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.
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.