Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mistral-3: Parallel solid modelling

  • Published:
The Visual Computer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes the design and implementation of Mistral-3, a parallel solid odeller for distributed-memory multicomputers implementing algorithms for creating, ray tracing and incrementally updating octree-based spatial data structures. The system has been designed to be scalable and portable. Scalability is addressed by distributing the control of task and data management between all available processors and portability's solved by building software for the abstraction of a distributed-memory multicomputer. An object-oriented approach to the design is adopted to help produce a structured system. Results are presented showing Mistral-3 has made good use of up to 128 T800 transputers. It has been ported to transputer-and non-transputer-based multicomputers.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alverson R, Callahan D, Cummings D, Koblenz B, Porterfield A, Smith B (1990) The Tera computer system. ACM Siggarch 1-6

  • Amdahl GM (1967) Validity of the single processor approach to achieving large scale computing capabilities. AFIPS 30:483–485

    Google Scholar 

  • Arvo J, Kirk D (1989) A survey of ray tracing acceleration techniques. In: Glassner AS (ed) An introduction to ray tracing Academic Press, New York London

    Google Scholar 

  • Athas WC, Seitz CL (1988) Multicomputers: message-passing concurrent computers. IEEE Comput 21 (8):9–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Barton E (1987) Data concurrency and the computing surface. Meiko

  • Bisiani R, Nowatzyk A, Ravishankar M (1988) Coherent shared memory on a message passing machine. Technical report CMU-CS-88-204, Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science

  • Bomans L, Roose D (1989) Benchmarking the iPSC/2 hypercube multiprocessor. Concurrency 1(1):3–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Boothe B (1989) Multiprocessor strategies for ray-tracing. Technical report UCB/CSD 89/534, Computer Science Division, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, University of California Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Borkar S, Cohn R, Cox G, Gleason S, Gross T, Kung HT, Lam M, Moore B, Peterson C, Pieper J, Rankin L, Tseng PS, Sutton J, Urbanski J, Webb J (1988) iWarp: an integrated solution to high-speed parallel computing. In Supercomputing '88, Kissimme, Florida

  • Bouatouch K, Priol T (1988) Parallel space tracing: an experience on an iPSC hypercube. In: Magnenat-Thalmann N, Thalmann D (eds) New trends in computer graphics. Springer Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Caspary E, Scherson ID (1989) A self balanced parallel ray tracing algorithm. In: Parallel processing for computer vision and display. Reading, Mass, pp 408–419

  • Clarke LJ (1989) Tiny: user guide. Technical report ECSP-UG-9, Edinburgh Concurrent Supercomputer Project

  • Cleary JG, Wyvil BM, Birtwistle GM, Vatti R (1986) Multiprocessor ray tracing. Comput Graph Forum 5:3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Davy JR, Dew PM, Holliman NS, Mallon DP, De Pennington A, Towards a software architecture for solid modelling on processor networks. Proc Tech Meet Occam User Group 11

  • Demos G (1990) Issues in applying massively parallel computing power. Int J Supercomput Appl 4(4):90–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Dew PM, Fernando LTP, Holliman NS, Lawler M, Malhi R, Parkin D (1990) Illuminating chapters in history: computer aided visualisation for archaeological reconstruction. World Archaeol Cong 2:20–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Dew PM, Holliman NS, Morris DT, de Pennington A (1988) Techniques for rendering solid objects on a processor farm. Proc Tech Meet Occam User Group 9

  • Dippe, M, Swensen J (1984) An adaptive subdivision algorithm and parallel architecture for realistic image synthesis. ACM Comput Graph 18(3):149–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernando T, Dew PM, Smith GL, Babbs T (1989) Enhancing the performance of 3D interactive electronic assembly design systems. In: Freeman L, Phillips C (eds) Applications of transputers 1

  • Fox GC (1989) Parallel computing comes of age: supercomputer level parallel computations at Caltech. Concurrency 1(1):63–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Glassner AS (1984) Space subdivision for ray tracing. IEEE Comput Graph Appl 4(10):15–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldsmith J, Salmon J (1985) A ray tracing system for the hypercube. Technical report Memorandum HM 154. Caltech Concurrent Computer Project, California Institute of Technology Pasadena

    Google Scholar 

  • Green SA (1989) Multiprocessor systems for realistic image synthesis. Thesis, Department of Computer Studies, University of Bristol

  • Green SA, Paddon DJ (1989) Exploiting coherence for multiprocessor ray tracing. IEEE Comput Graph Appl 9(6):12–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Green SA, Paddon DJ, Lewis E (1989) A parallel algorithm and tree-based computer architecture for ray traced computer graphics. In: Parallel processing for computer vision and display Addison-Wesley, Reading Mass, pp 431–442

    Google Scholar 

  • Gustafson JL, Montry GR, Benner RE (1988) Development of parallel methods for a 1024-processor hypercube. SIAM J Sci Stat Comput 9(4):609–638

    Google Scholar 

  • Hennessy JL, Patterson DL (1990) Computer architecture: a quantitative approach. Morgan Kaufmann

  • Holliman NS (1990) Visualising solid models: an exercise in parallel programming. Thesis, University of Leeds, School of Computer Studies and Department of Mechanical Engineering

  • Holliman NS, Morris DT, Dew PM, de Pennington A (1989) An evaluation of the processor farm for visualising constructive solid geometry. In: Parallel processing for computer vision and display. Addison-Wesley Reading, Mass, pp. 443–451

    Google Scholar 

  • James DV, Laundrie AT, Gjessing S, Sohi GS (1990) Scalable coherent interface. IEEE Comput 74-77

  • Jevans DAJ (1989) Optimistic multiprocessor ray tracing. In: Earnshaw RA, Wyvill B (eds) New advances in computer graphics. pp 507–521

  • Kobayashi H, Nakamura T, Shigei Y (1987) Parallel processing of object space for image synthesis using ray tracing. The Visual Computer 3:13–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi H, Nakamura S, Kubota H, Nakamura T, Shigei Y (1988a) Load balancing strategies for a parallel ray tracing system based on constant subdivision. The Visual Computer 4:197–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi H, Nakamura T, Shigei Y (1988b) A strategy for mapping parallel ray tracing into a hypercube multiprocessor system. In: Magnenat-Thalmann N, Thalmann D (eds) New trends in computer graphics. Springer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Kung HT (1989) Network-based multicomputers: redefining high performance computing in the 1990s. Proc Decennial Caltech Conf VLSI

  • Latham W (1990) A sequence from the evolution of form. Comput Graph 24(4):438

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenoski D, Laudon J, Gharachorloo K, Gupta A, Hennessy J, Horowitz M, Lam M (1989) Design of the Stanford DASH multiprocessor. Technical report CSL-TR-89-403, Stanford University

  • Lindsay DC (1988) Towards a shared memory hypercube. Technical report CMU-CS-88-190, Carnegie Mellon School of Computer Science

  • May D (1989) Toward general purpose parallel computers. MIT Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Muuss MJ (1987) RT and REMRT: shared memory parallel and network distributed ray tracing programs. Proc USEN-IX Assoc Comput Graph Workshop 4:86–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemoto K, Omachi T (1986) An adaptive subdivision by sliding boundary surfaces. Graphics Interface 43–48

  • Nishimura H, Ohno H, Kawata T, Shirakawa I, Omura K (1983) Links-1: a parallel pipelined multi-microcomputer system for image creation. ACM Siggarch 387-394

  • Packer J (1989) Exploiting concurrency: a ray tracing example. In: The trasputer application notebook. Inmos, pp 144–152

  • Potmesil M, McMilan L, Hoffert EM, Inman JF, Farah RL, Howard M (1989) A parallel image computer with a distributed frame buffer: system architecture and programming. In: Eurographics 89. North Holland, Hamburg

    Google Scholar 

  • Pountain D (1990) Virtual channels: the next generation of transputers Byte 15(4):3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Priol T, Bouatouch K (1989) Static load balancing for a parallel ray tracing on a MIMD hypercube. The Visual Computer 5:109–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Priot D, Radcliffe N, Norman M, Clarke L (1990) What price regularity? Concurrency: Practice and Experience 2(1):55–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Purgathofer W, Zeiller M (1989) Configuring transputers for ray tracing. Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Praktische Informatik, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly P (1989) Data visualization in archaeology. IBM Sys J 28(4):569–579

    Google Scholar 

  • Requicha AAG (1980) Representations for rigid solids: theory, methods and systems. ACM Comput Surv 12(4):437–464

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers DF (1985) Procedural elements for computer graphics. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth SD (1982) Ray casting for modelling solids. Compt Graph Image Proc 18(2):109–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Steenkiste P (1988) Nectarine — a Nectar interface. Technical report, CMU, Department of Computer Science

  • Tilove RB, Requicha AAG, Hopkins MR (1984) Efficient editing of solid models by exploiting structural and spatial locality. Computer Aided Geometric Design 1(3):227–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullner MK (1983) Parallel machines for computer graphics. Thesis, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitted JT (1980) An improved illumination model for shaded display. Comm ACM 23(6):343–349

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyvill G, Kunii TL, Shiral Y (1986) Space division for ray tracing CSG. IEEE Comput Graph Appl 6(4):28–34

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Light Work Design Ltd, Cooper Buildings, Arundel Street, S1 2NS, Sheffield, England

    N. S. Holliman & C. M. Wang

  2. School of Computer Studies, University of Leeds, Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9JT, Leeds, England

    P. M. Dew

Authors
  1. N. S. Holliman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. M. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. M. Dew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Holliman, N.S., Wang, C.M. & Dew, P.M. Mistral-3: Parallel solid modelling. The Visual Computer 9, 356–370 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01901686

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01901686

Key words

Search

Navigation