Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Software => Software => Topic started by: Admin on July 11, 2008, 09:28:27 AM

Title: got 3D data plotting software recommendation?
Post by: Admin on July 11, 2008, 09:28:27 AM
I have these rather large data sets (60000 x 5 tables) generated from my robot fish tests.

I'm looking for software that I can easily import this data and view in 3D or even better 4D. Excel just isn't up to the job beyond 2D unfortunately. The ability to rotate the 3D graph with a mouse, or animate the 4D graph, is highly desirable. I'm basically trying to find trends in the data to generate and test out various theories.

I have a 2000 version of SigmaPlot that kinda works, but has much to be desired . . . and I can't afford the newest version:
http://www.systat.com/products/SigmaPlot/

My budget is under $200 . . . got any recommendations?
Title: Re: got 3D data plotting software recommendation?
Post by: Admin on July 17, 2009, 02:42:27 PM
bumping this

I have a need to do this again, and still haven't found anything better than writing very awkward/unintuitive code using MatLab . . .
Title: Re: got 3D data plotting software recommendation?
Post by: Kirk on July 20, 2009, 10:32:21 PM
I remember, from years ago, a software called (I think) Inventor. It was by Silicon Graphics and ran on SGI UNIX work stations.  It was used for CAT scan visualization and other 3D data visualization.  There was a graphical programing environment and a 3D visualizer with the expected zoom and rotate and transparency features.  I have no idea if it is still around, but perhaps you local radiologist has some cool software.
Good Luck
Kirk
Title: Re: got 3D data plotting software recommendation?
Post by: Admin on July 21, 2009, 08:13:38 AM
Found these (top one is Inventor). Unfortunately neither publish prices, which means I need to go through an hour phone call and get spammed with promotional material before they give me the 'special price just for you' but is really a very expensive deal :P
http://www.vsg3d.com/vsg_prod_openinventor.php
http://www.sciencegl.com/3Dsurf/Shots/screenShots.htm

Also found this:
http://www.optunis.com/data_visualizer/data_visualizer_3d_pro.html
Its exactly what I want at a good price . . . but its only for Macs . . . I need it for Windoze . . .

These require an X11 emulator for windows, doesn't look too user friendly, but are free:
http://www.cmap.polytechnique.fr/~jouve/xd3d/
http://enel.ucalgary.ca/People/vigmond/flounder/index.html

I really only need to make heat maps (x-y graphs with color for the 3rd DoF). At least for now . . . not happy with the above stuff I found, still looking . . .
Title: Re: got 3D data plotting software recommendation?
Post by: Admin on July 21, 2009, 01:25:53 PM
Just found this for $150:
http://www.graphnow.com/visual-data.html

A bit expensive . . . I'll probably end up buying it next week if I can't find anything better.
Title: Re: got 3D data plotting software recommendation?
Post by: Webbot on July 21, 2009, 07:27:55 PM
Have you thought about using POV ?

If you've got the co-ordinate data then you could write something to turn it into a 3D scene (using spheres for each dot) and set the camera/eye position where you like. Of course you wont get a 3D panning view necessarily (VRML?).

I know you've got POV (coz its free and you use it for rendering Eagle boards). So it was just a 'cheap and dirty thought'  :o