Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for computer aided design of structures include, in one aspect, a method for producing continuous (G2) NURBS surfaces from arbitrary subdivision surface meshes, the method including: obtaining a control mesh of a subdivision surface; obtaining limit surface patches subdivided from the control mesh using at least two levels around any extraordinary regions of the control mesh; discarding discontinuous surface patches, which include a star point; producing replacement surface patches for the discarded patches using adjacent surface patches, wherein the replacement surface patches are curvature continuous with each other and with the adjacent surface patches; combining each of the replacement surface patches with at least one non-discarded surface patch generated from a same polygon of the control mesh as the replacement surface patch; and processing the combined surface patches for output by a physical device.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system provide the ability to crop a three-dimensional (3D) scene. The 3D scene is acquired and includes multiple 3D images (with each image from a view angle of an image capture device) and a depth map for each image. The depth values in each depth map are sorted. Multiple initial cutoff depths are determined for the scene based on the view angles of the images (in the scene). A cutoff relaxation depth is determined based on a jump between depth values. A confidence map is generated for each depth map and indicates whether each depth value is above or below the cutoff relaxation depth. The confidence maps are aggregated into an aggregated model. A bounding volume is generated out of the aggregated model. Points are cropped from the scene based on the bounding volume.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus provide the ability to design a circuit. A behavior of the circuit is authored by dragging nodes from side panels and connecting them in an authoring canvas. Multiple circuit designs that satisfy the behavior are generated. A data grid table is generated and displays the circuit designs with each row representing a design, and the table is sortable based on columns that represent computed metrics. Upon selection of a design in the table, a computer generated circuit diagram is rendered. Interactive assembly instructions are generated and displayed. The interactive assembly instructions provide a text-based step-by-step guide to wire the circuit. Further, upon selection of an assembly instruction step, a corresponding element in the computer generated circuit diagram is highlighted.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a technique for generating a three-dimensional model from a two-dimensional sketch. The technique includes receiving input indicating a set of points defining a first sketch element and a second set of points defining a second sketch element included in a sketch. The technique further includes identifying one or more design relationships between the first sketch element and the second sketch element. The technique further includes generating a computer model of the sketch that represents a structure linking the first sketch element and the second sketch element according to the one or more design relationships. The technique further includes outputting the first sketch element, the second sketch element, and the structure for display.

Abstract: A design application generates feasible engineering designs that satisfy criteria associated with a particular engineering problem. The design application receives input that outlines a specific engineering problem to be solved, and then synthesizes a problem specification based on this input. The design application then searches a database to identify different classes of approaches to solving the design problem set forth in the problem specification. The design application then selects one or more such classes of approaches, and generates a spectrum of potential design solutions for each such approach. The generated solutions may then be evaluated to determine the degree to which the problems specification has been met.

Abstract: A computing device for receiving a design problem statement describing a design problem in a controlled natural language (CNL) that defines permitted lexicons and syntax structures. The design problem statement is processed using the CNL lexicons and syntax structures to produce a job description executable by a design application for generating a design solution for the design problem statement. An improved CNL user interface that assists users to produce valid design problem statements that are CNL-compliant. The CNL user interface receives user-selectable terms that are compliant with the CNL lexicons and generates candidate problem statements that are compliant with CNL syntax structures and receives a selection of a candidate problem statement that is added to the design problem statement. A graphical user interface may display a graphical representation of a design problem statement that can be directly modified. A dialogue-based design process to explore possible design intentions and design solutions.

Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to examine a three-dimensional (3D) structure. A physical 3D structure is acquired. A digital model of the 3D structure is acquired in an augmented reality (AR) system. The digital model is calibrated to match the 3D structure. The digital model is projected onto the 3D structure. A tool interacting with the 3D structure is tracked and the interaction is analyzed. A visualization of the projected digital model is updated based on the analysis.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system provide the ability to crop a three-dimensional (3D) scene. The 3D scene is acquired and includes multiple 3D images (with each image from a view angle of an image capture device) and a depth map for each image. The depth values in each depth map are sorted. Multiple initial cutoff depths are determined for the scene based on the view angles of the images (in the scene). A cutoff relaxation depth is determined based on a jump between depth values. A confidence map is generated for each depth map and indicates whether each depth value is above or below the cutoff relaxation depth. The confidence maps are aggregated into an aggregated model. A bounding volume is generated out of the aggregated model. Points are cropped from the scene based on the bounding volume.

Abstract: A design engine analyzes a complex polygonal mesh to identify regions of that mesh that can be simplified. The design engine then replaces those identified regions with simplified geometry that is more easily fabricated using traditional techniques. The remaining complex regions of the mesh are fabricated using additive fabrication techniques. The design engine interacts with both a traditional fabrication device and an additive fabrication device to fabricate the simplified and complex regions of the mesh, respectively. In this manner, a hybrid 3D structure is generated that includes both simplified geometry and complex geometry.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system provide the ability to draw a feature line on an image. An image is acquired and is represented as a set of pixel samples for every pixel in the image, with each pixel sample including one or more feature attributes. One or more features are detected based on differences between the feature attributes. The detected features are represented by pixel samples. A color of the pixel samples representing the detected features is altered. The image is rendered based on the pixel samples including the altered color, and the feature line includes the altered color.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs for multi-tool additive manufacturing include a method including: slicing a received model into a series of layers; determining one or more separation starting points, each being a location of two adjoining portions of the model that are to be manufactured by respective additive manufacturing robots; and determining an offset for each of the one or more separation starting points in each layer of the series of layers based on a threshold acceptable print time, each offset in a layer determining a seam location in the layer that is different from a seam location in at least one adjacent layer in the series of layers, and seam offsets determined for the series of layers increase an estimated print time, for manufacturing of the series of layers by the two or more additive manufacturing robots, to no more than the threshold acceptable print time.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention disclosed herein provides a system that includes a mirror apparatus with a first surface to which a half-silvered mirror film is applied, where the mirror apparatus transmits a transmitted image from a second surface to the first surface. The system further includes a servo-controlled dimmer that adjusts a level of ambient light associated with the mirror apparatus. The system further includes a motion sensing device that tracks positions of a plurality of points associated with an object; wherein the object is situated on the half-silvered mirror film side of the mirror apparatus. The system further includes a computing device including a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by a processor included in the computing device, cause the processor to control the servo-controlled dimmer to adjust the ambient light such that both the transmitted image and a reflected image is visible on the first surface.

Abstract: Systems and method for determining dynamic forces in a liquefier system in additive manufacturing include, in at least one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification, a method including: receiving motor data for a drive motor that pushes a solid material toward a liquefaction zone of the liquefier system, wherein the motor data comprises at least one data point per individual command code of a set of command codes sent for additive manufacturing; receiving pressure data associated with the liquefaction zone of the liquefier system, wherein the pressure data includes at least one data point per individual command code of the set of command codes; analyzing the motor data and the pressure data for the set of command codes; and outputting a result of the analyzing to facilitate further 3D printing by the AM 3D printer using the solid material.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer-readable storage medium provide the ability to merge multiple point cloud scans. A first raw scan file and a second raw scan file (each including multiple points) are imported. The scan files are segmented by extracting segments based on geometry in the scene. The segments are filtered. A set of candidate matching feature pairs are acquired by registering features from one scan to features from another scan. The two raw scan files are merged based on the candidate matching feature pairs.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a sketching application generates models of three-dimensional (3D) objects. In operation, the sketching application generates a first virtual geometry based on a first free-form gesture. Subsequently, the sketching application generates a second virtual geometry based on a first constrained gesture associated with a two-dimensional (2D) physical surface. The sketching application then generates a model of a 3D object based on the first virtual geometry and the second virtual geometry. Advantageously, because the sketching application generates virtual geometries based on a combination of free-form and constrained gestures, the sketching application efficiently generates accurate models of detailed 3D objects.

Abstract: A robot system models the behavior of a user when the user occupies an operating zone associated with a robot. The robot system predicts future behaviors of the user, and then determines whether those predicted behaviors interfere with anticipated behaviors of the robot. When such interference may occur, the robot system generates dynamics adjustments that can be implemented by the robot to avoid such interference. The robot system may also generate dynamics adjustments that can be implemented by the user to avoid such interference.

Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to generate models. A generative shelled base is created as a hollow computer-aided design (CAD) design. A t-spline mid-surface shell is created from the generative shelled base, which is then used to create a shell mesh model. A t-spline solid body is created from the generative shelled base, which is used to create an internal support structure that is converted into a shell CAD geometry, which is used to create a support structure mid-surface shell. The support structure mid-surface shell is combined with the shell mesh model into a generative mid-surface mesh that is used in a computer-aided engineering (CAE) crash simulation. The generated shelled base is combined with the shell CAD geometry into a generative shelled solid that is utilized in an additive build simulation.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for performing a draping simulation of a fabric that includes obtaining a problem definition that includes a fabric cell size, a spring constant ratio, and a three-dimensional (3D) surface. The technique also includes representing the fabric as a set of fabric cells with dimensions that adhere to the fabric cell size, modeling the fabric cells based on a set of side springs and a set of diagonal springs, and setting a first spring constant of the side springs and a second spring constant of the diagonal springs based on the spring constant ratio. The technique further includes propagating the fabric cells along the 3D surface according to the fabric cell size, the first spring constant, and the second spring constant to generate a result of the draping simulation.

Abstract: A design engine implements a probabilistic approach to generating designs that exposes automatically-generated design knowledge to the user during operation. The design engine interactively generates successive populations of designs based on a problem definition associated with a design problem and/or a previously-generated population of designs. During the above design process, the design engine generates a design knowledge graphical user interface (GUI) that graphically exposes various types of design knowledge to the user. In particular, the design engine generates a design variable dependency GUI that visualizes various dependencies between designs variables. The design engine also generates a design evolution GUI that animates the evolution of designs across the successive design populations. Additionally, the design engine generates a design exploration GUI that facilitates the user exploring various statistical properties of automatically-generated designs.

Abstract: A computing device for receiving a design problem statement describing a design problem in a controlled natural language (CNL) that defines permitted lexicons and syntax structures. The design problem statement is processed using the CNL lexicons and syntax structures to produce a job description executable by a design application for generating a design solution for the design problem statement. An improved CNL user interface that assists users to produce valid design problem statements that are CNL-compliant. The CNL user interface receives user-selectable terms that are compliant with the CNL lexicons and generates candidate problem statements that are compliant with CNL syntax structures and receives a selection of a candidate problem statement that is added to the design problem statement. A graphical user interface may display a graphical representation of a design problem statement that can be directly modified. A dialogue-based design process to explore possible design intentions and design solutions.