Green figures are example motions. Yellows are interpolations and extrapolations. This figure shows a parameterized jog from overhead. The green are example motions and the yellows extrapolations and interpolations. Although complex forms and motions can be constructed either by hand or with motion or geometry capture technologies, once they are created, they are difficult to modify, particularly at runtime.
Interpolation provides a way to leverage artist-generated source material.
We present a methodology for efficient runtime interpolation between multiple forms or multiple motion segments. Radial basis functions provide the key mathematical support for the interpolation. Once our system is provided with example forms and motions, it generates a continuous range of forms we call a shape or a continuous range of motions we call a verb. We also apply the shape interpolation methodology to articulated figures to create smoothly skinned figures that deform in natural ways. The runtime interpolation of the forms or motions runs fast enough to be used in interactive applications such as games.