Adaptive distance field constraint for designing a route for a transport element
First Claim
1. A method of designing a route for a transport element, comprising:
- establishing at least one constraint that limits possible routes for the transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint comprises establishing at least one inequality constraint which limits the possible routes for the transport element without fixing the position of any portion of the transport element, wherein establishing the at least one inequality constraint comprises establishing at least one adaptive distance field constraint representing at least one object, wherein establishing the at least one adaptive distance field constraint comprises forming at least one pass-through zone through which the route for the transport element passes; and
automatically defining, using a processor, the route for the transport element in accordance with the at least one constraint.
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Abstract
Improved methods for designing the route of a transport element, such as a tube, are provided. A method preferably designs the route automatically and, by utilizing constraint objects, including at least one adaptively-sampled distance field (adaptive distance field or ADF) constraint object, in the design of the route, as opposed to during a post design check, ensures that the resulting route complies with the various constraint objects, including the at least one ADF constraint object. In addition, a method may establish an overall cost function to evaluate a plurality of feasible routes of the transport element that each comply with the constraint objects, including at least one ADF constraint object, such that a preferred or optimal route may be designed.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method of designing a route for a transport element, comprising:
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establishing at least one constraint that limits possible routes for the transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint comprises establishing at least one inequality constraint which limits the possible routes for the transport element without fixing the position of any portion of the transport element, wherein establishing the at least one inequality constraint comprises establishing at least one adaptive distance field constraint representing at least one object, wherein establishing the at least one adaptive distance field constraint comprises forming at least one pass-through zone through which the route for the transport element passes; and automatically defining, using a processor, the route for the transport element in accordance with the at least one constraint. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of designing a route for a second transport element at least partially based upon the route for a first transport element, the method comprising:
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establishing at least one constraint that limits possible routes for the second transport element, wherein establishing the at least one constraint comprises establishing at least one inequality constraint which limits the possible routes for the second transport element without fixing the position of any portion of the second transport element, wherein establishing the at least one inequality constraint comprises establishing an adaptive distance field constraint representing the route for the first transport element; defining a preferred value for the at least one constraint and a cost for variances from the preferred value for the at least one constraint; establishing an overall cost function incorporating the cost for variances for the at least one constraint for evaluating the possible routes for the second transport element; and automatically defining, using a processor, the route for the second transport element in accordance with the at least one constraint and the overall cost function. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer cause the design of a route for a transport element, the computer executable instructions comprising:
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a first set of instructions for establishing at least one constraint that limits possible routes for the transport element, wherein the first set of instructions further establish at least one inequality constraint which limits the possible routes for the transport element without fixing the position of any portion of the transport element, wherein the first set of instructions further establish at least one adaptive distance field constraint representing at least one object; a second set of instructions for defining a preferred value for the at least one constraint and a cost for variances from the preferred value for the at least one constraint; and
establishing an overall cost function incorporating the cost for variances for the at least one constraint for evaluating the possible routes for the transport element; anda third set of instructions for automatically defining the route for the transport element in accordance with the at least one constraint and the overall cost function. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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- 25. An apparatus for designing a route for a transport element, the apparatus comprising a processing element configured for establishing at least one constraint, including at least one adaptive distance field constraint, selected from the group of a representation of an object, a stay-out zone, a pass-through zone and a stay-in zone, which limits the possible routes for the transport element without fixing the position of any portion of the transport element, wherein the processing element is further configured for establishing at least one intrinsic constraint dependent upon the transport element itself and selected from the group consisting of a minimum bend angle, a maximum bend angle, a minimum straight section length between bends, and a constant bend radius, and the processing element is further configured for automatically defining the route for the transport element in accordance with the at least one adaptive distance field constraint and the at least one intrinsic constraint.
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29. A method of designing a route for a tube throughout an air vehicle comprising:
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establishing at least one constraint that limits possible routes for the tube, wherein establishing the at least one constraint comprises establishing at least one inequality constraint which limits the possible routes for the tube without fixing the position of any portion of the tube, wherein establishing the at least one inequality constraint comprises establishing at least one adaptive distance field constraint representing at least one object and, wherein establishing the at least one constraint further comprises establishing at least one intrinsic constraint dependent upon the tube itself and selected from the group consisting of a minimum bend angle, a maximum bend angle, a minimum straight section length between bends, and a constant bend radius; and automatically defining, using a processor, the route for the tube in accordance with the at least one adaptive distance field constraint and the at least one intrinsic constraint. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification