Possible Summer 2009 Projects

Virtual Human

Robotics

 

fractals

 

The following descriptions of the research projects which will likely be conducted this summer. The exact projects carried out will depend on faculty interest and the background of the selected students.

Potential Virtual Reality projects include:

• Development of a virtual human (using the PeoplePutty software) to explore the use of a virtual trainer to assist high functioning, autistic children in learning social skills.  Development of "mini-games" as rewards might also be explored.
• Development of a game -- and supporting software -- to use a force feedback device, to assist children in developing fine motor skills, such as are needed for handwriting.

Potential robotics projects include:

• VR programming of a mobile robot: This project will explore the use of robots as assistive devices for children with mobility problems. Possible research for this summer includes  further development of software for use by the on-board sonar and camera for safe control of the robot; incorporating hardware needed for permitting a child to "drive" the robot; and implementing collaborative robot control software.

Potential fractal analysis and visualization projects include:

• Connectedness of Three-dimensional Fractal Tree Canopies: Using point sampling in the canopy, this project uses graph theory and computational topology to determine those tree growth parameters that lead to connectivity.  This project involves the simulation of fractal trees, generation of canopy data, and the analysis of topological data.  We also investigate space-filling properties of connected trees.
• Transformations between Fractal Tree Canopies:  This project examines the possible transformation of individual fractal tree attractors into other fractal tree attractors.  We consider how to characterize different three-dimensional fractal tree iterated function systems using these transformations.
• Golden Ratio Scaling in Three-dimensional Fractal Trees: This project investigates the various ways in which symmetric fractal trees scale with the golden ratio, and with other related ratios.  In particular, this project focuses on the structure of the canopy under these scaling ratios.

All VR and robotics projects require a knowledge of C++. Experience with computer graphics, VR, or robotics is helpful.