Jack (human modeling)
Encyclopedia
The Jack human simulation system was developed at the Center for Human Modeling and Simulation at the University of Pennsylvania
in the 1980s & 1990s. Conceived as an ergonomic assessment and virtual human prototyping system for NASA
space shuttle development, it soon gathered funding from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army for dismounted soldier simulation, from the U.S. Air Force for maintenance simulation, and from various other government and corporate users for their own applications. In 1996 the software was spun off into a privately held company and is now sold as an ergonomic human simulation toolkit (called Tecnomatix Jack) by Siemens. The research and development of the Jack system have led to such standards as H-anim and MPEG4 Body Animation Parameters.
The roots of most modern human animation Inverse kinematics
systems can be traced to the research and development done for the Jack system. Some of these animation systems include those integrated with Autodesk
's 3ds max, Maya
, and proprietary in-house systems used by various animation studios, such as Industrial Light and Magic
.
(EAI) which later was acquired by Unigraphics Solutions (UGS). Unigraphics was then re-incorporated into Electronic Data Systems
(EDS) and then spun off again as a privately held company called UGS. After the acquisition of Tecnomatix
, Jack became officially part of the Tecnomatix product line. UGS was eventually acquired by Siemens
.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
in the 1980s & 1990s. Conceived as an ergonomic assessment and virtual human prototyping system for NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
space shuttle development, it soon gathered funding from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army for dismounted soldier simulation, from the U.S. Air Force for maintenance simulation, and from various other government and corporate users for their own applications. In 1996 the software was spun off into a privately held company and is now sold as an ergonomic human simulation toolkit (called Tecnomatix Jack) by Siemens. The research and development of the Jack system have led to such standards as H-anim and MPEG4 Body Animation Parameters.
The roots of most modern human animation Inverse kinematics
Inverse kinematics
Inverse kinematics is a subdomain of kinematics, which is of particular interest in robotics and computer animation. In contrast to forward kinematics, which calculates the position of a body after a series of motions, inverse kinematics calculates the motions necessary to achieve a desired...
systems can be traced to the research and development done for the Jack system. Some of these animation systems include those integrated with Autodesk
Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
's 3ds max, Maya
Maya (software)
Autodesk Maya , commonly shortened to Maya, is 3D computer graphics software that runs on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux, originally developed by Alias Systems Corporation and currently owned and developed by Autodesk, Inc. It is used to create interactive 3D applications, including video...
, and proprietary in-house systems used by various animation studios, such as Industrial Light and Magic
Industrial Light and Magic
Industrial Light & Magic is an Academy Award-winning motion picture visual effects company that was founded in May 1975 by George Lucas and is owned by Lucasfilm. Lucas created the company when he discovered that the special effects department at 20th Century Fox was shut down after he was given...
.
Corporate history
The original Jack software company was called Transom. It was sold to Engineering Animation, Inc.Engineering Animation, Inc.
Engineering Animation, Inc. was a services and software company based in Ames, Iowa , United States. It remained headquartered there from its incorporation in 1990 until it was acquired by Unigraphics Solutions, Inc. in 1999...
(EAI) which later was acquired by Unigraphics Solutions (UGS). Unigraphics was then re-incorporated into Electronic Data Systems
Electronic Data Systems
HP Enterprise Services is the global business and technology services division of Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Business strategic business unit. It was formed by the combination of HP's legacy services consulting and outsourcing business and the integration of acquired Electronic Data Systems,...
(EDS) and then spun off again as a privately held company called UGS. After the acquisition of Tecnomatix
Tecnomatix
Tecnomatix Technologies, Ltd. is the leading provider of Manufacturing Process Management and Product lifecycle management software to the electronics, automotive, aerospace and heavy equipment industries, currently owned by Siemens AG...
, Jack became officially part of the Tecnomatix product line. UGS was eventually acquired by Siemens
Siemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
.