Automatic explode based on occlusion

A system comprising:

• one or more computers programmed to perform operations comprising determining a first separation direction for separating a first component of a three-dimensional assembly of components from a second component of the assembly of components,
• wherein determining the first separation direction comprises (i) determining an occlusion measure for an occlusion view, the occlusion view representing the first component and the second component in a respective viewing direction and identifies a region where the first component is physically blocked from movement along the respective viewing direction by the second component, (ii) determining when the occlusion measure satisfies a criterion, and (iii) selecting the respective viewing direction associated with the occlusion view as the first separation direction, and
• wherein the operations further comprise updating a rendering of the assembly of components to show the first component spatially separated from the second component by positioning one of the first component and the second component along the first separation direction.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

• determining a first separation direction for separating a first component of a three-dimensional assembly of components from a second component of the assembly of components, wherein determining the first separation direction comprises (i) determining an occlusion measure for an occlusion view, the occlusion view representing the first component and the second component in a respective viewing direction and identifies a region where the first component is physically blocked from movement along the respective viewing direction by the second component, (ii) determining when the occlusion measure satisfies a criterion, and (iii) selecting the respective viewing direction associated with the occlusion view as the first separation direction;
• and
• updating a rendering of the assembly of components to show the first component spatially separated from the second component by positioning one of the first component and the second component along the first separation direction.