Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including medium-encoded computer program products, for automatic generation of probe path for surface inspection and part alignment. A mesh model is obtained of at least a portion of a three dimensional model of a part to be manufactured using a computer-controlled manufacturing system. Vertex points from the mesh model are collected to be an initial set of probing points in a three dimensional space of a working coordinate system of the computer-controlled manufacturing system, and filtering out points are filtered out from the initial set of probing points based on coverage of the least a portion of the three dimensional model to produce a final set of probing points. The final set of probing points is provided for use in alignment or surface inspection of the part by the computer-controlled manufacturing system.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for facilitating the learning of a new software application. The technique includes causing a first user interface to be displayed on a display, wherein the first user interface is based on a user interface associated with a first software application; receiving a user input via the first user interface from a user; determining a first function associated with a second software application that should be provided to the user based on the user input; and causing the first user interface and a portion of a second user interface associated with the second application and incorporated into the first user interface to be displayed on the display, wherein the portion of the second user interface provides the first function to the user to enable the user to perform one or more subsequent operations relative to the first function.

Abstract: A method and system provide the ability to asynchronously collaborate on a model of an infrastructure project. The model is acquired and view settings for the model are captured. The view settings include a feature highlight that provides display attributes/settings for objects and/or features of the model, a camera position providing second settings relating to a camera view of the model, and a data view providing third settings regarding a view of the model data. The view settings are associated with a link. The link is transmitted/provided from a sender to a recipient. The link enables rehydration of a live model based on the captured view settings thereby presenting a state and view settings of the model specified by the sender.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for space frame design involves constructing a load stress map in a geometrical boundary representation of a design space, defining attachment points and load application points in the design space, creating a starting network of interconnecting lines between each two of the attachment points and load application points in the design space, assigning load application factors to each line of the starting network of interconnecting lines based on values of the load stress map, generating potential space frame designs by culling different subsets of lines of the starting network of interconnecting lines for each potential space frame design according to variable culling parameters, evaluating the potential space frame designs with respect to optimization parameters, combining the culling parameters for the potential space frame designs the performance score of which is above a predefined performance threshold, and iterating the steps of generating potential space frame designs and e

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture provide for multi-user collaboration on a three-dimensional (3D) design. The 3D design is acquired in a computer-aided design (CAD) application. A commenting process for a comment to be associated with a selected part of the 3D design is activated. Textual user input for the comment is dynamically processed as the comment is received. The processing recognizes that the text relates to creating or modifying the selected part, retrieves a list of alternative parts (based on similarities between the alternative parts and the selected part), and displays a graphic representation of an alternative part. An alternative part is selected and inserted in the comment as a proposed replacement part. The comment including the proposed replacement part is provided to another user.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an escape hole generator creates escapes holes designed to facilitate removal of support and/or unprinted material generated inside enclosed hollows of three-dimensional (3D) digital models during 3D printing. In operation, the escape hole generator identifies a hollow included in the three-dimensional model and then selects optimized locations for escape holes. Notably, the escape hole generator selects the locations to optimize placement heuristics, such as favoring locations closer to the bottom of the 3D model, while satisfying escape hole constraints (e.g., hole size and spacing requirements). The escape hole generator then perforates the hollow at the selected locations with geometries that provide channels from the outer surface of the hollow to the outer surface of the hollow.

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, the method including: obtaining a polygonal control mesh for a smooth surface representing an object; subdividing the polygonal control mesh in one or more subdivisions to produce a refined control mesh, wherein the subdividing comprises: using data defining an eigen polyhedron around an extraordinary point in the polygonal control mesh to generate adjustment rules to determine positions of the extraordinary point, and face points and edge points for faces adjacent to the extraordinary point, and determining, according to the adjustment rules, the positions for the extraordinary point, the face points, and the edge points for the faces adjacent to the extraordinary point; and generating, by the computer graphics application, the smooth surface for output from the refined control mesh.

Abstract: A design engine generates a configuration option that includes a specific arrangement of interconnected mechanical elements adhering to one or more design constraints. Each element within a given configuration option is defined by a set of design variables. The design engine implements a parametric optimizer to optimize the set of design variables associated with each configuration option. For a given configuration option, the parametric optimizer discretizes continuous equations governing the physical dynamics of the configuration. The parametric optimizer then determines the gradient of an objective function based on the discretized equations the gradient of objective and constraint functions based on discrete direct differentiation method or discrete adjoint variable method derived directly from the discretized motion equations. Then, the parametric optimizer traverses a design space where the configuration option resides to reduce improve the objective function, thereby optimizing the design variables.

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 robot system is configured to identify gestures performed by an end-user proximate to a work piece. The robot system then determines a set of modifications to be made to the work piece based on the gestures. A projector coupled to the robot system projects images onto the work piece that represent the modification to be made and/or a CAD model of the work piece. The robot system then performs the modifications.

Abstract: A model generator implements a data-driven approach to generating a robot model that describes one or more physical properties of a robot. The model generator generates a set of basis functions that generically describes a range of physical properties of a wide range of systems. The model generator then generates a set of coefficients corresponding to the set of basis functions based on one or more commands issued to the robot, one or more corresponding end effector positions implemented by the robot, and a sparsity constraint. The model generator generates the robot model by combining the set of basis functions with the set of coefficients. In doing so, the model generator disables specific basis functions that do not describe physical properties associated with the robot. The robot model can subsequently be used within a robot controller to generate commands for controlling the robot.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for computationally determining ventilation efficiency when generating a building design comprises: generating a first three-dimensional (3D) mesh based on a first 3D building model; performing a first fluid dynamic computer simulation based on the first 3D mesh and first environmental data associated with the first 3D building model to generate a first output data set; and computing, based on the first output data set, a first value for a ventilation performance metric that is associated with the first 3D building model.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product generates construction metrics. Building means, methods, and limitations of construction for one or more companies are gathered in a computer. A digital building information model (BIM) is acquired. Fabrication and construction parameters are extracted from the BIM. Construction metrics (for the BIM) are generated by combining the building means, methods, and limitations with the extracted fabrication and construction parameters. The construction metrics are then visualized in a modeling application and/or used to output construction process documentation.

Abstract: A design application is configured to visualize and explore large-scale generative design datasets. The design explorer includes a graphical user interface (GUI) engine that generates a design explorer, a composite explorer, and a tradeoff explorer. The design explorer displays a visualization of a multitude of design options included in a design space. The design explorer allows a user to filter the design space based on input parameters that influence a generative design process as well as various design characteristics associated with the different design options. The composite explorer displays a fully interactive composite of multiple different design options. The composite explorer exposes various tools that allow the user to filter the design space via interactions with the composite. The tradeoff explorer displays a tradeoff space based on different rankings of design options. The different rankings potentially correspond to competing design characteristics specified by different designers.

Abstract: A W-graph system comprising a server connected with a plurality of clients via a network. Each client/user performs a design task via a design application while the server collects timestamped event data. The server generates a plurality of W-graphs for a plurality of tasks based on the collected event data. Each W-graph comprises one or more representative workflows, each representative workflow comprising at least one merged node representing nodes from different workflows for different users performing the same task. A W-graph for a task selected by the user may be viewed in a W-graph GUI. A user may also select a W-suggest function to have a current workflow for a task analyzed for optimization based on a W-graph generated for the same task. A modified current workflow is generated that highlights user techniques in the current workflow that are less efficient than user techniques in the W-graph.

Abstract: A control mechanism scheduler for a water resource infrastructure receives operating data and disturbance data, the operating data describing infrastructure components of the water resource infrastructure, the disturbance data comprising a disturbance signal describing a disturbance expected to disturb the water resource infrastructure. The control mechanism scheduler generates classes for disturbance signals, generates simulations of the water resource infrastructure, and generates schedules of setpoints for control mechanisms actuable to control the infrastructure components of the water resource infrastructure in accordance with approaching a predetermined objective.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system provide the ability to design a convective cooling channel in a computer. Input data is acquired and includes a geometry of an object to be cooled, a design objective, and boundary conditions. Channel designs corresponding to the input data are generated using an iterative topology optimization. One of the channel designs is selected and output.

Abstract: A technique for controlling a target device via a virtual interface, the method including receiving a control input from a virtual interface, determining a control signal based on the control input for an operation to be performed by a first device that is configured to be controlled wirelessly, and transmitting the control signal to the first device to cause the first device to perform the operation.

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: A robot is configured to assist an end-user with creative tasks. While the end-user modifies the work piece, the robot observes the modifications made by the end-user and determines one or more objectives that the end-user may endeavor to accomplish. The robot then determines a set of actions to perform that assist the end-user with accomplishing the objectives.