Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

SimHuman: A Platform for Real-Time Virtual Agents with Planning Capabilities

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Intelligent Virtual Agents (IVA 2001)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 2190))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

In this paper, we present SimHuman, a platform for the generation of real-time 3D environments with virtual agents. SimHuman is highly dynamic and configurable, as it is not based on fixed scenes and models, and has an embedded physically based modelling engine. Its agents can use features such as path finding, inverse kinematics and planning to achieve their goals. The paper explains in detail design and implementation issues and presents the architecture of the system as well as an illustrative example.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aubel, A., Boulic, R., Thalmann, D.: Real-timeDisplay of Virtual Humans: Level of Details and Impostors. IEEE Trans.Circuits and Systems for Video Technology, Special Issue on 3D Video Technology

    Google Scholar 

  2. Aylett, R., Horrobin, A., O’Hare, J., Osman, A., Polshaw, M.: Virtual Telebubbies: reapplying a robot architecture to virtual agents. In Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Autonomous Agents. New York: ACM Press (1999) 514–515

    Google Scholar 

  3. Badler, N., Phillips, C., Webber, B.: Simulating Humans: Computer Graphics Animation and Control. Oxford University Press (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Badler, N., Webber, B., Becket, W., Geib, C., Moore, M., Pelachaud, C., Reich B., Stone, M.: Planning and parallel transition networks: Animation’s new frontiers. In: S. Y. Shin and T. L. Kunii (eds.), Computer Graphics and Applications: Proc. Pacific Graphics’ 95, World Scientific Publishing, River Edge, NJ. (1995) 101–117

    Google Scholar 

  5. Badler, N.: Virtual humans for animation, ergonomics, and simulation. IEEE Workshop on Non-Rigid and Articulated Motion. Puerto Rico (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Barnes, P.: A behaviour synthesis architecture for cooperant mobile robots. Advanced Robotics and Intelligent Machines. J.O. Gray, D.G. Caldwell (eds). IEE Control Engineering Series 51 (1996) 295–314

    Google Scholar 

  7. Boulic, R., Huang, Z., Shen, J., Molet, T., Capin, T., Lintermann, B., Saar, K., Thalmann, D., Magnetat-Thalmann, N., Schmitt, A., Moccozet, L., Kalra, P., Pandzic, I.: A system for the parallel integrated motion of multiple deformable human characters with collision detection. Computer Graphics Forum 13(3). (1995) 337–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Brogan, D., Metoyer, R., Hodgins, J.: Dynamically Simulated Characters in Virtual Environments. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications. September/October 1998, Volume 15 Number 5 (1998) 58–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Caicedo, A., Thalmann, D.: Virtual Humanoids: Let Them be Autonomous without Losing Control, Proc. 3IA2000, Limoges, France (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hodgins, J., Wooten, L.: Animating Human Athletes. In Robotics Research: The Eighth International Symposium. Y. Shirai, S. Hirose (eds). Springer-Verlag: Berlin (1998) 356–367

    Google Scholar 

  11. Karla, P., Magnenat-Thalmann, N., Moccozet, L., Sannier, G., Aubel, A., Thalmann, D.: Real-time Animation of Realistic Virtual Humans. IEEE Computer Graphics and Applications, Vol.18, No.5. (1998) 42–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Magnetat-Thalmann, N., Carion, S., Courchesne, M., Volino, P., Wu, Y.: Virtual Clothes, Hair and Skin for Beautiful Top Models, Computer Graphics International’ 96, Pohang, Korea (1996) 132–141.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Marinagi, C.C., Panayiotopoulos, T., Vouros, G.A., Spyropoulos, C.D.: Advisor: A knowledge-based planning system. International Journal of Expert Systems, Research and Applications, Vol.9, No.3. (1996) 319–355

    Google Scholar 

  14. Milde, J.: Lokutor: Towards a Believable Communicative Agent, AGENTS 2000 Workshop, Barcelona (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Nareyek, A.: A Planning Model for Agents in Dynamic and Uncertain Real-Time Environments. Workshop on Integrating Planning, Scheduling and Execution in Dynamic and Uncertain Environments at the Fourth International Conference on Artificial Intelligence Planning Systems (AIPS-98), Technical Report, WS-98-02, 7-14. AAAI Press, Menlo Park, California (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Nareyek, A.: Intelligent Agents for Computer Games. In Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Computers and Games (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Panayiotopoulos, T., Katsirelos, G., Vosinakis, S., Kousidou, S.: An Intelligent Agent Framework in VRML worlds. Advances in Intelligent Systems: Concepts, Tools and Applications, S. Tzafestas (ed.), Kluwer Academic Publishers (1999) 33–43

    Google Scholar 

  18. Pandzic, I., Capin, T., Magnenat Thalmann, N., Thalmann, D.: Motor functions in the VLNET Body-Centered Networked Virtual Environment, Proc. 3rd Eurographics workshop on Virtual Environments, Monte Carlo, Virtual Environments and Scientific Visualization’ 96, Springer, Wien. (1996) 94–103

    Google Scholar 

  19. Pandzic, I., Capin, T., Magnenat Thalmann, N., Thalmann, D.: VLNET:A Networked Multimedia 3D Environment with Virtual Humans. Proc. Multi-MediaModeling MMM’ 95, Singapore. (1995) 21–32

    Google Scholar 

  20. Payiotopoulos, T., Avradinis, N., Marinagi, C.C.: Using Forward Temporal Planning for the production of Interactive Tutoring Dialogues. Advances in Intelligent Systems: Concepts, Tools and Applications, (S. Tzafestas ed.), Chapter 20, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands. (1999) 219–230.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Perlin, K., Goldberg, A.: Improv: A system for scripting interactive actors in virtual worlds. In ACM Computer Graphics Annual Conf. (1996) 205–216

    Google Scholar 

  22. Poser 4: http://www.curiouslabs.com/ products/poser4, Curious Labs

  23. Pourazar, G.: A method to capture and animate the dynamics of human motion. COMPUGRAPHICS’ 91, I (1991) 181–197

    Google Scholar 

  24. Roehl, B.: Specification for a standard humanoid [Online]. Available: http://ece.uwaterloo.ca/~h-anim/spec1.1/

  25. SICstus Prolog: http://www.sics.se/sicstus

  26. Silva, D., Siebra, C., Valadares, J., Almeida, A., Frery, A., Ramalho, G.: Personality-Centered Agents for Virtual Computer Games, Virtual Agents 99, Workshop on Intelligent Virtual Agents, Salford, UK (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Vosinakis, S., Anastassakis, G., Panayiotopoulos, T.: DIVA: Distributed Intelligent Virtual Agents, Workshop on Intelligent Virtual Agents, Virtual Agents 99 Salford (1999) 131–134

    Google Scholar 

  28. Vosinakis, S., Panayiotopoulos, T.: Design and Implementation of Synthetic Humans for Virtual Environments and Simulation Systems. 5th WSES/IEEE WORLD MULTICONFERENCE ON Circuits, Systems, Communications & Computers (CSCC 2001), to be presented (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Welman, C.: Inverse Kinematics and Geometric Constraints for Articulated Figure Manipulation. MSc Thesis, Simon Fraser University (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wooldridge, M., Muller, J., Tambe, M., editors: Intelligent Agents II, Agent Theories, Architectures and Languages. Volume 1037 of Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, Springer-Verlag (1996)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Knowledge Engineering Laboratory, Department of Informatics, University of Piraeus, 80 Karaoli & Dimitriou str., 18534, Piraeus, Greece

    Spyros Vosinakis & Themis Panayiotopoulos

Authors
  1. Spyros Vosinakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Themis Panayiotopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Informática Campus de Montegancedo, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Boadilla del Monte, 28660, Madrid, Spain

    Angélica de Antonio

  2. Center for Virtual Environments, University of Salford, Business House Salford, M5 4WT, UK

    Ruth Aylett

  3. Radical Multimedia Lab, BTexact Technologies, Ross PP1, Adastral Park, Martlesham, Ipswich, IP5 3RE, UK

    Daniel Ballin

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2001 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Vosinakis, S., Panayiotopoulos, T. (2001). SimHuman: A Platform for Real-Time Virtual Agents with Planning Capabilities. In: de Antonio, A., Aylett, R., Ballin, D. (eds) Intelligent Virtual Agents. IVA 2001. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 2190. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44812-8_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44812-8_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-42570-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-44812-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation