Running from Dinosaurs

• Appropriate Courses: COMP8770, COMP8780
• Status: Proposed
• Client: Hugh Fisher
• Research Area(s): 3D graphics, VR, animation
• Technical Difficulty: moderate to high
• Conceptual Difficulty: moderate to high

Description

Last year a student converted a rough wireframe dinosaur animation into a full 3D landscape with lighting, texturing, different behaviours for dinosaurs, and the ability to chase the dinosaurs with a "hunter" avatar. (Walking with Dinosaurs.) This year I would like to see the world extended with more dinosaurs and new behaviours.

The aim of the project is to introduce a new type of dinosaur into the 3D world with different behaviour. This will require 3D modelling and texturing, learning how to do procedural animation, and some game-style "AI" programming to navigate around the landscape and react to other dinosaurs and the human user.

The new type of dinosaur could be:

• Tyrannosaurs. Big and impressive, probably involves adding sound to the system.
• Velociraptors. Should be able to hunt stealthily in packs, so the AI behaviour will need a lot of work.
• Pterosaurs. Will require graceful and fluid animation, with flight and flocking simulation.

More Information

This project requires programming in Python and the Py3D system used in Computer Graphics. Students will need to be familiar with the basics of realtime 3D programming including event handling, polygon geometry, and texturing; or be able to learn these very quickly.

This is not a well-defined project with a clear structure. It requires imagination and a willingness to explore new concepts and techniques on your own.