Title: Rigidity and Geometric Constraint Decomposition

Speaker: Meera Sitharam

Time: 1:55PM - 3:00 PM, Nov 10, 2006

Place: CSE 404

ABSTRACT:

Geometric Constraint Systems (GCSs) arise in numerous applications from mechanical computer aided design to molecular modeling. ``Good'' decompositions of GCSs are crucial not just for efficient solving and updates, but also for describing and sampling the solution space, simulating motion, autoconstraining of under-constrained systems, constraint system reformulation, appropriately dealing with over-constraints, etc. This talk will show the close connection between obtaining a ``good'' decomposition and obtaining a combinatorial characterization of generic rigidity.