The aim of this project is to investigate and to contribute to shape modeling and geometry processing for personal fabrication---a trend that currently receives intensified attention in science and industry. This wide and complex topic inherently spans multiple scientific fields, but one of the major areas of research are intelligent algorithms for shape processing. We argue that if models need to be printed, this goal should be considered from the beginning of the model design process.
This research falls into the area of computer graphics and interactive techniques where we want to build on top of the insights known from interactive and procedural modeling, shape analysis and understanding, as well as geometry processing. Our goal is to contribute novel algorithmic solutions to the fabrication-aware shape processing and interactive modeling. In particular, we want to research following aspects:
(1) One of the major problems of modern shape modeling approaches is the question of high-level shape understanding, i.e., how complex composite shapes should be interpreted, organized, hierarchized, divided, or grouped into their particular parts.
(2) Further, we want to research novel interactive shape modeling methods for creative making of esthetically appealing shapes. We will develop a high-level modeling application which aims co-called exploratory shape modeling. It should be well suited for occasional and non-professional users and help them to set their creativity free, while supporting them during the modeling process.
(3) Finally, we will provide a set of optimization and simulation techniques in order to integrate the requirements given by consumer-level desktop fabrication directly into a fabrication-aware modeling process. This tight integration allows to immediately create 3D printable models without any intermediate stages, as opposed to the current work flow.
The research results of this project will impact a large audience in both science and industry. We expect to directly contribute to the scientific state-of-the-art in computer graphics and interactive techniques. In particular, we will contribute to the shape understanding problem, the shape synthesis field, the interactive modeling field, and finally to the shape optimization and physical modeling field. Additionally, our results will have an indirect impact in education, consumer-level design, entertainment industries, and eventually it might also impact professional design areas, like product design, rapid prototyping, or architectural design. From the economical point of view, our research will impact the consumer additive fabrication market, aka 3D printing, which is currently rapidly growing.
