: We present a method to convert animated digital characters into physically fabricated prototypes. Our physical characters can be actuated using pins, strings, or posed by hand. We present a method for fabrication-oriented design of actuated deformable characters that allows a user to automatically create physical replicas of digitally designed characters using rapid manufacturing technologies. Given a deformable character and a set of target poses as input, our method computes a small set of actuators along with their locations on the surface and optimizes the internal material distribution such that the resulting character exhibits the desired deformation behavior. We approach this problem with a dedicated algorithm that combines finite-element analysis, sparse regularization, and constrained optimization. We validate our pipeline on a set of two-and three-dimensional example characters and present results in simulation and physically-fabricated prototypes.
Skouras et al. REF optimized the internal material distribution so that the resulting character exhibits the desired deformation behavior.
Computational design of actuated deformable characters
TOGS
Computer Science