A deformable object model suitable for representing deforming force

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a method of simulating deformation of a virtual object and providing force feedback during the deformation. A spring model has been commonly used as a physically based deformation model in virtual space. In this method, however, a spring network model shares the structure with a polygon model. Therefore it is difficult to reduce calculation time without losing the resolution of the surface of the polygon model on the surface. For solving the problem, we propose a new method which separates the problem of physical reaction and that of surface representation. The surface is represented by a geometry model while the force reaction is realized based upon interpolation of force generated by a coarse spring model. We found that the object surface is smoothly deformed even though the spring model is much more coarsely defined. The computation time was reduced substantially for real-time operation. We implemented the models described above. In this way we could realize deforming an object with a force sensation in real-time.