Paul de Casteljau was a French mathematician and engineer who made significant contributions to the field of computer-aided geometric design (CAGD). He is best known for his work on the De Casteljau's algorithm, which is used for evaluating points on a Bezier curve.
Born in 1930, Paul de Casteljau's professional career was primarily with the French car manufacturer Citroën. His work there involved the development of mathematical techniques to aid in the design and manufacture of car bodies, which led him to explore and develop new methods for curve and surface modeling.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, de Casteljau developed what is now known as De Casteljau's algorithm, a method for subdividing Bezier curves. This algorithm provides a straightforward way to compute points on a Bezier curve, which is particularly useful in computer graphics, computer-aided design (CAD), and animation. Here are some key points about his contributions:
While de Casteljau's work was not widely recognized during his time at Citroën, his contributions have since been acknowledged by the mathematical and computer graphics communities. His algorithm remains a fundamental tool in the study of Bezier curves and surfaces. Although he did not publish much academic work, his findings were eventually published in various forms, including: