Editing Early Raytracing History
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= MAGIC = | = MAGIC = | ||
− | Although there were immediately efforts to use available computer systems like ORDVAC to assist with the enormous bookkeeping involved in shotline calculations, the first computerized raytracer at | + | Although there were immediately efforts to use available computer systems like ORDVAC to assist with the enormous bookkeeping involved in shotline calculations, the first computerized raytracer at BRL that appears in technical reports was the MAGIC system, developed by Mathematical Applications Group, Inc. (MAGI) in the mid 1960s for the Ballistic Research Laboratory. Richard Hoyt is listed as BRL's technical supervisor on the project. MAGI later went on to play a [https://design.osu.edu/carlson/history/tree/magi.html significant role] in the commercial development of CGI. The seminal report detailing this work is "A Geometric Description Technique Suitable for Computer Analysis of Both the Nuclear and Conventional Vulnerability of Armored Military Vehicles," published in August 1967. This report slightly pre-dates even Appel's papers and cites no previous reports as source material for its raytracing techniques (which is suggestive but not conclusive - if anyone knows of earlier reports bearing on this topic we would very much like to know about them.) As it was not approved for public release until much later, its direct impact outside of military circles was limited. Also the primary purpose of this technique from the Army's point of few was analysis rather than realistic images, but never the less MAGI-6701 stands out as an important historical document in the field of computer graphics. |
The other significant sources of information known to exist about the first MAGIC system are a set of manuals prepared by the Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Munitions Effectiveness (JTCG/ME) in 1970-71 and the proceedings of the first (and apparently last?) conference held for the users of the MAGIC and SAM-C codes in 1971. | The other significant sources of information known to exist about the first MAGIC system are a set of manuals prepared by the Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Munitions Effectiveness (JTCG/ME) in 1970-71 and the proceedings of the first (and apparently last?) conference held for the users of the MAGIC and SAM-C codes in 1971. | ||
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!Date | !Date | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |[http:// | + | |[http://brlcad.org/... A Geometric Description Technique Suitable for Computer Analysis of Both the Nuclear and Conventional Vulnerability of Armored Military Vehicles] |
|MAGI-6701 | |MAGI-6701 | ||
|August 1967 | |August 1967 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |[http:// | + | |[http://brlcad.org/... MAGIC Computer Simulation - Volume I. User Manual] |
|61 JTCG/ME-71-7-1 | |61 JTCG/ME-71-7-1 | ||
|1970 | |1970 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |[http:// | + | |[http://brlcad.org/... MAGIC Computer Simulation - Volume II. Analyst Manual Part 1] |
|61 JTCG/ME-71-7-2-1 | |61 JTCG/ME-71-7-2-1 | ||
|1971 | |1971 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |[http:// | + | |[http://brlcad.org/... MAGIC Computer Simulation - Volume II. Analyst Manual Part 2] |
|61 JTCG/ME-71-7-2-2 | |61 JTCG/ME-71-7-2-2 | ||
|1971 | |1971 | ||
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|} | |} | ||
− | (Note: Subsequent reports mention something called the SHOT GENERATOR Computer program that appears to date to the same | + | (Note: Subsequent reports mention something called the SHOT GENERATOR Computer program that appears to date to around the same period as MAGIC, but I currently have no information about this code, the JTCG/ME reports that document it, or what role it played - it is referenced as an influence in the GIFT code design, so more information (if available) would be interesting.) |
= GIFT = | = GIFT = | ||
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!Date | !Date | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |[http:// | + | |[http://brlcad.org/... The Gift Code User Manual. Volume I. Introduction and Input Requirements.] |
|BRL-1802 | |BRL-1802 | ||
|1975 | |1975 | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |[http:// | + | |[http://brlcad.org/... The Gift Code User Manual. Volume II. The Output Options.] |
|ARBRL-TR-02189 | |ARBRL-TR-02189 | ||
|1979 | |1979 | ||
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!Date | !Date | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | |[ | + | |[MIFT: GIFT Combinatorial Geometry Input to VCS Code.] |
|ADA037898 | |ADA037898 | ||
|MAR 1977 | |MAR 1977 |