Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
Systems and methods for fast simulation and visualization of sparse fluids

Abstract:

Example embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for simulating sparse fluids and visualizing the results. An example embodiment involves simulating sparse fluids on a two-dimensional surface and using that simulation to visualize the results on a three dimensional surface. The fluid computation operates in a two-dimensional (2D) plane although the visualization of the fluid simulation is three-dimensional (3D). The simulation uses surface shape and properties, local gravity vectors, and various other criteria to simulate realistic behavior of sparse fluids, e.g., sweat, tears, blood, and drops of liquid. The systems and methods of the present invention may be implemented, for example, on a highly parallel architecture, such as a graphics processing unit (GPU), and on non-parallel architectures.