15-869: Special Topics in Character Animation
Spring 2009
MW 3:00-4:20pm
4615A Wean Hall
- Email: nsp@cs.cmu.edu
- Office: Newell-Simon Hall 4228b, Phone x8-1479
- Office Hours: please send email to set up an appointment
Course Description
This course will explore topics in physically based character
animation, where the goal is to obtain a character performance that
appears both natural and physically plausible. We will look at
statistical and data-driven approaches to representing motion, as well
as approaches based on optimization. In addition to computer graphics
literature, we will explore related topics in biomechanics and
human motor control. The course should be appropriate for graduate
students with some computer graphics and / or robotics experience and
for advanced undergraduates
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor
Text: A syllabus with papers and topics is here.
Some Resources:
- Hans Mittelmann's Decision Tree for Optimization Software web page.
- Open dynamics engine. A library for creating forward simulations involving rigid body dynamics (including articulated characters).
- AMPL. Modeling language for optimization problems. We use it in conjunction with SNOPT, which web pages seem to be broken, but there is some information here
- Matlab is another possibility if you are considering an optimization project. But make sure you have access to the Optimization Toolbox. Almost every problem we will see will involve constrained, nonlinear optimization. (No simple linear optimization problems in this area!)
- There is a large amount of helpful information on Craig Reynolds' Game Research and Technology page, including a section on Game Physics resources.
Grading: Grading will depend on contributions to class
presentations and discussion and on results and presentation of a
final project. The grade will roughly break down as follows:
- 20% Participation in class discussions and notes on the papers.
The first requirement for the class is that everyone keep a web
page with notes for each of the papers we read. The notes can
be very brief, but must include:
- a summary of the paper (a few sentences)
- what is the most interesting thing to you about the paper?
- how would you improve this work?
- 40% Two in-class presentations.
You will lead two class sessions presenting one of the paper topics
in the syllabus. You should start thinking now about what papers
you will want to present. When you present, tell us:
- who are the authors?
- where are the authors?
- what other work has been done by this group (e.g., show some movies)
- pick one or more motivational or foundational papers (or computer
game, etc) that was an important predecessor to this work and
give us this background
- overview the current paper and present results
- raise topics for discussion
- 40% One final project based on the topics covered in class.