Character Animation using
Transformation Based Linear Dynamics
Master of Science degree, 1997
Graduate Department of Computer Science
University of Toronto
Abstract
In this thesis we show that physically based animation of deformable
objects can be applied to character animation in a way that is
compatible with existing computer graphics modeling and animation
techniques.
This is accomplished through the use of a low degree of freedom physical
model based on transformations which are commonly applied to geometric
models in computer graphics.
We make contributions towards using B-spline based free-form deformations
in this context, and show the benefits of embedding the geometric
model in a predeformed transformation domain.
We also make contributions towards a general treatment of potential functions
for shape and volume preservation.
We further show that the characteristics of the physical model can be
synthesized from surface based geometry, and that constraints can be
used to directly control models and construct motion hierarchies.
Finally, we illustrate how character animation can be efficiently specified
in an animation system based on these techniques.