Full-LSPIA: A Least-Squares Progressive-Iterative Approximation Method with Optimization of Weights and Knots for NURBS Curves and Surfaces

• Published in: Computer aided design 2024-04, Vol.169, p.103673, Article 103673
• Main Authors: Lan, Lin, Ji, Ye, Wang, Meng-Yun, Zhu, Chun-Gang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytic gradient; Curve and surface fitting; Knot removal; LSPIA; NURBS
• ISSN: 0010-4485; 1879-2685
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cad.2023.103673

The Least-Squares Progressive-Iterative Approximation (LSPIA) method offers a powerful and intuitive approach for data fitting. Non-Uniform Rational B-splines (NURBS) are a popular choice for approximation functions in data fitting, due to their robust capabilities in shape representation. However, a restriction of the traditional LSPIA application to NURBS is that it only iteratively adjusts control points to approximate the provided data, with weights and knots remaining static. To enhance fitting precision and overcome this constraint, we present Full-LSPIA, an innovative LSPIA method that jointly optimizes weights and knots alongside control points adjustments for superior NURBS curves and surfaces creation. We achieve this by constructing an objective function that incorporates control points, weights, and knots as variables, and solving the resultant optimization problem. Specifically, control points are adjusted using LSPIA, while weights and knots are optimized through the LBFGS method based on the analytical gradients of the objective function with respect to weights and knots. Additionally, we present a knot removal strategy known as Decremental Full-LSPIA. This strategy reduces the number of knots within a specified error tolerance, and determines optimal knot locations. The proposed Full-LSPIA and Decremental Full-LSPIA maximize the strengths of LSPIA, with numerical examples further highlighting the superior performance and effectiveness of these methods. Compared to the classical LSPIA, Full-LSPIA offers greater fitting accuracy for NURBS curves and surfaces while maintaining the same number of control points, and automatically determines suitable weights and knots. Moreover, Decremental Full-LSPIA yields fitting results with fewer knots while maintaining the same error tolerance. •We propose Full-LSPIA, a flexible and automatic fitting framework for LSPIA.•We develop analytical gradient formulations for the weights and knots of NURBS.•Full-LSPIA enhances the precision in NURBS approximation maintaining fixed DOFs.•Decremental Full-LSPIA yields lightweight NURBS curves with given error tolerance.