0000000000040946
AUTHOR
Marcos Fernández
A VR-Enhanced Rollover Car Simulator and Edutainment Application for Increasing Seat Belt Use Awareness
Most countries have active road safety policies that seek the objective of reducing deaths in traffic accidents. One of the main factors in this regard is the awareness of the safety measures, one of the most important being the correct usage of the seat belt, a device that is known to save thousands of lives every year. The presented work shows a VR-enhanced edutainment application designed to increase awareness on the use of seat belts. For this goal, a motorized rollover system was developed that, synchronized with a VR application (shown in a head-mounted display for each user inside a real car), rolls over this car with up to four passengers inside. This way, users feel the sensations …
Recovering Sicilian Silk Heritage through Digital Technologies: The Case of Piraino’s Collection
Textile conservation has given rise to small and medium-sized museums, usually with scarce resources. In Sicily, the little evidence that remains of silk production and opulent imports by the rich and powerful local aristocracy is kept in museums, parishes, and other cultural institutions. The documentation, dissemination, and enhancement of such a fragile heritage is today possible by means of technological tools that provide novel means to preserve, analyze, and exploit digital information. In this paper, we present some outcomes of the SILKNOW project, a project that applies computing research to the needs of diverse users (museums, educational institutions, the tourism industry, creativ…
Towards an extensible simulator of real motion platforms
Abstract The limitations of a real motion platform will not normally be discovered until it is completely built and tested. Late identification of its limitations imposes the necessity of a redesign of the motion platform. This, in turn, incurs important and significant economic costs for the manufacturer. Note that any change in the original design of the motion platform requires an investment in resources, money and time in order to perform the re-design of the platform. The main contribution of this paper is to address this problem by creating a virtual motion platform (VMP). This virtual motion platform is a computer-based simulation of a real motion platform which produces the same out…
Interactive Tools for the Visualization of Tangible and Intangible Silk Heritage Emerging from an Interdisciplinary Work
Silk is a unique example of heritage where memory, identity, creativity and knowledge can be found in just one piece. It is a multifaceted, living heritage, as it consists of more than the fabrics themselves, but also the techniques associated with them, historical buildings, trades, festivities, etc. Therefore, designers, weavers, painters, sellers and users are involved in it. However, it is also a fragile heritage, alive in the few industries that still weave with historical looms. Additionally, the COVID19 pandemic has put the entire artisanal and small industrial sector of European silk in risk of disappearing. In this, paper we show some results of the SILKNOW project, whose main obje…
Augmented Mirror: Interactive Augmented Reality System Based on Kinect
Part 1: Long and Short Papers; International audience; In this paper we present a virtual character controlled by an actor in real time, who talks with an audience through an augmented mirror. The application, which integrates video images, the avatar and other virtual objects within an Augmented Reality system, has been implemented using a mixture of technologies: two kinect systems for motion capture, depth map and real images, a gyroscope to detect head movements, and control algorithms to manage avatar emotions.
A Comparison Study of Modern Heuristics for Solving the Partitioning Problem in Distributed Virtual Environment Systems
Fast Internet connections and the widespread use of high performance graphic cards are making Distributed Virtual Environment (DVE) systems very common nowadays. However, there are several key issues in these systems that should still be improved in order to design a scalable and cost-effective system. One of these key issues is the partitioning problem. This problem consists of efficiently assigning clients (3-D avatars) to the servers in the system. In this paper, we present a comparison study of different modern heuristics for solving the partitioning problem in DVE systems, as an alternative to the ad-hoc heuristic proposed in the literature. Performance evaluation results show that som…
An Augmented Reality (AR) CAD System at Construction Sites
Augmented Reality (AR) technologies allow computer-generated content to be superimposed over a live camera view of the real world. Although AR is still a very promising technology, currently only a few commercial applications for industrial purposes exploit the potential of adding contextual content to real scenarios. Most of AR applications are oriented to fields such as education or entertainment, where the requirements in terms of repeatability, fault tolerance, reliability and safety are low. Different visualization devices, tracking methods and interaction techniques are described in the literature, establishing a classification between Indoor and Outdoor AR systems. On the one hand, t…
To Move or Not to Move?
This chapter deals with the problem of including motion cues in VR applications. From the challenges of this technology to the latest trends in the field, the authors discuss the benefits and problems of including these particular perceptual cues. First, readers will know how motion cues are usually generated in simulators and VR applications in general. Then, the authors list the major problems of this process and the reasons why its development has not followed the pace of the rest of VR elements (mainly the display technology), reviewing the motion vs. no-motion question from several perspectives. The general answer to this discussion is that motion cues are necessary in VR applications—…
A grid representation for distributed virtual environments
Fast Internet connections and the widespread use of high performance graphic cards are making Distributed Virtual Environments (DVE) very common nowadays. The architecture and behavior of these systems are very similar to new grid computing applications where concepts such as sharing and high scalability are extremely exploited. However, there are several key issues in these systems that should still be improved in order to design a scalable and cost-effective DVE system. One of these key issues is the partitioning problem. This problem consists of efficiently assigning clients (3-D avatars) to the arbiters (servers) in the system. As an alternative to the ad-hoc heuristic proposed in the l…
Optimization of 3-DOF Parallel Motion Devices for Low-Cost Vehicle Simulators
Motion generation systems are becoming increasingly important in certain Virtual Reality (VR) applications, such as vehicle simulators. This paper deals with the analysis of the Inverse Kinematics (IK) and the reachable workspace of a three-degrees-of-freedom (3-DOF) parallel manipulator, proposing different transformations and optimizations in order to simplify its use with Motion Cueing Algorithms (MCA) for self-motion generation in VR simulators. The proposed analysis and improvements are performed on a 3-DOF heave-pitch-roll manipulator with rotational motors, commonly used for low-cost motion-based commercial simulators. The analysis has been empirically validated against a real 3-DOF …
Interactive Tools for the Preservation, Dissemination and Study of Silk Heritage—An Introduction to the SILKNOW Project
Silk was a major factor for progress in Europe, mostly along the Western Silk Road’s network of production and market centers. The silk trade also allowed for the exchange of ideas and innovations, having impacts at economic, technical, functional, cultural and symbolic levels. However, silk has today become a seriously endangered heritage. Although many European specialized museums are devoted to its preservation, they usually lack the size and resources to take advantage of state-of-the-art digital technologies. The aim of this paper is twofold; firstly, we introduce SILKNOW, an interdisciplinary project that has been recently funded by the H2020 Programme of the European Union in order t…
A comparison study of evolutive algorithms for solving the partitioning problem in distributed virtual environment systems
Fast Internet connections and the widespread use of high performance graphic cards are making Distributed Virtual Environment (DVE) systems very common nowadays. However, there are several key issues in these systems that should still be improved in order to design a scalable and cost-effective system. One of these key issues is the partitioning problem. This problem consists of efficiently assigning clients (3D avatars) to the servers in the system. In this paper, we present a comparison study of different modern heuristics for solving the partitioning problem in DVE systems, as an alternative to the ad hoc heuristic proposed in the literature. Performance evaluation results show that some…
From the Paper to the Tablet: On the Design of an AR-Based Tool for the Inspection of Pre-Fab Buildings. Preliminary Results of the SIRAE Project
Energy-efficient Buildings (EeB) are demanded in today’s constructions, fulfilling the requirements for green cities. Pre-fab buildings, which are modularly fully-built in factories, are a good example of this. Although this kind of building is quite new, the in situ inspection is documented using traditional tools, mainly based on paper annotations. Thus, the inspection process is not taking advantage of new technologies. In this paper, we present the preliminary results of the SIRAE project that aims to provide an Augmented Reality (AR) tool that can seamlessly aid in the regular processes of pre-fab building inspections to detect and eliminate the possible existing quality and ener…
The Quality of Service Issue in Virtual Environments
Networked virtual environments (NVEs) have become a major trend in distributed computing, mainly due to the enormous popularity of multi-player online games in the entertainment industry. Nowadays, NVE systems are considered as the supporting technology for many networked and virtual organizations (NVO) (Singhal & Zyda, 1999), especially to those classified within the field of computer supported cooperative work (CSCW), where networked computer can be seen as a standard to provide the technological means to support the team design (Ott & Nastansky, 1997). These highly interactive systems simulate a virtual world where multiple users share the same scenario. The system renders the im…
Virtual reality for driving simulation
In this paper, the authors describe the data structure necessary to provide real time simulation and visualization of complex environments and situations. Through the SIRCA project, the development of driving oriented simulators, using Virtual Reality (VR) and evaluating it in comparison with convention technologies, has taken place. Focus is on some of the algorithms and data structure required to provide real time simulation of the complex urban environment and its visualization under the conditions of VR devices.
Applying particle swarm optimization to the motion-cueing-algorithm tuning problem
The MCA tuning problem consists in finding the best values for the parameters/coefficients of Motion Cueing Algorithms (MCA). MCA are used to control the movements of robotic motion platforms employed to generate inertial cues in vehicle simulators. This problem is traditionally approached with a manual pilot-in-the-loop subjective tuning, based on the opinion of several pilots/drivers. Instead, this paper proposes applying Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to solve this problem, using simulated motion platforms and objective indicators rather than subjective opinions. Results show that PSO-based tuning can provide a suitable solution for this complex optimization problem.
Non-interleaved Quadtree Node Codification
The usual quadtree node non-pointer codification is based on interleaved binary representations of node coordinates, in such a way that every operation that concerns to the spatial position or to the specific orientation of the region represented by the node needs to undo this interleaving process. So, the computation time of such operations is linear with the node depth. In this paper an alternative codification is presented called “non-interleaved codification”. The new codification has a simpler management and a higher intuitiveness than current codifications that use the interleaving approach. The proposed codification is more efficient than previous ones for the following set of operat…
Development of a Hybrid Method to Generate Gravito-Inertial Cues for Motion Platforms in Highly Immersive Environments
Motion platforms have been widely used in Virtual Reality (VR) systems for decades to simulate motion in virtual environments, and they have several applications in emerging fields such as driving assistance systems, vehicle automation and road risk management. Currently, the development of new VR immersive systems faces unique challenges to respond to the user’s requirements, such as introducing high-resolution 360° panoramic images and videos. With this type of visual information, it is much more complicated to apply the traditional methods of generating motion cues, since it is generally not possible to calculate the necessary corresponding motion properties that are needed to …
A new AR authoring tool using depth maps for industrial procedures
Several augmented reality systems have been proposed for different target fields such as medical, cultural heritage and military. However, most of the current AR authoring tools are actually programming interfaces that are exclusively suitable for programmers. In this paper, we propose an AR authoring tool which provides advanced visual effect, such as occlusion or media contents. This tool allows non-programming users to develop low-cost AR applications, specially oriented to on-site assembly and maintenance/repair tasks. A new 3D edition interface is proposed, using photos and Kinect depth information to improve 3D scenes composition. In order to validate our AR authoring tool, two evalua…
On the Characterization of Distributed Virtual Environment Systems
Distributed Virtual Environment systems have experienced a spectacular growth last years. One of the key issues in the design of scalable and cost-effective DVE systems is the partitioning problem. This problem consists of efficiently assigning clients (3-D avatars) to the servers in the system, and some techniques have been already proposed for solving it.
Towards a Guidance System to Aid in the Dosimetry Calculation of Intraoperative Electron Radiation Therapy
In Intraoperative Electron Radiation Therapy (IOERT), the lack of specific planning tools limits its applicability, the need for accurate dosimetry estimation and application during the therapy being the most critical. Recently, some works have been presented that try to overcome some of the limitations for establishing planning tools, though still an accurate guidance system that tracks, in real-time, the applicator and the patient is needed. In these surgical environments, the acquisition of an accurate 3D shape of the patient’s tumor bed in real-time is of high interest, as current systems make use of a 3D model acquired before the treatment. In this paper, an optical-based system is pre…
Combining traditional and indirect augmented reality for indoor crowded environments. A case study on the Casa Batlló museum
Abstract Mobile audio-guides are currently being used in museums to enhance the visitors’ experience. Over the past few years, some Augmented Reality (AR) solutions have been explored in this context, making it possible to provide augmented visual and sonic stimuli through the use of smartphones. However, the special conditions of museums (e.g. artificial markers cannot be used, small, crowded rooms, etc.) and the limited computational capacity of smartphones mean that there are important restrictions in the use of this technology. In this paper we introduce a novel mobile augmented guide for the Casa Batllo museum (Barcelona, Spain) which is based on a combination of traditional and indire…
An Easy-to-Use AR Authoring Tool for Industrial Applications
Augmented Reality (AR) applications have been emerged last years as a valuable tool for saving significant costs in maintenance and process control tasks in industry. This trend has been stimulated by the appearance of authoring tools that allow the fast and easy development of AR applications. However, most of current AR authoring tools are actually programming interfaces that are exclusively suitable for programmers, and they do not provide advanced visual effects such as occlusion or object collision detection.
Heuristics for solving the parameter tuning problem in motion cueing algorithms.
[ES] Diversos tipos de plataformas robóticas son empleadas habitualmente para la generación de claves gravito-inerciales en simuladores. Además del control de los actuadores, dichas plataformas deben ejecutar complejos algoritmos de control conocidos como algoritmos de washout, que deben ser ajustados para que el movimiento generado sea similar al simulado. El ajuste de dichos algoritmos es complejo por el elevado número de parámetros que poseen. Además, dicho ajuste se ha venido realizando tradicionalmente de modo manual mediante evaluaciones subjetivas. En este trabajo, los autores proponen un método automático de ajuste basado en optimización heurística, métricas objetivas, y simulación …
Towards a simulation-based tuning of motion cueing algorithms
Abstract This paper deals with the problem of finding the best values for the parameters of Motion Cueing Algorithms (MCA). MCA are responsible for controlling the movements of robotic motion platforms used to generate the gravito-inertial cues of vehicle simulators. The values of their multiple parameters, or coefficients, are hard to establish and they dramatically change the behaviour of MCA. The problem has been traditionally addressed in a subjective, partially non-systematic, iterative, time-consuming way, by seeking pilot/driver feedback on the generated motion cues. The aim of this paper is to introduce a different approach to solve the problem of MCA tuning, by making use of a simu…
SMART-ASD, model and ontology definition: a technology recommendation system for people with autism and/or intellectual disabilities
There are many studies that encourage the use of mobile device solutions to improve the skills of people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are a number of apps that may be useful for people with ASD, some specifically designed for them, and others not. The main goal of the SMART-ASD project is to assist in the selection of adequate technology and all related accessories. In this project, the users' data are maintained into an ontology. This ontology also includes information about devices, apps, and protection. The system is a hybrid recommendation system that guides parents and professionals in the selection of the adequate technology. This paper presents the SMART-ASD model an…
A Comparison Study of Metaheuristic Techniques for Providing QoS to Avatars in DVE Systems
Network-server architecture has become a de-facto standard for Distributed Virtual Environment (DVE) systems. In these systems, a large set of remote users share a 3D virtual scene. In order to design scalable DVE systems, different approaches have been proposed to maintain the DVE system working under its saturation point, maximizing system throughput. Also, in order to provide quality of service to avatars in a DVE systems, avatars should be assigned to servers taking into account, among other factors, system throughput and system latency. This highly complex problem is called quality of service (QoS) problem in DVE systems. This paper proposes two different approaches for solving the QoS…
A particle swarm approach for tuning washout algorithms in vehicle simulators
Abstract The MCA tuning problem involves finding the most appropriate values for the parameters (or coefficients) of Motion Cueing Algorithms (MCA), also known as washout algorithms. These algorithms are designed to control the movements of the robotic mechanisms, referred to as motion platforms, employed to generate inertial cues in vehicle simulators. This problem can be approached in several different ways. The traditional approach is to perform a manual pilot-in-the-loop subjective tuning, using the opinion of several pilots/drivers to guide the process. A more systematic approach is to use optimization techniques to explore the vast parameter space of the MCA, using objective motion fi…
Workload Characterization in Multiplayer Online Games
In recent years, distributed virtual environments (DVEs) have become a major trend in distributed applications, mainly due to the enormous popularity of multiplayer online games in the entertainment industry. Although the workload generated by avatars in a DVE system has already been characterized, the special features of multiplayer online games make these applications to require a particular workload characterization. This paper presents the workload characterization of multiplayer online games. This characterization is based on real traces, and it shows that the movement patterns of avatars used to develop optimization techniques for DVE systems can be extrapolated to First Person Shooti…
A Multi-Projector Calibration Method for Virtual Reality Simulators with Analytically Defined Screens
The geometric calibration of projectors is a demanding task, particularly for the industry of virtual reality simulators. Different methods have been developed during the last decades to retrieve the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of projectors, most of them being based on planar homographies and some requiring an extended calibration process. The aim of our research work is to design a fast and user-friendly method to provide multi-projector calibration on analytically defined screens, where a sample is shown for a virtual reality Formula 1 simulator that has a cylindrical screen. The proposed method results from the combination of surveying, photogrammetry and image processing approac…
ROMOT: A Robotic 3D-Movie Theater Allowing Interaction and Multimodal Experiences
In this paper we introduce ROMOT, a RObotic 3D-MOvie Theater. ROMOT is built with a robotic motion platform, includes multimodal devices and supports audience-film interaction. Differently from other similar systems, ROMOT is highly versatile as it can support different setups, integrated hardware and contents. Regarding to the setups, here we present a first-person movie, a mixed reality environment, a virtual reality interactive environment and an augmented reality mirror-based scene. Regarding to integrated hardware, the system currently integrates a variety of devices and displays that allow audiences to see, hear, smell, touch and feel the movement, all synchronized with the filmic exp…
A Case Study on Vestibular Sensations in Driving Simulators.
Motion platforms have been used in simulators of all types for several decades. Since it is impossible to reproduce the accelerations of a vehicle without limitations through a physically limited system (platform), it is common to use washout filters and motion cueing algorithms (MCA) to select which accelerations are reproduced and which are not. Despite the time that has passed since their development, most of these algorithms still use the classical washout algorithm. In the use of these MCAs, there is always information that is lost and, if that information is important for the purpose of the simulator (the training simulators), the result obtained by the users of that simulator will no…
A New Genetic Approach for the Partitioning Problem in Distributed Virtual Environment Systems
The Partitioning problem is a key issue in the design of Distributed Virtual Environment (DVE) systems based on a server-network architecture. This problem consist of efficiently assigning the clients of the simulation (avatars) to the system servers. Despite the existing literature proposes different evolutive approaches for solving this NP-hard problem, an approach based on genetic algorithms is considered as the current best partitioning mechanism.
Motion-Cuing Algorithms
Objective:The aim of this study was to characterize the human response to motion-cuing algorithms (MCAs) by comparing users’ perception to several proposed objective indicators.Background:Other researchers have proposed several MCAs, but few improvements have been achieved lately. One of the reasons for this lack of progress is that fair comparisons between different algorithms are hard to achieve, for their evaluation needs to be performed with humans and the tuning process is slow.Method:This characterization is performed by means of a comparison of the subjective perception of vehicle simulation users (90 participants) against several proposed objective indicators that try to measure MCA…
Comparison of WSN and IoT approaches for a real-time monitoring system of meal distribution trolleys: A case study
Abstract International regulations determine that food in hospitals and elderly homes must be served at given temperature ranges. However, the real-time surveillance of the meal distribution trolleys along all the institutions facilities, guaranteeing conformity to rules from the instant when all the meals are put in the distribution trolley until they are delivered to the patients, is still a challenge. In this paper, we present a comparison of two approaches based on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for implementing a Real-Time Monitoring System of Meal Distribution Trolleys in a hospital. The performance evaluation results show that the IoT impleme…
A Reconfigurable Immersive Workbench and Wall-System for Designing and Training in 3D Environments
Virtual and Augmented Reality have been widely used in many scientific fields for the last two decades in order to visualize complex data and information. Although both techniques are oriented to show users complex 3D environments by means of an intuitive and easy mechanism, they use to become useless to manipulate the information in an intuitive and realistic way. In this paper, we present SOROLLA, a new concept of workbench designed for virtual and augmented reality purposes and specially oriented to the fields of teleeducation and engineering. Unlike other proposals, SOROLLA not only allows an easy utilization and configuration, but also shows a cost-effective immersive visualization sys…
Simulation of parallel mechanisms for motion cueing generation in vehicle simulators using AM-FM bi-modulated signals
Abstract The use of robotic motion platforms in vehicle simulators is relatively common. However, the process of testing and tuning the so-called washout algorithms, used for motion cueing generation in motion-based vehicle simulators, is complex. This process can be reduced in cost, simplified, improved, shortened and performed safer if virtual motion platforms are used instead of real devices. This paper deals with identifying a method to perform a fast but reliable simulation of parallel mechanisms to be used for motion cueing generation. The method relies on the use of Laplacian polynomial transfer function models by means of using AM-FM bi-modulated signals as reference inputs to achie…
On the use of front-end cascode rectifiers based on normally on SiC JFET and Si MOSFET
The new wide band-gap semiconductor devices provide new properties to be explored. Normally on silicon carbide (SiC) JFET power devices have several advantages, in particular low switching losses and the potential capabilities of high temperature and high reverse blocking voltage. Looking for improving the overall efficiency in power converters, new structures based on these power devices might be studied. In this paper, a cascode rectifier based on normally on SiC JFET is presented and analyzed. This rectification structure can be applied as front-end rectifier stage for ac-dc power converters, increasing the overall efficiency of these topologies. A second cascode rectifier based on silic…
Analyzing the performance of a cluster-based architecture for immersive visualization systems
Cluster computing has become an essential issue for designing immersive visualization systems. This paradigm employs scalable clusters of commodity computers with much lower costs than would be possible with the high-end, shared memory computers that have been traditionally used for virtual reality purposes. This change in the design of virtual reality systems has caused some development environments oriented toward shared memory computing to require modifications to their internal architectures in order to support cluster computing. This is the case of VR Juggler, which is considered one of the most important virtual reality application development frameworks based on open source code. Thi…
Simulación de Plataformas Robóticas de Movimiento para Aplicaciones de Realidad Virtual Mediante Filtros Digitales
[ES] El uso de plataformas robóticas de movimiento en simuladores de vehículos y aplicaciones de Realidad Virtual es relativamente habitual. Sin embargo, el ajuste de los algoritmos que controlan su funcionamiento, denominados algoritmos de washout, no es sencillo y requiere de numerosas pruebas hasta obtener una apropiada fidelidad de movimiento. Disponer de herramientas que permitan simular plataformas de movimiento puede permitir simplificar esta tarea. Es por ello que este trabajo presenta un método para la caracterización y simulación de manipuladores robóticos mediante filtros digitales de segundo orden, sencillo de implementar y ajustar a partir de una caracterización previa. El simu…
From Historical Silk Fabrics to Their Interactive Virtual Representation and 3D Printing
The documentation, dissemination, and enhancement of Cultural Heritage is of great relevance. To that end, technological tools and interactive solutions (e.g., 3D models) have become increasingly popular. Historical silk fabrics are nearly flat objects, very fragile and with complex internal geometries, related to different weaving techniques and types of yarns. These characteristics make it difficult to properly document them, at the yarn level, with current technologies. In this paper, we bring a new methodology to virtually represent such heritage and produce 3D printouts, also making it highly interactive through the tool Virtual Loom. Our work involves sustainability from different per…
Locally constrained synthetic LoDs generation for natural terrain meshes
Terrain representation is a basic topic in the field of interactive graphics. The amount of data required for a good quality of the terrain offers an important challenge to developers of such systems. For users of these applications, the accuracy of geographical data is generally less important than its natural visual appearance. This makes it possible to maintain a limited geographical database for the system and to extend it generating synthetic data. The evaluation of the intrinsic properties of the terrain (i.e. fractal dimension, roughness, etc.) may be used as the basis for generating extra data accomplishing the same patterns discovered in the actual information. However, it is also …
Virtual Reality and Games
The concept of Virtual Reality (VR) dates back to around 1930, where different technologies and concepts arise. For instance, in 1929 Edward Link created the Link Trainer (further patented in 1931), reported to be the first example of a commercial flight simulator, being entirely electromechanical. Also, in the 1930s, the visionary, science fiction writer Stanley G. Weinbaum brings a story (Pygmalion’s Spectacles) that introduces the early idea of a pair of goggles that makes the wearer experience a fictional world through holograms, smell, taste, and touch. Weinbaum describes uncanny experiences for those wearing the goggles, aligned with the modern experiences of VR. It is in the mid 1950…
Intelligent eye
This paper describes Intelligent Eye, a mobile phone interactive leisure guide that offers location-based multimedia information. The information offered is related to the user's position, so the main goal of this work is the development of an efficient system to detect where the user is pointing his/her camera at by means of a content-based image retrieval algorithm (CBIR). The CBIR procedure uses color histograms in the HS color space extracted from images, and employs Kullback-Leibler divergence as the similarity measure. Intelligent Eye can be used in a wide range of camera-equipped mobile phones; however, efficiency is improved if GPS data is available. In order to outperform other sys…
Efficiently using connectivity information between triangles in a mesh for real-time rendering
Triangle meshes are the most popular standard model used to represent polygonal surfaces. Drawing these meshes as a set of independent triangles involves sending a vast amount of information to the graphics system. Taking advantage of the connectivity information between the triangles in a mesh dramatically diminishes the amount of information the graphics system must handle. Multiresolution Triangle Strips (MTS) represent a triangle mesh as a collection of multiresolution triangles strips. These strips are the basis of both the storage and the rendering stage. The coherence between the extraction of two levels of detail is used in the model in order to decrease the visualisation time.
Efficient Implementation of Multiresolution Triangle Strips
Triangle meshes are currently the most popular standard modelto represent polygonal surfaces. Drawing these meshes as a set of independent triangles involves sending a vast amount of information to the graphic engine. It has been shown that using drawing primitives, such as triangle fans or strips, dramatically reduces the amount of information. Multiresolution Triangle Strips (MTS) uses the connectivity information to represent a mesh as a set of multiresolution triangles strips. These strips are the basis of both the storage and rendering stages. They allow the efficient management of a wide range of levels of detail. In this paper, we have taken advantage of the coherence property betwee…
Entertainment virtual reality system for simulation of spaceflights over the surface of the planet Mars
In recent years Virtual Reality technologies have enabled astronomers to recreate and explore three dimensional structures of the Universe for scientific purposes. Mars, due to its scientific interest,has been the focal point of numerous research projects using these technologies, however, none of these virtual reality tools have been developed specifically for entertainment purposes.The focus of this paper is to present MarsVR, as an entertainment research project that educates people on the topography and orography of the planet Mars from the perspective of popular science. Some projects have been designed MarsVR for entertainment purposes and include the latest advances in 3D real time a…
Visualization of Large Terrain Using Non-restricted Quadtree Triangulations
This paper presents a set of new techniques oriented towards the real-time visualization of large terrains. These techniques are mainly focused on semi-regular triangulations of non-restricted quadtree terrain representations. Despite the fact that the paper shows that triangulations based on non-restricted quadtrees are as simple and efficient as those based on restricted quadtrees, the new triangulations avoid discontinuity problems among the boundaries of different patches without the need for tree balancing and extra triangles addition. Another important feature of the proposed triangulation is that it incorporates an efficient method for building triangle strips and triangle fans for t…
Adding Synthetic Detail to Natural Terrain Using a Wavelet Approach
Terrain representation is a basic topic in the field of interactive graphics. The amount of data required for good quality terrain representation offers an important challenge to developers of such systems. For users of these applications the accuracy of geographical data is less important than their natural visual appearance. This makes it possible to mantain a limited geographical data base for the system and to extend it generating synthetic data.In this paper we combine fractal and wavelet theories to provide extra data which keeps the natural essence of actual information available. The new levels of detail(LOD) for the terrain are obtained applying an inverse Wavelet Transform (WT) to…