Touch Based Interactive NURBS Modeler Using a Force/Position Input Glove

Non-Uniform Rational B-spline (NURBS) surfaces form an integral part of commercial modeling systems because of its ability to represent freeform as well as common analytic shapes. The creation of complex NURBS in design environments is a tedious process because very few tools exist, that allow a designer to design intuitively in real-time. Standard input devices such as the mouse and the keyboard do not provide the designer with direct and easy capabilities for surface manipulation. We have developed a NURBS modeling system that allows the designer to edit NURBS surfaces in real-time using a pressure sensitive sculpting/molding input device designed to be worn as a glove called the ModelGlove. This input device is equipped with force and position sensors for quantifying touch and intent of the designer. A virtual block deforms in a physically realistic manner in response to the user’s direct manipulation of a hard or soft real physical object. The dynamic behavior of the NURBS model in response to the force and position input obtained from the ModelGlove, produces highly natural shape variations. Experimental results show the potential of the system for product and concept design applications.