PointFlow: 3D Point Cloud Generation with Continuous Normalizing Flows (1906.12320v3)

Abstract: As 3D point clouds become the representation of choice for multiple vision and graphics applications, the ability to synthesize or reconstruct high-resolution, high-fidelity point clouds becomes crucial. Despite the recent success of deep learning models in discriminative tasks of point clouds, generating point clouds remains challenging. This paper proposes a principled probabilistic framework to generate 3D point clouds by modeling them as a distribution of distributions. Specifically, we learn a two-level hierarchy of distributions where the first level is the distribution of shapes and the second level is the distribution of points given a shape. This formulation allows us to both sample shapes and sample an arbitrary number of points from a shape. Our generative model, named PointFlow, learns each level of the distribution with a continuous normalizing flow. The invertibility of normalizing flows enables the computation of the likelihood during training and allows us to train our model in the variational inference framework. Empirically, we demonstrate that PointFlow achieves state-of-the-art performance in point cloud generation. We additionally show that our model can faithfully reconstruct point clouds and learn useful representations in an unsupervised manner. The code will be available at https://github.com/stevenygd/PointFlow.

• The paper introduces continuous normalizing flows to generate high-quality 3D point clouds.
• It leverages continuous dynamics to accurately capture complex shape distributions, outperforming traditional methods.
• Its robust framework shows promise for applications in computer graphics, robotics, and simulation.

Overview of LaTeX Author Guidelines for ICCV Proceedings

The paper "LaTeX Author Guidelines for ICCV Proceedings" serves as a comprehensive guide for authors preparing their manuscripts for submission to the International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV). This document encapsulates crucial formatting and submission standards, ensuring uniformity and adherence to the conference’s expectations involving paper structure, length, and presentation.

Core Components

The paper is structured to guide authors through various critical stages in the preparation of their manuscripts:

1. Language and Submission: Authors are instructed to submit manuscripts in English and adhere to the policies regarding dual submissions, emphasizing the importance of originality and exclusivity.
2. Paper Length and Formatting: The guidelines specify that the main content of papers should not exceed eight pages, excluding references. This delineation ensures a focused and concise presentation of research. Violations, such as overlength papers or improper formatting, result in automatic disqualification from review. Given the strict limits, authors are encouraged to use formatting features wisely, such as smaller fonts for figures and captions.
3. Blind Review Process: The paper highlights proper anonymization techniques for a double-blind review. Authors should avoid any self-identifying language that could compromise the anonymity integral to fair assessment. The approach strikes a balance between acknowledging prior work and maintaining the integrity of the blind review system.
4. Mathematical Notation and Citations: Proper numbering of equations and sections is mandated to facilitate ease of reference. The citation instructions underscore the importance of order and clarity in referencing prior work, employing standardized scientific conventions.
5. Technical Formatting: The document prescribes precise technical formatting rules, encompassing margins, fonts, title styles, headers, and footnotes. The meticulous detailing of these specifications aids in creating a visually uniform conference proceeding that enhances readability and professional appearance.

Practical and Theoretical Implications

The paper not only serves as a guide but also implicitly supports the ethics of scientific publication by detailing how to address potential issues such as dual submissions, anonymization, and proper credit through citations. These measures are essential in maintaining the quality and reliability of published research.

Additionally, the guidelines are adaptable to various document preparation systems, though they primarily target LaTeX users. This adaptability suggests an awareness of the diverse tools available to researchers and a commitment to providing a versatile set of instructions.

Future Developments

This set of guidelines can anticipate updates to accommodate evolving standards in academic publishing, such as enhanced digital formats for review or adjustments to submission protocols due to technological advancements. Such developments may further streamline the submission process and enhance accessibility for a broader range of authors.

In conclusion, the "LaTeX Author Guidelines for ICCV Proceedings" is an essential reference that instills rigor and uniformity in conference submissions. By addressing the intricacies of manuscript preparation, it supports the seamless dissemination of research findings within the vision science community.