chapin@sunrise.Stanford.EDU (Bill Chapin) (12/04/90)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Stanford University Forum Reminder <<<<<<<<<<<<<<< ME 297 -- Design Theory and Methodology Forum on Virtual Space Next forum (Wed., Dec. 5th, 7:30, Terman Auditorium): Creon Levit Applied Research Branch Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation Division NASA - Ames Research Center "The Virtual Windtunnel - An Interactive Environment for the Exploration of Three-Dimensional Flows." The amount of solution data produced by a single three dimensional unsteady fluid dynamics calculation can be quite large - several thousand megabytes or more. High performance graphics workstations have now reached the level where real time interactive exploration of these three dimensional unsteady flowfield solutions is possible. However, the complexity of of three dimensional unsteady flow patterns is so great that new techniques are necessary to effec- tively visualize them. A fruitful area to search for new methods is among the classical techniques - those used to visualize physical flows in wind or water tunnels. Smoke injection, dye advection, time exposure photographs, and the placement of tufts on the surface of an airplane are examples of these classical techniques. More modern physical flow visualization techniques involve Schleiren interferometry, laser sheet flourescence photography, and tracers sensitive to fluid properties such as temperature. Computational analogues of the above techniques are all feasible, or are becoming feasible, using modern high performance graphics workstations. However, in the computer-generated world of the virtual windtunnel, many enhancements on the classical techniques are avialable. These ehanced techniques are impossible in the `real world' of physical windtunnels and other similar devices. We describe the computer system requirements of a `virtual windtunnel' for exploring 3D unsteady numerically-generated flowfields. A boom-mounted or head-mounted head-position-sensitive stereo display is used for viewing the flow. Hand-position- sensitive glove controllers are used for injecting various tracers (i.e. ``smoke'') into the virtual flowfield. A variety of tech- niques are used to navigate through the flow. We give detailed calculations for the cpu power, memory size, input/output, and graphics rendering requirements for a variety of visualization techniques. ============ "Hardened Concrete" DT&M Forum Schedule ============ December 5 Creon Levit, NASA Fluid Dynamics in First Person 7:30pm, Terman Auditorium 12 Randal Walser & Chris Allis, Autodesk Cyberia The new second generation Autodesk Cyberspace 7:30pm, Terman Auditorium All members of the Stanford community, industry affiliates and researchers in design and virtual space applications are invited. sponsored by: the VIRTUAL SPACE INTEREST GROUP of STANFORD E-mail: vsig-request@sunrise.stanford.edu for more information. +++++++++++++++++++++++ VSIG ANNOUNCEMENTS +++++++++++++++++++++++ >>> For those registered students interested in the VSIGroup, there will be a meeting following the Creon Levit presentation in Terman on Wednesday evening at 9pm. >>> Word came from the Santa Cruz Cyberspace conference committee last week that the deadline for abstracts for the April 19th event has been extended until December 20th. No other details seem to have changed. If you need a copy of the Call for Abstracts, send an email to virtual@ucscc.ucsc.edu. >>> There was a typographical error on previous forum schedules. The Autodesk presentation will be on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH at 7:30pm in Terman Auditorium. >>> For those students attending the forum for credit, there will be 10 total official forum meetings (Intro, Levoy, Bolas, Fisher, Rosen, Panel, Pixar, Habitat, Levit, Autodesk), plus two optional makeup sessions. For credit, one must attend or view videotape of 9 of these 12 opportunities. At the December 5th evening session there will be a sheet to sign to verify this attendance. The sheet will also be in the M.E. Design Division office (Terman 551) during finals week. >>> All of the remaining forums this quarter will be on Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm in Terman Auditorium. There are NO more afternoon meetings in Terman 583. >>> For those coming from off-campus, wishing to find Terman Auditorium: exit I-280 at Alpine Road turning toward Palo Alto. Take a right at the first light onto Junipero Serra. Turn left at the next light onto Campus Drive West. Turn right at the first stop sign onto Santa Teresa. Terman Engineering Center will be across the intersection and to the left at next stop sign on Santa Teresa. There is on-street parking and a parking garage at Panama St. and Via Ortega (two left turns from Santa Teresa). The auditorium is on the first floor.