Steve Linthicum

Papers

Total Citations

135

H-Index

About

Steve Linthicum is a leading researcher in computer-aided design and geometric modeling, with a particular focus on the mathematical representation and computation of swept surfaces and volumes. His work addresses a fundamental challenge in CAD: accurately modeling the complex shapes generated when a geometric object moves through space. Linthicum’s major contribution is the development of a numerical algorithm for the implicit modeling of swept volumes, a technique that represents these shapes as the zero set of a single mathematical function. This approach offers significant advantages over traditional boundary representations, enabling more robust and efficient computations for applications like numerical cutter path generation and spatial path planning. His seminal 1994 paper on this topic has accumulated 91 citations, with a follow-up in 2002 receiving 44 citations, demonstrating sustained influence in the field. By providing a practical, computationally tractable method for a core geometric operation, Linthicum’s research has directly impacted the tools used in manufacturing and robotics, making him a key figure in the advancement of solid modeling and its industrial applications.