In class you have learned about motion capture techniques. Although, these techniques are very popular, tools for editing, retargetting, and transitions are still areas of active research. In this assignment, you will create transitions between motions or interpolate between several motions to create new motions.

In /net/hn41/animation_class/mcapture you will find:
1) MCI.c++
2) Makefile
3) Example motion files ( *.vrb)

To compile the skeleton program type: make MCI
This should generate a executable called MCI.
To run this executable type MCI [filename1] [filename2]

If you need help, please contact the TA:

Model

Open Inventor code is provided for you to generate a graphical interface. There are detailed comments in the code on how each part of MCI.c++ functions. Read through those comments to better understand what code to write and where it should go.

MCI.c++ creates a graphical interface called the examiner window. In this window you will see a model. The descriptions of the model are as follows:

1) There is a stick figure rendering of a human performing actions.
2) The provided code will read in two sets of data files and store them.
3) The provided code will also play back those data on the inventor window in sequential order. (e.g. the first data set will be played back then the second data set will be played back with no transition between them. )

Interpolating

Your assignment is to implement either transitions between the motion captured segments or interpolate between the segments to get a scalable function for happiness (for example).

Your method should use the sets of example motions together with an interpolation scheme to construct new motions. If you choose to do transitions your interpolation scheme should be general enough to work for any pair of example motions. If you choose to do interpolation between two motions to extract properties such as happiness or speed, then you should provide user control for your code that allows the user to both interpolate and extrapolate between the motions.

To complete this assignment you will want to read the following two papers:
1) Rose, C., Cohen, M., and Bodenheimer, B., ``Verbs and Adverbs: Multidimensional Motion Interpolation'', IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, v. 18, no. 5, Sept. 1998, pp. 32-40.

2) Munetoshi Unuma, Ken Anjyo, Ryozo Takeuchi, "Fourier Principles for Emotion-based Human Figure Animation", SIGGRAPH 95, Aug 1995.

What to hand in

Turn in the source files for your program, one or two sample animation movie files, and writeup of the algorithm you used and a discussion of the pros and cons of this approach.

Grading will be broken down as follows:

functionality 50%
comments 10%
analysis 30%
movies 10%