Software converts video game characters into physical 3D models

Take a look at the many Portal toys which might be available, so you’ll realize the amount gamers prefer to own physical models of digital characters ps3 controller analog sticks they know so well. In relation to characters which are really physically “weird,” though, there can be a challenge – goofy anatomy that work well in a very computer-generated world might not exactly be employed in actuality. Quite simply, a physical type of a monster from your ps3 Navigation controllers could be too top-heavy to face through to its very own, its arms may situated in such a manner that they can’t bend properly, or it may well otherwise just be plain ol’ gimped. However, new software continues to be made to solve those problems – it requires any three-dimensional computer character, after which it utilizes a 3D printer to manufacture a fully-assembled articulated figure dependant on it.

The software was developed with a team from Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, the Technische Universität Berlin and Cornell University. They demonstrated it because they build models of creatures from Spore, an evolution-based game in which players create animated animals with practically combined physical features.


Taking this kind of digital model as being a beginning point, this system first determines where the joints must be located, based on the method by which the creature moves to use virtual world. It then tweaks the size and locations of people joints, using the laws of physics which the plastic model of the creature have to follow in the real world.

It might create both hinged and ball-and-socket joints, and builds in a little bit of friction within them, so that the models is able to hold their poses. It is usually in a position to analyze the often roughly-defined virtual skin texture of a computer model, and refine it into a higher-resolution skin the loop figure.

Together with its future use in order to obtain toys, the study also believe the technology could possibly be beneficial to animators – just as that traditional artists use posable wooden mannequins when drawing people, perhaps animators could gain insight from manipulating models of the characters they’re working together with.

At some time, when technology allows, the software program may even be capable of create moving models.