Gauss Map Based Curved Origami Discretization

Abstract

This paper addresses the problem of discretizing the curved developable surfaces that are satisfying the equivalent surface curvature change discretizations. Solving basic folding units occurs in such tasks as simulating the behavior of Gauss mapping. The Gauss spherical curves of different developable surfaces are setup under the Gauss map. Gauss map is utilized to investigate the normal curvature change of the curved surface. In this way, spatial curved surfaces are mapped to spherical curves. Each point on the spherical curve represents a normal direction of a ruling line on the curved surface. This leads to the curvature discretization of curved surface being transferred to the normal direction discretization of spherical curves. These developable curved surfaces are then discretized into planar patches to acquire the geometric properties of curved folding such as fold angle, folding direction, folding shape, foldability, and geometric constraints of adjacent ruling lines. It acts as a connection of curved and straight folding knowledge. The approach is illustrated in the context of the Gauss map strategy and the utility of the technique is demonstrated with the proposed principles of Gauss spherical curves. It is applicable to any generic developable surfaces.