Biologically-Inspired Computing
Morphogenesis and Skin Pattern Generation for 3D Models
My group consisted of Robert Mills, Simon Smith, Qing Yan Zhang and myself.
You can download a PDF of the final report here. Instructions on how to use the executables designed in this project can be found within this report.
Below is the project abstract followed by a listing of various executables, models and pattern results used and produced in this project.
Project Abstract
This report firstly examines how Morphogenesis can be interpreted through the use of computer modelling, concentrating on reaction-diffusion equations and how they can be used to simulate real-world animal skin patterns. The report then focuses on the work done by Greg Turk in his 1991 paper "Generating Textures on Arbitrary Surfaces Using Reaction-Diffusion" [19]. The work accomplished in Turk's paper is discussed; implementations based on his work in one, two and three dimensions are constructed and analysed for this report. This analysis compares the implementations' results to both those achieved by Turk and real-world skin patterns. The analysis also attempts to determine how reactiondiffusion models proposed by Turk and others function, in particular, how changing parameters affects the patterns produced. The report concludes with a discussion of whether reaction-diffusion is an appropriate model for the natural phenomenon of animal skin pattern formation. Finally, further work is proposed to extend the current implementations, as these provide a solid basis to construct a generator for more complex reaction-diffusion models.
2D OpenGL Examples of Skin Pattern Generation
These example are adapted from those found on Vipul Swarup's site and should compile and run successfully on both Windows and Linux systems.
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Final Executables, Models, Parameter and Pattern Files
A ZIP file containing all the executables, models, parameter and pattern files can be downloaded here. Otherwise you can download these files separately.
Linux Executables
Executable for generating spots on 3D models. To run at command line type: rdspots <PLY file> [ -p <Parameters file> ] |
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Executable for generating zebra-like stripes on 3D models. To run at command line type: rdstripes <PLY file> [ -p <Parameters file> ] |
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Executable for generating cascading patterns like cheetah spots on 3D models. To run at command line type: rdcascade <PLY file> [ -p <Parameters file> ] |
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Executable for viewing pre-generated patterns on 3D models. To run at command line type: rdviewer <Pattern file>(NB. PLY file must be in same directory as the pattern file). |
Windows Executables
Executable for generating spots on 3D models. To run at command line type: rdspots <PLY file> [ -p <Parameters file> ] |
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Executable for generating zebra-like stripes on 3D models. To run at command line type: rdstripes <PLY file> [ -p <Parameters file> ] |
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Executable for generating cascading patterns like cheetah spots on 3D models. To run at command line type: rdcascade <PLY file> [ -p <Parameters file> ] |
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Executable for viewing pre-generated patterns on 3D models. To run at command line type: rdviewer <Pattern file>(NB. PLY file must be in same directory as the pattern file). |
Source Code
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Zipped PLY Model Files
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Parameter Files
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Pattern Files
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