Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for passing actionable information between different buildings to facilitate building management without human intervention include, in one aspect, a method including: determining, in a building information modelling (BIM) system of a first building, a set of rules defining actions to be taken by a building automation system of the first building in response to a defined set of remote information received from a BIM system of a second building, the set of remote information corresponding to one or more sensors in or associated with the second building; receiving data from the BIM system of the second building in accordance with the set of remote information; and using the building automation system of the first building to automatically change configuration, use, or operation of the first building in response to the received data in accordance with the set of rules.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a stress analysis engine efficiently computes stresses for an arbitrarily shaped three-dimension (3D) model. In operation, the stress analysis engine slices the 3D model into layers of cross-sections. The stress analysis engine then groups the cross-sections into virtual cross-sections. For each virtual cross-section, the stress analysis engine applies bending moment equilibrium-based equations to determine a corresponding structural stress for the 3D model. The efficiency of this stress analysis process enables real-time feedback of stresses to an interactive design tool that facilitates a trial-and-error design process. Using this trial-and-error process reduces the guesswork and/or over-engineering associated with conventional approaches based on finite element methods that are typically too slow for interactive feedback.

Abstract: A motion capture setup records the movements of an operator, and a control engine then translates those movements into control signals for controlling a robot. The control engine may directly translate the operator movements into analogous movements to be performed by the robot, or the control engine may compute robot dynamics that cause a portion of the robot to mimic a corresponding portion of the operator.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, to share information in a community of robots and users to perform tasks. In one aspect, a method includes registering, a plurality of robots in a system including creating for each robot of the plurality of robots a robot profile; publishing the robot profile; providing an application programming interface to the plurality of registered robots; providing a user interface to users; receiving a service request; determining that a user or registered robot is qualified to obtain service information in response to the service request; determining, responsive to the user or registered robot being qualified, the service information for the service request based on the published robot profiles; selecting one or more registered robots to receive the service information; and sending the service information to the one or more selected registered robots.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for reconfigurable spaces. One of the methods includes identifying plan information relating to a space under evaluation. Constraints related to structures associated with the plan information are identified. Input regarding uses or elements to be included in a reconfigurable design for the space is received. A library of elements for inclusion in the space is evaluated, including determining one or more reconfigurable elements that satisfy the received input. A first configuration of a reconfigurable element is determined including a first placement in a first design associated with the space, and the first design in accordance with the first configuration is presented. A second different configuration is determined, including a second placement in a second different design associated with the space, and the second different design in accordance with the second different configuration is presented.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for smoothing boundaries associated with meshes of primitives. The technique involves receiving a mesh of primitives that has a mesh boundary and an initial surface, identifying a first vertex associated with the mesh boundary and having a first location, and identifying a second vertex having a second location and a third vertex having a third location. Both the second vertex and third vertex are proximate to the first vertex. The technique further involves determining a fourth location based on the second location and the third location, projecting the fourth location onto the initial surface to determine a fifth location, and moving the first vertex to the fifth location.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, computer program product, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to parallel process hierarchical data. Hierarchical data is obtained. The hierarchical data is organized in a relationship graph having two or more nodes (consisting of parent nodes that are dependent on child nodes). The relationship graph requires bottom-up processing. Cycles are identified in the relationship graph. The relationship graph is leveled by traversing the graph and assigning all graph nodes into levels. The hierarchical data is processed by parallel processing the nodes in a first level of the one or more levels before parallel processing the nodes in a subsequent level.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for allowing multiple users to collaboratively edit 3-D assets in real-time, using a distributed 3-D editing/rendering software application. The software application may include a lightweight, browser-based user interface that is able to run on computing devices with relatively little memory and processing power. The software application may further include a progressive rendering engine.

Abstract: A sketch-based interface within an animation engine provides an end-user with tools for creating emitter textures and oscillator textures. The end-user may create an emitter texture by sketching one or more patch elements and then sketching an emitter. The animation engine animates the sketch by generating a stream of patch elements that emanate from the emitter. The end-user may create an oscillator texture by sketching a patch that includes one or more patch elements, and then sketching a brush skeleton and an oscillation skeleton. The animation engine replicates the patch along the brush skeleton, and then interpolates the replicated patches between the brush skeleton and the oscillation skeleton, thereby causing those replicated patches to periodically oscillate between the two skeletons.

Abstract: An animation engine is configured to apply motion amplifiers to sketches received from an end-user in order to create exaggerated, cartoon-style animation. The animation engine receives a sketch input from the end-user as well as a selection of one or more motion amplifiers. The animation engine also receives one or more control sketches that indicate how the selected motion amplifiers are applied to the sketch input. The animation engine projects the sketch input onto a sketch grid to create a sketch element, and then animates the sketch element by deforming the underlying sketch grid based on the control sketches. The animation engine then interpolates the sketch input, based on the deformations of the sketch grid, to animate the sketch. In this manner, the animation engine exposes an intuitive set of tools that allows end-users to easily apply the well-known Principles of Animation.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product provide the ability to search for and interact with three-dimensional (3D) objects in a 3D model/drawing. Searches may be conducted on a per object basis (based on properties of the object) and search queries may be amended based on shared/common attributes between objects found in an initial search. Differences in search results can be identified and the causality may be used to perform additional searches. Search results may be listed in a list view and a correspondence between objects in the list view and the modeling view may be visibly discernible. Further, selection of a single object from a search result may focus the view on such an object while removing any occluding objects. Multiple selected objects can be viewed in an array of rotationally synchronized viewports.

Abstract: A tool data engine displays instructional information to an end-user of a software application that pertains to one or more tools associated with the software application. The tool data engine displays the instructional information within a graphical user interface (GUI) after the user has indicated interest in that tool. The instructional information includes a detailed description of the tool and one or more video clips associated with the tool. The tool data engine also allows end-users to record and/or upload video clips that demonstrate usage of the tool.

Abstract: A video processing engine is configured to generate a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows an end-user of the video processing engine to select a specific video and search through the specific video to detect a desired target scene. The video processing engine provides a grid array of video thumbnails that are configured to each display a segment of the video so that multiple scenes may be visually scanned simultaneously. When the end-user identifies a scene within a video thumbnail that may be the desired target scene, the end-user may launch the content of the video thumbnail in full-screen mode to verify that the scene is in fact the desired target scene. An advantage of the approach described herein is that the video processing engine provides a sampled overview of the video in its entirety, thus enabling the end-user to more effectively scrub the video for the desired target scene.

Abstract: A method includes providing a wearable device compatible with and worn by an animal, the wearable device including a processing engine, a plurality of sensors, and a communication interface to a remotely located base station. The method includes monitoring an environment around the wearable device as the animal traverses a space and collecting information based on data generated by the plurality of sensors. The method also includes analyzing the data generated by the plurality of sensors and inferring activities associated with a human in proximity to the animal, wherein inferring activities includes determining a current location of the human based on data generated by one or more of the sensors, and determining activities of the human over a period of time based on data generated by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes, among other things, systems, methods and program products for presenting object properties by receiving selection of a component of a model presented in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer aided design tool, the GUI including an interactive display element having an arrangement of property fields related to the selected component, determining property values associated with the property fields based on the selected component, and providing the determined property values in corresponding property fields of the interactive display element for presentation in the GUI in conjunction with the model, such that responsive to receiving selection of a different component of the model, the property fields are updated with property values corresponding to the different component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simulating occupant behavior in buildings may be used to predict the energy use of a building structure. The activities of actual building occupants are recorded and provided as an input to the occupant behavior simulation. The occupant behavior simulation generates simulated occupant schedules with similar behavioral patterns. An arbitrary set of factors can be used to select plausible activity types, durations, and numbers of participants during an occupant behavior simulation. The simulated occupant schedules may then be incorporated into a building performance simulation to help architects predict the energy demand associated with different building design options.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus include computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, including a method for suggesting products from available parts. A plurality of available parts in an inventory is identified, including identifying at least one assembly of plural individual parts or sub-assemblies. For each assembly, plural sub-assemblies or individual parts included in a respective assembly are determined. An inventory list is created that includes the plurality of available parts, the at least one assembly, and the determined sub-assemblies or individual parts of an assembly. An inventory of products is identified that constitute assemblies. Each product in the inventory of products has a respective parts list identifying parts required to build the product. The inventory list is evaluated including comparing the inventory list to the inventory of products to locate candidate products constructible using the elements included in the inventory list. Product suggestions are output.

Abstract: A method for generating a user interface within a graphics application for a set of materials, such that each material includes a material definition and is capable of being applied to a geometry in a graphics scene when performing a rendering operation. A GUI generation engine obtains configuration information associated with an environment for a computer system and determines that a first set of materials is associated with the configuration information. The GUI generation selects the first set of materials to be displayed in a graphical user interface, and the graphical user interface is displaying to an end-user. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention provide for a technique for exposing only those materials, user interface objects, editable material parameters, user interface elements, vocabulary, rendering engines, and/or rendering engine implementations that are relevant to the user of a particular rendering application.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system provides the ability to navigate within a building structure. A building information model (BIM) for a building structure is obtained, validated, and stored in a database in the cloud. A request for the validated BIM is received from a mobile device. The validated BIM is provided from the database to the mobile device. A destination within the building structure, is accepted from the mobile device via a navigation application on the mobile device. A route from a location of the mobile device to the destination is determined and provided to the mobile device. The navigation application utilizes the route and the validated BIM to direct the mobile application to the destination.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for determining a location of an object that is being manipulated or processed by a robot. The technique includes capturing a digital image of the object while the object is disposed by the robot within an imaging space, wherein the digital image includes a direct view of the object and a reflected view of the object, detecting a visible feature of the object in the direct view and the visible feature of the object in the reflected view, and computing a first location of the visible feature in a first direction based on a position of the visible feature in the direct view. The technique further includes computing a second location of the visible feature in a second direction based on a position of the visible feature in the reflected view and causing the robot to move the object to a processing station based at least in part on the first location and the second location.