Controlling fluid animation

Abstract

A methodology for controlling fluid animations is developed using the concept of an embedded controller. A controller acts as an interface between the animator and a general tool for calculating three dimensional fluid flow. The major contribution of this paper is that for the first time, it is possible for computer graphics animators, to specify and control a three dimensional fluid animation, without knowledge of the underlying equations or the method used to solve them. In addition the technique is stable, physically accurate, and can be integrated with other animation tools that deal with dynamic objects. To illustrate the method, animations of moving objects fountains, and explosions, together with the straightforward control functions that are used to create them, are presented.