2016 Bellairs Workshop on Computer Animation:
Simulation, Digital Fabrication and Robotics

When

Feb 5 - Feb 12, 2016

Arrival: Friday Feb 5
Departure: Friday Feb 12

Where

Bellairs Research Institute

Photos

select photos by Sylvain Paris

      

Description

The eighth annual Bellairs Workshop on Computer Animation will provide an opportunity to focus on computational problems at the intersection between physics-based simulation, digital fabrication and robotics. Physics based simulation is pervasive in computer animation because it creates the natural motion necessary for realistic training simulations, movies, games, and other interactive applications. With the advent of affordable and accessible 3D Printing technologies, physics-based simulation methods are increasingly being adapted to enable the design and fabrication of physical objects with pre-specified material characteristics such as compliance, strength-to-weight ratio, or desired deformation modes. This remarkable ability is giving rise to new generations of robots that can be custom-designed for specific tasks. Furthermore, simulation models are also critical in developing appropriate control policies for robots and physically-simulated virtual creatures alike.

Given that physics-based simulation spans a wide range of disciplines, the goal of this workshop is to bring together researchers from different communities in order to cross-fertilize ideas, discuss ongoing challenges and identify opportunities for collaboration. The topics of discussion will include (depending on the interests of the participants) contact mechanics, approximate and adaptive dynamics, abstract simulation models for control, physics-based design, advances in digital fabrication and numerical methods. Computational challenges will be discussed in the context of various applications such as legged and wheeled locomotion, grasping and manipulation, swimming, climbing, and flight.

The workshop will consist of a variety of activities, including plenary sessions, informal talks, discussions, and a session for interactive demos.

General Information

The workshop will take place at McGill University's Bellairs Research Institute and will be held Friday 5 February to Friday 12 February. Participants should plan to arrive at the Bridgetown airport in the afternoon on Friday. Shared taxi service (approximately 35 USD one way) will be organized via a Google spreadsheet. Note that when you are in Barbados, prices are always quoted in Barbados dollars, but you can always pay with US dollars as there is a fixed 2 Barbados to 1 USD exchange rate. The collocated computational geometry workshop has an excellent page listing other practical information.

The Bellairs facilities are relatively primitive (and inexpensive). Accommodation is very basic with double (or triple) occupancy rooms and in most cases shared bathrooms (it is more like a cottage rather than hotel). , so there are few distractions such as those typically found in hotels. Accommodation is very basic (in most cases double occupancy), and with meals costs between 70 and 85 USD per day. Reservations must be made through the workshop organizers. Due to space limitations, participation at the workshop is by invitation only.

Participants
  • Bernhard Thomaszewski
  • David Levin
  • David Meger
  • Dinesh K. Pai
  • Hartmut Geyer
  • Jerry Pratt
  • Joohyung Kim
  • Katsu Yamane
  • Ladislav Kavan
  • Melina Soukras
  • Nancy Pollard
  • Paul Kry
  • Stelian Coros
  • Victor Zordan
Previous Computer Animation Workshops