Objective:

Tasks:

1. Develop a linear mesh deformation tool based on local coordinates.
2. In its basic form the method should use a single linear solve, in the more advanced version use an iterative method with a rotation update mechanism.
3. Use an off-the-shelf linear solver to efficiently solve the resulting linear system(s).
4. Develop a user friendly API/visualization mechanism for your algorithm.

Instructions:

1. Develop an anchor based mesh deformation tool for closed manifold meshes. You can use either an edge based (ARAP), Laplacian (vertex based) or transformation gradient (triangle based) one (I personally recommend ARAP). Start by implementing a method which has a single solve per anchor displacement (no rotation update). Only when this method works you can add support for iterated solver with rotation updates.
2. For solving the linear system(s) you obtain you can use either the EIGEN library which comes with Cartel (see below) or another solver, as long as you are WELL familiar with it. Make sure the matrix you feed the solver is full rank. Pay attention to efficiency.
3. You can limit your method to changing one anchor at a time (this way you can have a fixed rotation axis for you ROI  - think how this can simplify your updates).
4. Bonus:
   
   • There is a bonus for handling multiple anchors as well as for result quality and speed.
   • Note: please make sure your basic algorithm works before implementing the bonuses. There will be no bonus points given if the basic method has problems.
5. Your API should support the following mesh operations, performed repeatedly and in any order (pay attention to API ease of use):
   • Specify an anchor vertex or triangle.
   • Specify a region of influence.
   • Perform a deformation by moving the anchor around (see "Selection and Deformation" below)
   • You can also provide a mechanism to prescribe/change anchor normals or provide a mechanism where the user specifies only anchor rotations (no translation).
6. To visualize the deformation process and ensure correctness you should provide a mechanism to highlight the ROI and anchor. You should provide an interface option (e.g. key-press) allowing the user to switch the visualization on and off.
7. While you should work independently, it is a good idea to compare your results with other students , to verify code correctness.

Selection and Deformation:

• You can check how mouse movement is detected in ControlState.cpp for selection and implement something similar but checking for left mouse button to be pressed.
• You can use keyboard events or interface buttons or sliders for movement in different axis, but that might only allow for discrete steps.
• You can input (through the console) an amount and axis of deformation.

Solver:

  Eigen::VectorXd b;
  Eigen::VectorXd x;
  Eigen::SparseMatrix<double> A(m, n);

  // populate b
  ...
  
  // populate A
  std::vector<Eigen::Triplet<double>> A_elem;
  for (non-zero elements) {
      A_elem.push_back( Eigen::Triplet<double>(row, column, value) );
  }

  A.setFromTriplets(A_elem.begin(), A_elem.end());

  // solve using your prefered solver, we recommend LDLT or LLT
  Eigen::SimplicialLDLT< Eigen::SparseMatrix<double> > solver(A);
  x = solver.solve();

  // alternatively you can pass the matrix to solve to the solve function
  // instead of initializing it.

Submission: