Abstract: A system for providing improved computer animation can be used in interactive applications such as 3D video games and virtual environments. Tie system comprises an offline authoring system with tools for constructing controllable “verbs” from sets of motion example segments, and for constructing transitions between different verbs; and a runtime system for controlling the invocation of the verbs as parameterized by user defined “adverbs”. The system involves interpolating predefined animation segments created by an animator or through motion capture video. The animation segments are made up of data representing selected points on the animated creature (e.g., the joints and extremities) and values, as a function of time, for each degree of freedom of those points. In addition, a “verb graph” is constructed to act as the glue to assemble verbs and their adverbs into a runtime data structure. The verb graph defines the allowable transitions from one verb to another verb.

Abstract: A method and system which simplifies the process of constructing new basis motions and transitions between them for animation of articulated figures with many degrees of freedom using existing basis motion data. The system uses an interpreter of a motion expression language called motion algebra to allow a user to manipulate basis motion data, break it into components, and reassemble it into new, more complex motions. The system provides two methods for generating motion: motion transition generation and cyclification. Motion transition generation uses a combination of space/time constraints and inverse kinematic constraints to generate transitions between basis motions. These transitions minimize the torque required while maintaining kinematic constraints. A fast dynamics formulation makes it possible to use spacetime constraints on systems with many degrees of freedom. Cyclification helps to eliminate discontinuities in cyclic motions and distributes the discontinuity error over an entire time interval.