Summary
Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) is an open and extensible framework for creating, editing, querying, rendering, collaborating, and simulating within 3D worlds. Developed by Pixar Animation Studios and widely adopted across various industries, OpenUSD offers four key features: composition engine, custom schemas, asset resolvers, and Hydra. These features enable developers to efficiently create high-fidelity and true-to-life simulations of the real world with collaborative and non-destructive authoring.
Understanding Universal Scene Description
Universal Scene Description, commonly referred to as OpenUSD or USD, is more than just a file format. It is an ecosystem and interchange paradigm that models, labels, classifies, and combines a wide range of data sources into a composed ground truth. This framework is highly scalable and interoperable, making it ideal for industries such as manufacturing, robotics, retail, and architecture.
Key Features of OpenUSD
1. Composition Engine
The OpenUSD composition engine allows for sparse, non-destructive assembly of data from multiple sources as individual layers. This means different users can make changes to the composed scene in different layers without overwriting each other’s edits. The data from all layers remains accessible, and the stronger layer will prevail in the composition.
2. Custom Schemas
USD schemas are not limited to geometry and shading. NVIDIA, in collaboration with Pixar and Apple, has developed physics schemas for rigid bodies and continues to explore new schemas to expand the ecosystem for virtually immersive environments.
3. Asset Resolvers and Data Storage
USD data storage is not tied to any specific filesystem or nonvolatile storage and can be procedurally generated. This is achieved through the USD plug-in system for asset resolvers such as NVIDIA Omniverse Nucleus and file formats like Alembic and OBJ.
4. Hydra
Hydra is a generalized pipeline for processing composed scene graphs and runtimes. It is not tightly coupled to any single runtime data layout, allowing Omniverse to compile the composed USD into a deeply vectorized data layout called Fabric. Hydra provides interfaces for implementing business logic to process data as a customizable chain of runtime scene indexes.
Leveraging OpenUSD for Developers
To help developers get started with OpenUSD, NVIDIA has released an exclusive video series that provides a foundational understanding of what many have called the HTML of the 3D internet. With NVIDIA Omniverse, developers can easily integrate OpenUSD into existing software tools, simulation workflows, and generative AI-based applications.
Benefits of OpenUSD
- Scalability and Interoperability: OpenUSD enables professionals to efficiently create high-fidelity and true-to-life simulations of the real world with collaborative and non-destructive authoring.
- Extensibility: The framework is highly extensible with custom schemas, allowing for the integration of various data sources and the creation of complex virtual worlds.
- Flexibility: Hydra’s generalized pipeline allows for the processing of composed scene graphs and runtimes without being tied to any single runtime data layout.
Getting Started with OpenUSD
Developers interested in leveraging OpenUSD can start by exploring the NVIDIA Omniverse platform. Here are some steps to get started:
- Download Omniverse: Access the standard license for free or learn how Omniverse Enterprise can connect your team.
- Explore Resources: Visit the OpenUSD resources page for the latest advancements and tutorials.
- Join the Community: Engage with the community through forums, Discord server, Twitch, and YouTube channels.
Table: Key Features of OpenUSD
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Composition Engine | Sparse, non-destructive assembly of data from multiple sources as individual layers. |
| Custom Schemas | Extensible data model with schemas for geometry, shading, and physics. |
| Asset Resolvers and Data Storage | Filesystem-agnostic data storage that can be procedurally generated. |
| Hydra | Generalized pipeline for processing composed scene graphs and runtimes. |
Table: Benefits of OpenUSD
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Scalability and Interoperability | Efficient creation of high-fidelity simulations with collaborative authoring. |
| Extensibility | Highly extensible with custom schemas for integrating various data sources. |
| Flexibility | Generalized pipeline for processing composed scene graphs without being tied to any single runtime data layout. |
Conclusion
Universal Scene Description is a powerful tool for developers looking to push the boundaries of 3D workflows. With its composition engine, custom schemas, asset resolvers, and Hydra, OpenUSD offers a comprehensive framework for creating, editing, and simulating within 3D worlds. By leveraging OpenUSD, developers can unlock new possibilities in their workflows and contribute to the development of scalable virtual worlds across various industries.