Path: utzoo!yunexus!geac!syntron!jtsv16!uunet!husc6!rutgers!att!alberta!calgary!cpsc!jevans
From: jevans@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (David Jevans)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: Basics of raytracing
Summary: i might have something interesting
Keywords: ray tracing parallel references
Message-ID: <77@cs-spool.calgary.UUCP>
Date: 19 Oct 88 10:29:01 GMT
Article-I.D.: cs-spool.77
References: <4589@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU>
Sender: news@calgary.UUCP
Lines: 31

In article <4589@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU>, sjankows@polyslo.CalPoly.EDU (Mr Booga (detonate)) writes:
>   I have a request similar to Randy Ray's (Raytracing introduction).  I am
> starting a project in parallel raytracing using a Sequent Balance 8000 and
> a couple of color Sun 3's running X.  I have virtually exhausted the 
> local resources on raytracing and am in need of basic ray tracing algorithms
> and simple optimization algorithms.

Our university (the U. of Calgary) has significant experience in parallel
ray tracing.  Professors Cleary and Wyvill developed a mesh machine for
raytracing several years ago.  Graduate student (now working at Alias)
Andrew Pearce implemented a parallel raytracer for the mesh machine
that also ran on a network of Corvus'.

I implemented a parallel ray tracing algorithm for polygons and implicit
surfaces earlier in the year on a BBN Butterfly.  I used regular
spatial subdivision combined with adaptive (octree) subdivision to converge
on the surfaces.  Up to 10 nodes I got almost linear speedup, and on a
70 node system I was still getting 50% from each new node added.

If anyone else is interested in references on parallel raytracing
(the mesh machine articles, Pearces Masters thesis, or others
such as Dippe in Siggraph 86 etc) you can send me mail and I can send
a list or copies of some of t

"behind these eyes that say I still exist..."

David Jevans, U of Calgary Computer Science, Calgary AB  T2N 1N4  Canada
uucp: ...{ubc-cs,utai,alberta}!calgary!jevans

David Jevans, U of Calgary Computer Science, Calgary AB  T2N 1N4  Canada
uucp: ...{ubc-cs,utai,alberta}!calgary!jevans