Computrol A New Approach To Computer Generated Imagery

Ron Swallow; Roscoe Goodwin; Rudolph Draudin

doi:10.1117/12.956884

22 December 1978 Computrol A New Approach To Computer Generated Imagery

Ron Swallow, Roscoe Goodwin, Rudolph Draudin

Proceedings Volume 0162, Visual Simulation and Image Realism I; (1978) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956884
Event: 22nd Annual Technical Symposium, 1978, San Diego, United States

Abstract

In the course of our Periscope View Simulator improvement program, ATS investigated new CGI techniques. It coincided with efforts at HumRRO. A development agreement was formulated to cooperate on a day/dusk/ night Computer Generated Image System now called COMPUTROL*. A key ingredient is the "atom" philosophy of geometric forms used as building blocks. Basic forms are stretched, squashed, lengthened and/or added to develop a particular scene. With exception of a flight data or other vehicle interface resident within the simulator "host computer", our visual system is a self-contained digital image generator with bulk storage of specific geographic areas. Current design has a 30,000 edge display capability. Surfaces can be planer, or spherical due to the ability to smooth-shade curved surfaces. There is virtually no limit to the number of edges contained within the gaming area data base. The CPU used has been especially developed to provide the computational speed necessary within our system. Use of standard MOS chips and straight-foward computer architecture have eliminated the risk normally associated with a specially designed computer system. The resulting CGI system promises to set the standard for visual simulators for many years to come.

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Ron Swallow, Roscoe Goodwin, and Rudolph Draudin "Computrol A New Approach To Computer Generated Imagery", Proc. SPIE 0162, Visual Simulation and Image Realism I, (22 December 1978); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.956884

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