Difference between revisions of "ESA Summer of Code in Space/Project Ideas"

From BRL-CAD
(eliminate ones not as relevant to esa mission)
(manually migrate changes for socis 2016)
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!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Difficulty
 
!align=center|Difficulty
!align=center|Contacts
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Shader Enhancements]]:'''  We have a functioning custom shader system in BRL-CAD, but there are now folks that specialize and there's lot of room for improvements.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Shader Enhancements]]:'''  We have a functioning custom shader system in BRL-CAD, but there are now folks that specialize and there's lot of room for improvements.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison, Greenwald]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Material and Shader Objects]]:'''  This one is a biggie but easy.  Implement new object entities for describing shaders and material properties, use them during ray tracing.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Material and Shader Objects]]:'''  This one is a biggie but easy.  Implement new object entities for describing shaders and material properties, use them during ray tracing.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[GUI Integration of Analysis Tools]]:'''  There are a ''lot'' of visualization tools in BRL-CAD, but most aren't integrated with the GUI.  Visualizing directly within the GUI would improve usability.
 
|width=62%|'''[[GUI Integration of Analysis Tools]]:'''  There are a ''lot'' of visualization tools in BRL-CAD, but most aren't integrated with the GUI.  Visualizing directly within the GUI would improve usability.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Rossberg]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Generalized abstracted spacial partitioning capability]]:''' Need more be said?  If you're familiar with BSPs, KD trees, and grid structures, then this one is for you.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Generalized abstracted spacial partitioning capability]]:''' Need more be said?  If you're familiar with BSPs, KD trees, and grid structures, then this one is for you.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|HARD
 
|align=center|HARD
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Greenwald, Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[High Dynamic Range Support]]:'''  We don't have displays supporting this yet, but that's never stopped us before.  Implement support for images with more than 8-bits per channel.
 
|width=62%|'''[[High Dynamic Range Support]]:'''  We don't have displays supporting this yet, but that's never stopped us before.  Implement support for images with more than 8-bits per channel.
 
|align=center|C and/or C++
 
|align=center|C and/or C++
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Greenwald, Yapp]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Analysis Library]]:'''  There are various tools in BRL-CAD for calculating weights, moments of inertia, and more.  They're stand-alone applications.  Turn them into a library.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Analysis Library]]:'''  There are various tools in BRL-CAD for calculating weights, moments of inertia, and more.  They're stand-alone applications.  Turn them into a library.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|HARD
 
|align=center|HARD
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Yapp, Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Celestial mechanics particle system]]:'''  Simulate solar systems and galaxies.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Celestial mechanics particle system]]:'''  Simulate solar systems and galaxies.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Greenwald]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Non-vacuum gravity simulator]]:'''  Simulate falling to earth.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Non-vacuum gravity simulator]]:'''  Simulate falling to earth.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Greenwald, Morrison, Yapp]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Polarization]]:'''  We already do multispectral ray tracing, but don't simulate polarization effects.  Implement ray splitting and filtering.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Polarization]]:'''  We already do multispectral ray tracing, but don't simulate polarization effects.  Implement ray splitting and filtering.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|HARD
 
|align=center|HARD
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison, Rossberg]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Density functions]]:'''  Accurately represent everything from atmosphere to bone.  Implement support for parametric density functions for homogenous materials.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Density functions]]:'''  Accurately represent everything from atmosphere to bone.  Implement support for parametric density functions for homogenous materials.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|HARD
 
|align=center|HARD
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Rossberg, Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Bending light]]:'''  Think gravity wells and satellite cameras.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Bending light]]:'''  Think gravity wells and satellite cameras.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Appleseed renderer integration]]:'''  Appleseed is rendering infrastructure used by the film industry to make pretty pictures.  Make it shoot rays at our native geometry with our ray trace library.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Appleseed renderer integration]]:'''  Appleseed is rendering infrastructure used by the film industry to make pretty pictures.  Make it shoot rays at our native geometry with our ray trace library.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
Line 90: Line 77:
 
!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Difficulty
 
!align=center|Difficulty
!align=center|Contacts
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Benchmark Performance Database]]:'''  BRL-CAD's Benchmark has been used for two decades to compare performance  across configurations.  Build a database website.  
 
|width=62%|'''[[Benchmark Performance Database]]:'''  BRL-CAD's Benchmark has been used for two decades to compare performance  across configurations.  Build a database website.  
 
|Depends (likely PHP or Python)
 
|Depends (likely PHP or Python)
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Materials Database]]:'''  Create a Materials Database web site for collecting, managing, and providing programmatic interfaces to material properties.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Materials Database]]:'''  Create a Materials Database web site for collecting, managing, and providing programmatic interfaces to material properties.
 
|Depends (likely PHP or Python)
 
|Depends (likely PHP or Python)
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison, Yapp]]
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
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!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Difficulty
 
!align=center|Difficulty
!align=center|Contacts
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[NURBS Editing Support]]:'''  BRL-CAD doesn't currently have support for editing NURBS primitives.  Fix that.
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[NURBS Editing Support]]:'''  BRL-CAD doesn't currently have support for editing NURBS primitives.  Fix that.
 
|align=center|C/Tcl
 
|align=center|C/Tcl
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Yapp]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Overlap tool]]:''' Resolving geometric interferences (aka overlaps) is a common geometry editing activity.  Design an awesome GUI for resolving conflicts.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Overlap tool]]:''' Resolving geometric interferences (aka overlaps) is a common geometry editing activity.  Design an awesome GUI for resolving conflicts.
 
|align=center|Tcl
 
|align=center|Tcl
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Yapp, Morrison, Greenwald]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[Vector Drawings from NURBS]]:'''  Huge impact here if you can update one or more of our raytracers to provide vector output instead of raster.  Perhaps render directly to PDF or SVG.
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[Vector Drawings from NURBS]]:'''  Huge impact here if you can update one or more of our raytracers to provide vector output instead of raster.  Perhaps render directly to PDF or SVG.
 
|align=center|C and/or C++
 
|align=center|C and/or C++
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Rossberg]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[Plate Mode NURBS raytracing]]:'''  Imported NURBS geometry often does NOT enclose space (i.e., not solid), so add support for specifying an implicit thickness.
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[Plate Mode NURBS raytracing]]:'''  Imported NURBS geometry often does NOT enclose space (i.e., not solid), so add support for specifying an implicit thickness.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|HARD
 
|align=center|HARD
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[STEP exporter]]:'''  We have an importer, we need a comprehensive exporter with support for implicit CSG, NURBS, or polygonal mesh geometry.
 
|width=62%|'''[[STEP exporter]]:'''  We have an importer, we need a comprehensive exporter with support for implicit CSG, NURBS, or polygonal mesh geometry.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Yapp, Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[STEP importer improvements]]:'''  We have an importer, but it's preliminary.  Add support for importing hierarchy information, polygonal geometry, and implicit geometry.
 
|width=62%|'''[[STEP importer improvements]]:'''  We have an importer, but it's preliminary.  Add support for importing hierarchy information, polygonal geometry, and implicit geometry.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Yapp]]
 
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|width=62%|'''[[STEP AP 242 Parser]]:'''  We already parse a subset of AP203, but the new kid on the block is AP242.  Make AP242 work with BRL-CAD's step-g importer.  
 
|width=62%|'''[[STEP AP 242 Parser]]:'''  We already parse a subset of AP203, but the new kid on the block is AP242.  Make AP242 work with BRL-CAD's step-g importer.  
 
|align=center|C++
 
|align=center|C++
 
|align=center|HARD
 
|align=center|HARD
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Mark, Charlie, Yapp]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[IGES import improvements]]:'''  We have extensive support for the International Geometry Exchange Standard (IGES) with our g-iges and iges-g converters, but they need updating.
 
|width=62%|'''[[IGES import improvements]]:'''  We have extensive support for the International Geometry Exchange Standard (IGES) with our g-iges and iges-g converters, but they need updating.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Geometry Conversion Library]]:'''  Probably our biggest open source asset is our extensive collection of importers and exporters.  Turn them all into a universal conversion library.  
 
|width=62%|'''[[Geometry Conversion Library]]:'''  Probably our biggest open source asset is our extensive collection of importers and exporters.  Turn them all into a universal conversion library.  
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Greenwald, Morrison, Rossberg]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Voxelize]] command:'''  Convert geometry into voxel data sets by shooting a grid of rays.  The finite element analysis and volumetric rendering folks will love you.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Voxelize]] command:'''  Convert geometry into voxel data sets by shooting a grid of rays.  The finite element analysis and volumetric rendering folks will love you.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Greenwald, Morrison, Rossberg]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[COLLADA Importer]]:'''  Create an importer for the COLLADA file format.
 
|width=62%|'''[[COLLADA Importer]]:'''  Create an importer for the COLLADA file format.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[X3D Importer]]:'''  Create an importer for the X3D file format.
 
|width=62%|'''[[X3D Importer]]:'''  Create an importer for the X3D file format.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[OpenSCAD Importer]]:'''  Create an importer for OpenSCAD's format.
 
|width=62%|'''[[OpenSCAD Importer]]:'''  Create an importer for OpenSCAD's format.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[OpenSCAD Exporter]]:'''  Create an exporter for OpenSCAD's format.
 
|width=62%|'''[[OpenSCAD Exporter]]:'''  Create an exporter for OpenSCAD's format.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
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!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Difficulty
 
!align=center|Difficulty
!align=center|Contacts
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[OpenCL GPGPU Raytracing]]:''' We have about two dozen primitives that need to have a ray-object intersection function converted from C to OpenCL.
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[OpenCL GPGPU Raytracing]]:''' We have about two dozen primitives that need to have a ray-object intersection function converted from C to OpenCL.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison, Rossberg]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[Coherent Raytracing]]:''' Our current raytrace pipeline dispatches and processes one ray at a time.  Send bundles and convert the pipeline into phases.  
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[Coherent Raytracing]]:''' Our current raytrace pipeline dispatches and processes one ray at a time.  Send bundles and convert the pipeline into phases.  
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison, Rossberg]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[NURBS Booleans]]:'''  We have NURBS surface-surface intersections working.  Now we're using them to create evaluated forms of our CSG geometry.  Make it more robust and faster.
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[NURBS Booleans]]:'''  We have NURBS surface-surface intersections working.  Now we're using them to create evaluated forms of our CSG geometry.  Make it more robust and faster.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|HARD
 
|align=center|HARD
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Yapp, Rossberg]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[NURBS Optimization and Cleanup]]:'''  We have a fantastic implementation of NURBS evaluation but haven't gone back to clean up or speed it up.  Make it pretty and fast.
 
|align=left width=62%|'''[[NURBS Optimization and Cleanup]]:'''  We have a fantastic implementation of NURBS evaluation but haven't gone back to clean up or speed it up.  Make it pretty and fast.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Yapp, Morrison]]
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
Line 217: Line 181:
 
!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Languages
 
!align=center|Difficulty
 
!align=center|Difficulty
!align=center|Contacts
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Geometric Constraint Solver]]:'''  Our LIBPC parametric constraint library is the work-in-progress foundation of being able to validate and describe geometry relationships.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Geometric Constraint Solver]]:'''  Our LIBPC parametric constraint library is the work-in-progress foundation of being able to validate and describe geometry relationships.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|HARD
 
|align=center|HARD
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Consolidate image processing]]:'''  We have 100+ image processing tools that independently read and write file data.  Needs much reuse love.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Consolidate image processing]]:'''  We have 100+ image processing tools that independently read and write file data.  Needs much reuse love.
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Greenwald]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Astronomical units]]:'''  We already go "big", but accurately modeling at a galactic scale redefines that notion...
 
|width=62%|'''[[Astronomical units]]:'''  We already go "big", but accurately modeling at a galactic scale redefines that notion...
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|C
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Morrison, Greenwald]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Point Clouds]]:'''  BRL-CAD has a basic point cloud primitive.  Beef it up, make it faster, maybe integrate with the Point Cloud Library (PCL) for evaluation.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Point Clouds]]:'''  BRL-CAD has a basic point cloud primitive.  Beef it up, make it faster, maybe integrate with the Point Cloud Library (PCL) for evaluation.
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|C/C++
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
 
|align=center|MEDIUM
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Browder]]
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|width=62%|'''[[Annotations]]:'''  Implement support for 2D annotations, labels that can be added to geometry.
 
|width=62%|'''[[Annotations]]:'''  Implement support for 2D annotations, labels that can be added to geometry.
 
|align=center|Perl
 
|align=center|Perl
 
|align=center|EASY
 
|align=center|EASY
|align=center|[[Google_Summer_of_Code/Project_Ideas#Mentors|Browder]]
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
Line 257: Line 215:
 
= Mentors =
 
= Mentors =
  
BRL-CAD operates under group mentorship.  That means you can contact anyone, not just the person assigned to you, for assistance.  The mailing list and IRC channel are the preferred communication methods.
+
Contact Sean on the brlcad-devel mailing list or via IRC to begin discussing your SOCIS project proposal:
  
 
* Christopher Sean Morrison
 
* Christopher Sean Morrison
 
** brlcad on irc.freenode.net
 
** brlcad on irc.freenode.net
** Org admin, BRL-CAD open source project lead
 
 
* Erik Greenwald
 
** ``Erik on irc.freenode.net
 
** Org admin, BRL-CAD core dev
 
 
* Cliff Yapp
 
** starseeker on irc.freenode.net
 
** BRL-CAD Mentor, core dev
 
 
* Daniel Rossberg
 
** d_rossberg on irc.freenode.net
 
** BRL-CAD Mentor, core dev, math expert
 
 
* H.S. Rai
 
** hsrai on irc.freenode.net
 
** BRL-CAD Mentor, math expert
 
 
* Tom Browder
 
** BRL-CAD Mentor, analysis expert
 
 
* Bryan Bishop
 
** BRL-CAD Mentor, python guru
 

Revision as of 22:24, 4 May 2016

If you want to work on computer-aided design (CAD), geometry, simulation, analysis, or graphics, you've come to the right place! Help us improve open source CAx.

BRL-CAD_gear_logo_w_name_256.png Under development for 30+ years, it's big, it's complicated, it's powerful. BRL-CAD will consider just about any project that relates to computer graphics or existing infrastructure.

We consider proposals for all skill levels ranging from simple to crazy hard and everything in between. Introduce yourself, and we'll help you plan one right for you.

Remember that project descriptions are just initial ideas. You must expand with considerably more detail. Change the goals to fit your experience and interests. See our checklist to get started.

Project titles link to a page with more details.

BRL-CAD Projects

Rendering & Scientific Analysis

Languages Difficulty
Shader Enhancements: We have a functioning custom shader system in BRL-CAD, but there are now folks that specialize and there's lot of room for improvements. C EASY
Material and Shader Objects: This one is a biggie but easy. Implement new object entities for describing shaders and material properties, use them during ray tracing. C EASY
GUI Integration of Analysis Tools: There are a lot of visualization tools in BRL-CAD, but most aren't integrated with the GUI. Visualizing directly within the GUI would improve usability. C MEDIUM
Generalized abstracted spacial partitioning capability: Need more be said? If you're familiar with BSPs, KD trees, and grid structures, then this one is for you. C HARD
High Dynamic Range Support: We don't have displays supporting this yet, but that's never stopped us before. Implement support for images with more than 8-bits per channel. C and/or C++ EASY
Analysis Library: There are various tools in BRL-CAD for calculating weights, moments of inertia, and more. They're stand-alone applications. Turn them into a library. C HARD
Celestial mechanics particle system: Simulate solar systems and galaxies. C/C++ MEDIUM
Non-vacuum gravity simulator: Simulate falling to earth. C/C++ MEDIUM
Polarization: We already do multispectral ray tracing, but don't simulate polarization effects. Implement ray splitting and filtering. C HARD
Density functions: Accurately represent everything from atmosphere to bone. Implement support for parametric density functions for homogenous materials. C HARD
Bending light: Think gravity wells and satellite cameras. C MEDIUM
Appleseed renderer integration: Appleseed is rendering infrastructure used by the film industry to make pretty pictures. Make it shoot rays at our native geometry with our ray trace library. C MEDIUM


Web Development

Languages Difficulty
Benchmark Performance Database: BRL-CAD's Benchmark has been used for two decades to compare performance across configurations. Build a database website. Depends (likely PHP or Python) EASY
Materials Database: Create a Materials Database web site for collecting, managing, and providing programmatic interfaces to material properties. Depends (likely PHP or Python) MEDIUM

Geometry

Languages Difficulty
NURBS Editing Support: BRL-CAD doesn't currently have support for editing NURBS primitives. Fix that. C/Tcl MEDIUM
Overlap tool: Resolving geometric interferences (aka overlaps) is a common geometry editing activity. Design an awesome GUI for resolving conflicts. Tcl EASY
Vector Drawings from NURBS: Huge impact here if you can update one or more of our raytracers to provide vector output instead of raster. Perhaps render directly to PDF or SVG. C and/or C++ EASY
Plate Mode NURBS raytracing: Imported NURBS geometry often does NOT enclose space (i.e., not solid), so add support for specifying an implicit thickness. C/C++ HARD
STEP exporter: We have an importer, we need a comprehensive exporter with support for implicit CSG, NURBS, or polygonal mesh geometry. C/C++ EASY
STEP importer improvements: We have an importer, but it's preliminary. Add support for importing hierarchy information, polygonal geometry, and implicit geometry. C/C++ MEDIUM
STEP AP 242 Parser: We already parse a subset of AP203, but the new kid on the block is AP242. Make AP242 work with BRL-CAD's step-g importer. C++ HARD
IGES import improvements: We have extensive support for the International Geometry Exchange Standard (IGES) with our g-iges and iges-g converters, but they need updating. C MEDIUM
Geometry Conversion Library: Probably our biggest open source asset is our extensive collection of importers and exporters. Turn them all into a universal conversion library. C/C++ EASY
Voxelize command: Convert geometry into voxel data sets by shooting a grid of rays. The finite element analysis and volumetric rendering folks will love you. C EASY
COLLADA Importer: Create an importer for the COLLADA file format. C/C++ MEDIUM
X3D Importer: Create an importer for the X3D file format. C/C++ MEDIUM
OpenSCAD Importer: Create an importer for OpenSCAD's format. C/C++ EASY
OpenSCAD Exporter: Create an exporter for OpenSCAD's format. C/C++ EASY

Performance & Quality

Languages Difficulty
OpenCL GPGPU Raytracing: We have about two dozen primitives that need to have a ray-object intersection function converted from C to OpenCL. C/C++ MEDIUM
Coherent Raytracing: Our current raytrace pipeline dispatches and processes one ray at a time. Send bundles and convert the pipeline into phases. C/C++ MEDIUM
NURBS Booleans: We have NURBS surface-surface intersections working. Now we're using them to create evaluated forms of our CSG geometry. Make it more robust and faster. C/C++ HARD
NURBS Optimization and Cleanup: We have a fantastic implementation of NURBS evaluation but haven't gone back to clean up or speed it up. Make it pretty and fast. C/C++ MEDIUM

Infrastructure

Languages Difficulty
Geometric Constraint Solver: Our LIBPC parametric constraint library is the work-in-progress foundation of being able to validate and describe geometry relationships. C/C++ HARD
Consolidate image processing: We have 100+ image processing tools that independently read and write file data. Needs much reuse love. C EASY
Astronomical units: We already go "big", but accurately modeling at a galactic scale redefines that notion... C EASY
Point Clouds: BRL-CAD has a basic point cloud primitive. Beef it up, make it faster, maybe integrate with the Point Cloud Library (PCL) for evaluation. C/C++ MEDIUM
Annotations: Implement support for 2D annotations, labels that can be added to geometry. Perl EASY


<An Idea of Your Own>

Do you have an idea of your own? Maybe you need more ideas to inspire you? We're very open to areas of academic research, industry applications, and ideas that get you hooked on open source CAD development.

Requirements:

  • Passion for the task being suggested


Mentors

Contact Sean on the brlcad-devel mailing list or via IRC to begin discussing your SOCIS project proposal:

  • Christopher Sean Morrison
    • brlcad on irc.freenode.net