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==PROJECT PROPOSAL==
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= Project Proposal=
  
 
==PERSONAL INFORMATION==
 
==PERSONAL INFORMATION==
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Internet Relay Chat Username: Izak.
 
Internet Relay Chat Username: Izak.
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Phone: +237 74 10 62 97.
  
 
Brief Background information.
 
Brief Background information.
  
I am a final year Master of Science in Computer Science student at the University of Buea , Cameroon , Africa holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.I have worked on various data structuring, algorithmic and compiler-related individual and team projects in the University community which I really enjoyed.By June , I expect to be done with the writing of my thesis and will be available for 40+ hours weekly to implement a heart surface primitive for BRLCAD software.If I am not done with the thesis or I am given more work,I will work on the thesis writing during the day and allocate time to work on the BRL-CAD software during the night hours making sure I dedicate atleast 40 hours each week.
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I am a final year Master of Science in Computer Science student at the University of Buea , Cameroon , Africa holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics.I have worked on various data structuring, algorithmic and compiler-related individual and team projects in the University community which I really enjoyed. By June , I would have rounded up with my thesis and will be available for 40+ hours weekly to implement a heart surface primitive for BRLCAD software.
  
==PROJECT INFORMATION==
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=PROJECT INFORMATION=
  
 
PROJECT TITLE: Implementation of a heart primitive.
 
PROJECT TITLE: Implementation of a heart primitive.
  
 
==PROJECT SUMMARY==
 
==PROJECT SUMMARY==
In our world today , we observe that all solid objects are simply combinations of basic ones like cubes,spheres,cones,etc and we frequently have to manipulate objects which have surfaces such as gadgets and devices . With the explosion in ubiquitous technology, Computer-aided design (CAD) software help us create digital content in adverts and movies as well as visualize some solid objects like perfume bottles and shampoo before they are actually manufactured. In this project, we propose that BRL-CAD, which aspires to be the best CAD software, should incorporate a heart, a symbol of love, into its core functionality as one of its basic solid objects in order to increase its customer base and differentiate itself amongst its competitors. Indeed, this heart structure ( also called a heart primitive ) shall be used by those producing cartoons and designing electronic cards, gifts and presents during celebrations such as birthdays, weddings,family reunions, anniversaries and Valentine's day which deeply appeals to many individuals,families and communities.So during the summer, this heart primitive will be included into the raytrace library as a set of routines with corresponding support added to other parts of the source code.
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We live in a three dimensional world and we frequently have to consider objects which have surfaces - whether these are terrains on planets ,the surface of a gadget. There is an imminent need for the BRLCAD software, which aspires to be the best computer assisted design software, to possess a heart primitive which can assist users around the Valentine's day , weddings and honeymoon periods come out with compelling models to decorate and beautify these occasions.The implementation of a heart primitive also stands as a great opportunity to provide open source C code for the hacker community which can aid in the implementation of other similar geometries which are based on the sextic equations.   
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I intend to implement a heart primitive for the BRLCAD software simply by writing a set of callback routines.These routines will be stored in the file namely src/librt/primitives/hrt.c.
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The hrt.c file will contain routines ( functions ) that execute ray intersection with a heart,a geometric analysis of the heart ,a geometricre presentation of the heart to enable visualisation and constructive solid geometry (C.S.G.) operations such as intersection ,union and exclusion for  modeling .
  
 
==PROJECT DESCRIPTION==
 
==PROJECT DESCRIPTION==
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The sextic equation  given below by the formula
 
The sextic equation  given below by the formula
 
   
 
   
F(x,y,z)=0 ------- (1)
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          F(x,y,z)=0 ------- (1)
 
   
 
   
 
where F(x,y,z) = (x^2 + 9/4*y^2 + z^2 - 1 )^3 - x^2*y^3 - 9/80 * y^3 * z^3
 
where F(x,y,z) = (x^2 + 9/4*y^2 + z^2 - 1 )^3 - x^2*y^3 - 9/80 * y^3 * z^3
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The sextic equation above gets sinplified to the formula
 
The sextic equation above gets sinplified to the formula
  
(a + 9/4*y^2 + z^2 - 1)^3 - a*y^3 - 9/80*y^3*z^3 = 0 ---------- (2)
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      (a + 9/4*y^2 + z^2 - 1)^3 - a*y^3 - 9/80*y^3*z^3 = 0 ---------- (2)
  
 
by a = P(y,z) = x^2.
 
by a = P(y,z) = x^2.
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This gets reduced to a cubic (of power 3) polynomial given below
 
This gets reduced to a cubic (of power 3) polynomial given below
  
a^3 + b*a^2 + c*a + d = 0-------------(3)
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    a^3 + b*a^2 + c*a + d = 0-------------(3)
  
 
where
 
where
 
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      b = P1(y,z) = 27/4 * y^2 + 3 * z^2 - 3.
b = P1(y,z) = 27/4 * y^2 + 3 * z^2 - 3.
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      c = P2(y,z) = 405/16 * y^4 - 27/4 * y^2 + z^4 + 9/2 * z^2 * ( y^2 + 1) + 1.
c = P2(y,z) = 405/16 * y^4 - 27/4 * y^2 + z^4 + 9/2 * z^2 * ( y^2 + 1) + 1.
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      d = P3(y,z) = 729/64*y^6+243/16*z^2*y^4+27/4*y^2*z^4-27/4*y^2*z^2-81/4* y^4+9/2*y^2+z^6-z^4 + z^2-1.  
d = P3(y,z) = 729/64*y^6+243/16*z^2*y^4+27/4*y^2*z^4-27/4*y^2*z^2-81/4*y^4+9/2*y^2+z^6-z^4 + z^2-1.  
 
  
 
The cubic equation in (3) can be solved algebraically using a division method or a decomposition as referenced in the research articles below (See "Links to code and algorithms you intend to use" section in this proposal).
 
The cubic equation in (3) can be solved algebraically using a division method or a decomposition as referenced in the research articles below (See "Links to code and algorithms you intend to use" section in this proposal).
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First of all , I will parametrize the sextic surface equation in (1) by converting it into the form
 
First of all , I will parametrize the sextic surface equation in (1) by converting it into the form
 
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      x = F1(u,v) ----------- (4)
x = F1(u,v) ----------- (4)
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      y = F2(u,v) ----------- (5)
 
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      z = F3(u,v) ----------- (6)
y = F2(u,v) ----------- (5)
 
 
 
z = F3(u,v) ----------- (6)
 
  
 
I intend to compute the normal vector (ray) using the cross product of the partial derivatives of the coordinate functions. That is,
 
I intend to compute the normal vector (ray) using the cross product of the partial derivatives of the coordinate functions. That is,
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Here , we equate (1) and the equation of the line given below by
 
Here , we equate (1) and the equation of the line given below by
  
X = o + dL --------------- (7)
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            X = o + dL --------------- (7)
  
 
where d > 0 , X = (x,y,z) is in R^3 and L is the direction of the line.
 
where d > 0 , X = (x,y,z) is in R^3 and L is the direction of the line.
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To search for points that are on the line and on the heart means combining the equations and solving for d. When equations are combined , expanded and rearranged , we get  a quadratic equation
 
To search for points that are on the line and on the heart means combining the equations and solving for d. When equations are combined , expanded and rearranged , we get  a quadratic equation
  
a*d^2 + b*d + c = 0 ---------------(8)
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        a*d^2 + b*d + c = 0 ---------------(8)
  
 
which can be solved using the quadratic formula.
 
which can be solved using the quadratic formula.
 
    
 
    
d = -b + sqrt(b^2 - 4 * a * c) / 2*a and d = -b - sqrt(b^2 - 4*a*c) / 2*a.
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  d = -b + sqrt(b^2 - 4 * a * c) / 2*a and d = -b - sqrt(b^2 - 4*a*c) / 2*a.
  
 
If the value of b^2 - 4*a*c is less than zero, then it is clear that no solutions exist, that is, the line does not intersect the heart.If it is zero, then exactly one solution exists, that is, the line just touches the heart in one point.If it is greater than zero, two solutions exist, and thus the line touches the heart in two points (the entry and exit point).
 
If the value of b^2 - 4*a*c is less than zero, then it is clear that no solutions exist, that is, the line does not intersect the heart.If it is zero, then exactly one solution exists, that is, the line just touches the heart in one point.If it is greater than zero, two solutions exist, and thus the line touches the heart in two points (the entry and exit point).
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(3 weeks)
 
(3 weeks)
  
*Study BRL-CAD manuals,tutorials series and documentation concerning hacking.
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*Study BRLCAD manuals,tutorials series and documentation concerning hacking.
  
 
*Compile BRL-CAD source code ,Study code base and remove bugs.
 
*Compile BRL-CAD source code ,Study code base and remove bugs.
  
*Discuss with other developers and BRL-CAD mentors to refine mailing-list etiquette.
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*Discuss with other developers and BRLCAD mentors to refine mailing-list etiquette.
  
 
*Study the src/librt/primitives/*/* and /include libraries.
 
*Study the src/librt/primitives/*/* and /include libraries.
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(1 week)
 
(1 week)
  
*Integrating heart primitive into BRL-CAD.
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*Integrating heart primitive into BRLCAD.
  
 
*Final testing and debugging of src/librt/primitives/hrt/hrt.c code.
 
*Final testing and debugging of src/librt/primitives/hrt/hrt.c code.
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==TIME AVAILABILITY.==  
 
==TIME AVAILABILITY.==  
  
I am at the last phase of my M.Sc. research and will be done with the thesis before June. I will have ample time to code full time for 40+ hours weekly till the end of the summer holidays.My thesis defense will take place after the summer holidays in November . If I am done with my thesis in June,   while awaiting defense and graduation in December 2013 after the summer , I will be available for some months to do any polishing and maintenance work given to me by BRL-CAD mentors.If I am not done with the thesis or I am given more work, I will work on the thesis writing during the day and allocate time to work on the BRL-CAD software during the night hours making sure I dedicate atleast 40 hours each week.
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I am at the last phase of my M.Sc. research and will be done with the thesis before June. I will have ample time to code fulltime for 40+ hours weekly till the end of the summer holidays.My thesis defense will take place after the summer holidays . Also, while awaiting defense and graduation in December 2013 after the summer , I will be available for some months to do any polishing and maintainance work given to me by BRLCAD mentors.
 
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==WHY BRL-CAD?==
 
==WHY BRL-CAD?==
  
First of all, I really believe that software can change the world by providing new technologies and that software should be free. I choose BRL-CAD because it is a not-for-profit technology organization which offers me the opportunity to assist the United States Army Research Laboratory with tools which help them simulate and visualize their combat vehicle systems and war events. Working with BRL-CAD also helps me contribute over the long-term and gain status within the hacker community based on my mathematical/Computing background and academic interests.
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First of all, I really believe that software can change the world by providing new technologies and that software should be free. I choose BRLCAD because it is a not-for-profit technology organization which offers me the opportunity to assist the United States Army Research Laboratory with tools which help them simulate and visualize their combat vehicle systems and war events. Working with BRLCAD also helps me contribute over the long-term and gain status within the hacker community based on my mathematical/Computing background and academic interests.
Although I have not contributed before to opensource ,I see implementing a heart surface primitive as a long-awaited opportunity to provide more primitive options (adding a heart to the raytrace library which is the heart of BRL-CAD) for the BRL-CAD software and a jumpstart to my continued contribution to open source software through BRL-CAD.This project will also help BRL-CAD users to build three-dimensional models related to the heart and love - a virtue we really need in our world today.
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Although I have not contributed before to opensource ,I see implementing a heart surface primitive as a long-awaited opportunity to provide more primitive options (adding a heart to the raytrace library which is the heart of BRLCAD) for the BRLCAD software and a jumpstart to my continued contribution to open source software through BRLCAD.This project will also help BRLCAD users to build three-dimensional models related to the heart and love - a virtue we really need in our world today.
  
 
==WHY YOU?==
 
==WHY YOU?==
 
  
 
I am a final year M.Sc. student in Computer Science at the University of Buea (www.ubuea.net) , Cameroon , Africa and a holder of a B.Sc. in Mathematics & Computer Science. I am currently rounding up with my research thesis on business process compliance.
 
I am a final year M.Sc. student in Computer Science at the University of Buea (www.ubuea.net) , Cameroon , Africa and a holder of a B.Sc. in Mathematics & Computer Science. I am currently rounding up with my research thesis on business process compliance.
I have a good background and intuition in Mathematics and algorithms as well as C/C++ programming. In the past , I worked on various data structuring and algorithmic individual and team projects in the University community which I really enjoyed. For example , I built mini-compilers flex/bison to reason about and infer the regulatory compliance in associated business process graphs . Also , I worked within a team to implement red black trees and variants like order statistics trees , interval trees and persistence trees (over 6000 lines of C code). I was enthused collaborating in teams with other bright thinkers . I was the best on some projects and  mediocre on some others - but I really learned the importance of communicating and working in teams with other smart individuals.  
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I have a good background and intuition in Mathematics and algorithms as well as C/C++ programming. In the past , I worked on various data structuring and algorithmic individual and team projects in the University community which I really enjoyed. For example , I built mini-compilers flex/bison to reason about and infer the regulatory compliance in associated business process graphs . Also , I worked within a team to implement red black trees and variants like order statistics trees , interval trees and persistence trees (over 6000 lines of C code). I was enthused collaborating in teams with other bright thinkers . I was the best on some projects and  mediocre on some others - but I really learnt the importance of communicating and working in teams with other smart individuals.
I was born into an extended family of researchers in Research institutions and Universities under the Cameroonian government.This gave me the passion to become a researcher for not-for-profit organizations and contribute to the open source community. With this upbringing ,background and experience, I think I have the necessary skills to implement a heart surface primitive for the BRL-CAD software. I am familiar with various open source software engineering tools like svn, gcc, gdb ,emacs ,etc and switched to Linux distributions ( using Red Hat and Ubuntu ) since 2010.
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I was born into an extended family of researchers in Research institutions and Universities under the Cameroonian government.This gave me the passion to become a researcher for not-for-profit organizations and contribute to the open source community. With this upbringing ,background and experience, I think I have the necessary skills to implement a heart surface primitive for the BRLCAD software. I am familiar with various open source software engineering tools like svn, gcc, gdb ,emacs ,etc and switched to Linux distributions ( using Red Hat and Ubuntu ) since 2010.  
Also, I am at the last phase of my research and will be done with the thesis before June. I will have ample time to code away the summer holidays .If I am not done with the thesis or I am given more work,I will work on the thesis writing during the day and allocate time to work on the BRL-CAD software during the night hours making sure I dedicate atleast 40 hours each week. Lastly , I will make sure I communicate my progress , problems encountered and further work to my mentors in Weekly reports to facilitate the supervision and management of the project. I will discuss with mentors real time for short clarifications on IRC chat and demand long clarifications on the mailing list.
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Also, I am at the last phase of my research and will be done with the thesis before June. I will have ample time to code away the summer holidays .
 
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Lastly , I will make sure I communicate my progress , problems encountered and further work to my mentors in Weekly reports to fascilitate the supervision and management of the project. I will also discuss with mentors for other needed clarifications on IRC chat.  
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==ANYTHING ELSE?==  
 
==ANYTHING ELSE?==  
  
I think it would be great for BRL-CAD to select me for various reasons. Firstly , it will greatly encourage the programmers around my community and country to come up to hackerdom standard and contribute to open source projects.  
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I think it would be great for BRLCAD to select me for various reasons. Firstly , it will greatly encourage the programmers around my community and country to come up to hackerdom standard and contribute to open source projects.  
 
It will also attract and encourage a lot of young ones in my country and continent towards the computing field as a whole.  
 
It will also attract and encourage a lot of young ones in my country and continent towards the computing field as a whole.  
 
Also, BRL-CAD will gain the reputation of encouraging equal opportunity and ethnic diversity by helping to groom more hackers from underrepresented minority backgrounds in computing like Africa.
 
Also, BRL-CAD will gain the reputation of encouraging equal opportunity and ethnic diversity by helping to groom more hackers from underrepresented minority backgrounds in computing like Africa.
 
==DEVELOPMENT REPORT==
 
 
You want to read my [http://brlcad.org/wiki/User:Izak/GSOC_2013_logs diary] to know the status of my work.
 

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