Spray paint simulator and training aid

A method for simulating an accumulation of paint emitted by a virtual paint sprayer on a surface of a virtual object, the method comprising:

• calculating a position of the virtual paint sprayer based on a position of a mock paint sprayer;
• calculating a plurality of vectors emanating from the virtual paint sprayer;
• calculating a respective intersection point for each of the plurality of vectors with the virtual object;
• depositing a respective center of a virtual paint droplet at each of the respective intersection points;
• dividing the surface of the virtual object into a plurality of sections;
• identifying, for each of the deposited virtual paint droplets, at least one section of the plurality of sections touched by such virtual paint droplet;
• calculating a volume of a virtual paint droplet emitted by the virtual paint sprayer;
• calculating a calculated thickness for each of the deposited virtual paint droplets assuming each virtual paint droplet has a same radius;
• incrementing a thickness variable for each of the at least one section of the plurality of sections by the calculated thickness;
• and
• displaying on a display device the accumulation of paint on the virtual object consistent with the thickness variable for each of the plurality of sections.

An instructional aid for training an operator to use a paint sprayer, the instructional aid comprising:

• a mock paint sprayer sized in relative proportions to be hand-held by the operator;
• a virtual object;
• a virtual paint sprayer corresponding to the mock paint sprayer, the virtual paint sprayer configured to virtually emit virtual paint droplets;
• a mesh data structure having a plurality of sections, each section representing a corresponding section of a surface of the virtual object;
• a plurality of virtual paint droplets virtually deposited on the surface of the virtual object by the virtual paint sprayer, each of the plurality of virtual paint droplets touching one or more of the plurality of sections, each virtual paint droplet having a volume and a calculated thickness assuming each virtual paint droplet has a same radius;
• wherein a thickness variable for each of the one or more of the plurality of sections is incremented by the calculated thickness for the corresponding virtual paint droplet;
• and
• a display device for displaying an accumulation of paint on the virtual object consistent with the thickness variable for each of the plurality of sections.