. Bradley
Learning a Generalized Physical Face Model From Data
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Denver, US, July 28-August 1, 2024), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 43, no. 94, pp. 1-14
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2023
L. Yang, G. Zoss, P. Chandran, P. Gotardo, M. Gross, B. Solenthaler, E. Sifakis, D. Bradley
An Implicit Physical Face Model Driven by Expression and Style
Proceedings of SA '23: SIGGRAPH Asia 2023 (Sydney, Australia, December 12-15, 2023), pp. 106:1-106:12
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J. Tang, B. Kim, V. C. Azevedo, B. Solenthaler
Physics-Informed Neural Corrector for Deformation-based Fluid Control
Proceedings of Eurographics (Saarbrücken, Germany, May 8-12, 2023), Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 42, no. 2, pp. 161-173
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A. Serifi, E. Knoop, C. Schumacher, N. Kumar, M. Gross, M. Bächer
Transformer-based Neural Augmentation of Robot Simulation Representations
IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters, IEEE, vol. 8, no. 6, 2023, pp. 3748-3755
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D. Dorda, D. Peter, D. Borer, N.B. Huber, I. Sailer, M. Gross, B. Solenthaler, B. Thomaszewski
Differentiable Simulation for Outcome-Driven Orthognathic Surgery Planning
Proceedings of the 2022 ACM SIGGRAPH/Eurographics Symposium on Computer Animation (Durham, UK, September 13-15, 2022), pp. 53-61
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L. Yang, B. Kim, G. Zoss, B. Gözcü, M. Gross, B. Solenthaler
Implicit Neural Representation for Physics-driven Actuated Soft Bodies
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Vancouver, Canada, August 8-11, 2022), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 41, no. 4, pp. 122:1-122:10
(Honorable Mention)
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B. Kim, X. Huang, L. Wuelfroth, J. Tang, G. Cordonnier, M. Gross, B. Solenthaler
Deep Reconstruction of 3D Smoke Densities from Artist Sketches
Proceedings of Eurographics (Reims, France, April 25-29, 2022), Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 97-110
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2021
G. Jouvet, G. Cordonnier, B. Kim, M. Lüthi, V. Andreas, A. Aschwanden
Deep Learning Speeds Up Ice Flow Modelling by Several Orders of Magnitude
Journal of Glaciology, Cambridge University Press, vol. , no. , 2021, pp. 1-14
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S. L. Charreyron, Q. Boehler, B. Kim, C. Weibel, C. Chautems, B. J. Nelson
Modeling Electromagnetic Navigation Systems
IEEE Transactions on Robotics, IEEE, vol. 37, no. 4, 2021, pp. 1009-1021
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J. Tang, V. C. Azevedo, G. Cordonnier, B. Solenthaler
Honey I Shrunk the Domain: Reduced Domain Decomposition for Efficient Optimization of Fluids
Proceedings of Eurographics (Vienna, Austria, May 3-7, 2021), Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 339-353
(Best Paper Award)
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L. Schweri, S. Foucher, J. Tang, V. C. Azevedo, T. Günther, B. Solenthaler
A Physics-Aware Neural Network Approach for Flow Data Reconstruction From Satellite Observations
Frontiers in Climate, Frontiers, vol. 3, no. , 2021, pp. 23
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Y. Chen, J. Meier, B. Solenthaler, V. C. Azevedo
An Extended Cut-cell method for Sub-Grid Liquids Tracking with Surface Tension
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH Asia (Daegu, Korea, November 17-20, 2020), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 39, no. 6, pp. 188:1-199:11
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B. Kim, V. C. Azevedo, M. Gross, B. Solenthaler
Lagrangian Neural Style Transfer for Fluids
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Washington, D.C., US, July 19-23, 2020), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 1:1-1:10
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2019
B. Kim, V. C. Azevedo, M. Gross, B. Solenthaler
Transport-Based Neural Style Transfer for Smoke Simulations
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH Asia (Brisbane, Australia, November 17-20, 2019), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 38, no. 6, pp. 188:1-188:11
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B. Kim, V. C. Azevedo, N. Thuerey, T. Kim, M. Gross, B. Solenthaler
Deep Fluids: A Generative Network for Parameterized Fluid Simulations
Proceedings of Eurographics (Genova, Italy, May 6-10, 2019), Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 59-70
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2015
L. Ladicky, S. Jeong, B. Solenthaler, M. Pollefeys, M. Gross
Data-driven Fluid Simulations using Regression Forests
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH Asia (Kobe, Japan, 2-5 November, 2015), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 199:1--199:9
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M. Ihmsen, J. Orthmann, B. Solenthaler, A. Kolb, M. Teschner
SPH Fluids in Computer Graphics
Proceedings of Eurographics (Strasbourg, France, April, 2014), Computer Graphics Forum, vol. , no. , pp. 21-42
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F. Hahn, B. Thomaszewski, S. Coros, R. Sumner, F. Cole, M. Meyer, T. DeRose, M. Gross
Subspace Clothing Simulation Using Adaptive Bases
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Vancouver, Canada, August 10-14, 2014), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 105:1--105:9
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F. Hahn, S. Martin, B. Thomaszewski, R. Sumner, S. Coros, M. Gross
Rig-Space Physics
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Los Angeles, USA, August 5-9, 2012), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 72:1-72:8
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N. Akinci, M. Ihmsen, G. Akinci, B. Solenthaler, M. Teschner
Versatile Rigid-Fluid Coupling for Incompressible SPH
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Los Angeles, USA, August 5-9, 2012), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 62:1-62:8
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2011
B. Solenthaler, P. Bucher, N. Chentanez, M. Müller, M. Gross
SPH Based Shallow Water Simulation
Proceedings of Virtual Reality Interactions and Physical Simulations (VRIPhys) (Lyon, France, December 5-6, 2011), pp. 39-46
(Best Paper Award)
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S. Martin, B. Thomaszewski, E. Grinspun, M. Gross
Example-Based Elastic Materials
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Vancouver, Canada, August 7-11, 2011), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 72:1-72:8
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2010
T. Pfaff, N. Thuerey, J. Cohen, S. Tariq, M. Gross
Scalable Fluid Simulation using Anisotropic Turbulence Particles
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH Asia (Seoul, Korea, December 15-18, 2010), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 174:1-174:8
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C. Wojtan, N. Thuerey, M. Gross, G. Turk
Physics-Inspired Topology Changes for Thin Fluid Features
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Los Angeles, USA, July 25-29, 2010), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 50:1-50:8
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N. Thuerey, C. Wojtan, M. Gross, G. Turk
A Multiscale Approach to Mesh-based Surface Tension Flows
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Los Angeles, USA, July 25-29, 2010), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 48:1-48:10
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S. Martin, P. Kaufmann, M. Botsch, E. Grinspun, M. Gross
Unified Simulation of Elastic Rods, Shells, and Solids
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Los Angeles, USA, July 25-29, 2010), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 39:1-39:10
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2009
[Mar09]
S. Martin, C. Huber, P. Kaufmann, M. Gross
Shape-Preserving Animation of Deformable Objects
Proceedings of Vision, Modeling, and Visualization (VMV) (Braunschweig, Germany, November 16-18, 2009), pp. 65-72
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P. Kaufmann, S. Martin, M. Botsch, E. Grinspun, M. Gross
Enrichment Textures for Detailed Cutting of Shells
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (New Orleans, USA, August 3-7, 2009), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 50:1-50:10
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P. Kaufmann, S. Martin, M. Botsch, M. Gross
Flexible Simulation of Deformable Models Using Discontinuous Galerkin FEM
Journal of Graphical Models, vol. 71, no. 4, 2009, Special Issue of ACM SIGGRAPH / Eurographics Symposium on Computer Animation 2008, pp. 153-167
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2008
[Kim08]
T. Kim, N. Thuerey, D. James, M. Gross
Wavelet Turbulence for Fluid Simulation
Proceedings of ACM SIGGRAPH (Los Angeles, USA, August 11-15, 2008), ACM Transactions on Graphics, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 50.1-50.6
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[Mar08]
S. Martin, P. Kaufmann, M. Botsch, M. Wicke, M. Gross
Polyhedral Finite Elements Using Harmonic Basis Functions
Proceedings of Eurographics Symposium on Geometry Processing (Copenhagen, Denmark, July 2-4, 2008), Computer Graphics Forum, vol. 27, no. 5, 2008, pp. 1521-1529
(Best Student Paper Award)
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P. Kaufmann, S. Martin, M. Botsch, M. Gross
Flexible Simulation of Deformable Models Using Discontinuous Galerkin FEM
Proceedings of the 2008 ACM SIGGRAPH/Eurographics Symposium on Computer Animation (Dublin, Ireland, July 7-9, 2008), pp. 105-115
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