A Study of Form, Function, and Fabrication of 3D Shapes

我们建议研究3D形状的形式、功能、制作以及它们之间的关系。形状形状包括局部几何测量、零件组合和形状零件的高级结构组织。近年来，计算机图形学研究的一个明显趋势是对几何数据的高级分析和处理越来越感兴趣，更多地关注形状结构而不是几何细节。形状的功能分析属于这一类；这是一个新兴的领域，其分析重点放在整个形状、其组成部分或部件组件的预期功能上。越来越多的研究人员正在将他们的注意力从几何分析转移到结构分析，最终转向功能分析。现在是在最后一条战线取得重大进展的关键时刻。最后，3D制造正在成为最热门的技术发展领域之一，导致许多人和公司重新思考制造工艺。随着3D打印技术的快速发展，出现了旨在改进制造过程和结果的新的几何问题。显然，对形式或功能的分析将在形成此类问题的任何解决方案方面发挥关键作用。 当我们研究两个概念之间的关系时，例如形式和功能，我们经常对跨越概念但方向相反的分析和综合问题感兴趣。例如，从表单推断函数就是一个分析问题。如果我们能够理解功能，那么就有可能在现有形式的启发下，创造出新的(形状)形式，服务于预期的功能--这是一个合成或设计问题。 通过对3D形状的形式和功能的分析，本研究旨在为有效的3D内容创建和改进3D产品的设计和制造开发新的问题和解决方案。我们预计这项研究的结果将对设计和工程实践以及娱乐行业(如电脑游戏或视觉效果公司)产生兴趣，因为在这些行业中，迫切需要自动创建3D内容。在这两个应用领域，这项研究产生的新技术将有大量商业化机会。

We propose to study form, function, and fabrication of 3D shapes and their correlations. Shape form encompasses local geometric measurements, part composition, and high-level structural organization of shape parts. Recently, an apparent trend in computer graphics research has seen growing interests in high-level analysis and process of geometry data, focusing more on shape structures than geometric details. Functional analysis of shapes falls into this category; it is an emerging area where the analysis places emphases on the intended functions of an entire shape, its constituent parts, or part assemblies. More and more researchers are shifting their attention from geometry analysis, to structural analysis, and ultimately to functional analysis. It is a critical time to make significant advances in the last front. Finally, 3D fabrication is becoming one of the hottest areas for technology developments, leading many people and firms to rethink the manufacturing process. With the rapid advances in 3D printing technologies, new geometry problems aimed at improving the process and results of fabrication are appearing. Obviously, analyses of form or function would play a key role in shaping any solution of such problems. As we study the relationship between two concepts, e.g., form and function, we are often interested in both analysis and synthesis problems which span the concepts but work in opposite directions. For example, to infer functions from forms is an analysis problem. If we are able to understand functionality, then it is possible to create novel (shape) forms, inspired by existing forms, that serve an intended function — that is a synthesis or design problem. Through analysis of form and function of 3D shapes, the proposed research aims to develop novel problems and solutions for effective 3D content creation and improved design and fabrication of 3D products. We expect the outcome of this research to be of interests to design and engineering practices, as well as the entertainment industry such as computer game or visual effect companies, where there is a critical need for automated 3D content creation. There will be plenty of opportunities, in both application domains, for commercialization of new techniques emerging from this research.