Show system and show method for floating objects

Abstract

The present invention provides a system capable of controlling the floating state of a floating object in a performance space. The solution of the present invention is a performance system 100 comprising a plurality of air discharge devices 10. The plurality of air discharge devices 10 are configured to generate air flows in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in plan view in the performance space surrounded by the air discharge ports 12 thereof. The floating object F can be made to float in the performance space by the air flows generated by the plurality of air discharge devices 10.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a performance system and method that enables floating objects such as balls to float. Background Technology

[0002] The applicant previously proposed a performance system using floating objects such as balls (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). The performance systems described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 mainly involve pre-assembling LED lighting fixtures and speakers inside the balls, and controlling these lighting fixtures and speakers to perform a performance using light and sound.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-097796

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-072114 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] However, the devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not have a solution for controlling the position of floating objects within the performance space, but are limited to tracking floating objects that move freely within the space. Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling the floating state of floating objects within a performance space.

[0009] Technical solutions to the problem

[0010] The first aspect of this invention relates to a performance system for levitizing floating objects in the air. Furthermore, in this specification, "floating object" refers to a tangible object with a certain degree of rigidity that floats in the air on air currents. Examples of floating objects are balls, balloons, cotton, and feathers, and their shapes are not particularly limited. For example, a floating object is not limited to a sphere and can also be a polyhedron. Furthermore, devices capable of autonomously floating on air currents, such as autonomous flying drones, are also included in the term "floating object" herein. On the other hand, intangible substances such as gases, fog, and bubbles, or substances that are destroyed through contact with other objects, are excluded from the term "floating object" herein. The performance system of this invention includes multiple exhaust devices. The multiple exhaust devices are configured to generate airflow that is clockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from above within the performance space surrounded by their exhaust ports. The number of exhaust devices is only two or more, preferably three or four or more, and may also be five or more. For example, if there are two exhaust devices, a vortex-like airflow can be generated within the performance space by arranging the exhaust ports so that the air discharged from each exhaust port is staggered. Furthermore, if there are four exhaust devices, the exhaust ports can be positioned at the four corners of the performance space, and a vortex-like airflow can be generated within the performance space by discharging air from each exhaust port in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Thus, the performance system of the present invention can make floating objects float using the airflow within the performance space.

[0011] In the system of the present invention, the floating object is preferably configured to contain gas through a flexible outer membrane. Examples of floating objects are balls or balloons. Furthermore, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the interior of the floating object can also be pre-equipped with lighting devices such as LEDs and speakers.

[0012] The system of the present invention further includes an air intake device. The air intake device is positioned above the performance space and is configured to draw in air exhausted by the exhaust device. Thus, by installing the air intake device above the performance space, a tornado-like updraft can be generated within the performance space. This makes it easier to maintain the buoyancy of the floating object.

[0013] The system of the present invention preferably further includes sensors and a control device. The sensors detect the position of floating objects within the performance space. The control device controls the airflow or speed generated by the exhaust and / or intake devices based on the sensor's detection information. Thus, by using the sensor's detection information to feedback control the exhaust and intake devices, it becomes easier to keep the floating objects stationary at a predetermined position within the performance space (e.g., the center of the performance space). Furthermore, if the floating object deviates from the predetermined position within the performance space, the exhaust and intake devices can be feedback-controlled to return the floating object to the predetermined position within the performance space. Moreover, in controlling the exhaust and intake devices, specific conditions and thresholds can be set for the floating object's position to control the airflow or speed, and known machine learning algorithms such as deep learning and reinforcement learning can be utilized.

[0014] The second aspect of the invention is a performance method for levitating objects in the air. The performance method of the invention includes: venting air through multiple exhaust devices in a performance space surrounded by exhaust vents of multiple exhaust devices, such that an airflow is generated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction when viewed from above; and levitating objects in the performance space by means of this airflow.

[0015] Invention Effects

[0016] According to the present invention, a system and method for controlling the floating state of floating objects in a performance space can be provided. Attached Figure Description

[0017] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 It is a perspective view that schematically illustrates an example of the configuration of the various devices and floating objects (balls) that constitute the performance system.

[0018] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 It is a block diagram showing examples of the devices that make up the performance system.

[0019] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating an example of control processing performed by a control device. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following description uses the accompanying drawings to illustrate methods for carrying out the invention. The invention is not limited to the methods described below, but includes appropriate modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the outline of the performance system 100 used to levitate the floating object F. Furthermore, Figure 2 This is a block diagram representing the various devices that constitute the performance system 100. For example... Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the ball is conceived as the floating object F. Although there is only one floating object F (ball) in the illustrated example, this system can simultaneously float multiple balls. Furthermore, the performance system of the present invention can handle various floating objects besides balls.

[0022] Basically, the purpose of the performance system 100 of the present invention is to maintain a floating object F at a predetermined height in the air within a performance space located indoors, or to make the floating object F move up and down. If the floating object F is touched by the audience, it will move in the performance space due to the impact, but according to this performance system 100, it is also possible to control the moving floating object F to return to the vicinity of the center of the performance space. The performance system 100 generates airflow within the performance space surrounded by the exhaust ports of these exhaust devices 10 through multiple exhaust devices 10 and intake devices 20. Then, by controlling this airflow, the floating object F is made to float in the performance space. In this embodiment, although four exhaust devices 10(a) to (d) are provided when defining a certain performance space, the number of exhaust devices 10 in each performance space is not limited to this, for example, it can be set to two to ten. Furthermore, it is preferable to restrict the airflow in this performance space by walls, partitions, or air showers (not shown) to prevent airflow other than the airflow generated by the multiple exhaust devices 10 and intake devices 20 provided by the performance system 100 from flowing in. Furthermore, the performance space has a volume (width, depth, and height) sufficient for people to enter. For example, it is preferable that the performance space has a width of at least 2m to 5m and a depth of at least 5m, which also ensures the above-mentioned volume.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the performance space is envisioned as a planar quadrilateral shape (especially a planar square shape). Furthermore, exhaust columns, i.e., multiple air columns 11, are erected at each of the four corners of this performance space. Multiple exhaust ports 12 (a) to (d) are provided on the four air columns 11(a) to (d), and are respectively connected to exhaust devices 10 (a) to (d). Thus, air supplied from the multiple exhaust devices 10 passes through the interior of the air column 11 and is discharged from the exhaust ports 12 located on the side of the air column 11. Figure 1 As shown, the four exhaust ports 12(a) to (d) of each of the four air columns 11 are configured to generate clockwise or counterclockwise vortex-like airflow within the performance space when viewed from above, thus setting the air discharge direction of each exhaust port 12(a) to (d). To explain in more detail, in Figure 1In the example shown, the first exhaust port 12(a) discharges air toward the second exhaust port 12(b), the second exhaust port 12(b) discharges air toward the third exhaust port 12(c), the third exhaust port 12(c) discharges air toward the fourth exhaust port 12(d), and the fourth exhaust port 12(d) discharges air toward the first exhaust port 12(a). Alternatively, the discharge directions of each exhaust port 12(a) to (d) can be set to be the same as... Figure 1 The directions shown are opposite. In this way, by setting the exhaust direction of each exhaust port 12(a) to (d), a vortex-like airflow is generated in the performance space. Furthermore, although there are four exhaust devices 10 and four air columns 11 in this embodiment, the number of these can be increased or decreased depending on the arrangement environment.

[0024] Furthermore, in Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, an air intake device 20 is provided above the center of the performance space to draw in air discharged from each exhaust port 12. Furthermore, although a propeller-shaped air intake device 20 (ceiling fan) is provided above the performance space in this embodiment, the main body of the air intake device 20 can also be pre-installed in another location, with the air intake opening leading to the air intake device 20 located above the performance space. In this embodiment, the air intake device 20 is located near the ceiling of the performance space, for example, at a height of 2 to 10 meters from the ground. The air intake device 20 can also be positioned 1 to 2 meters higher than the exhaust ports 12. Thus, when air discharged from each exhaust port 12 is drawn in by the air intake opening, a tornado-like upward airflow can be generated within the performance space surrounded by each exhaust port 12.

[0025] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the airflow and air speed of each exhaust device 10(a) to (d) and the intake device 20 can be controlled independently. For example, the exhaust volume of the multiple exhaust devices 10 as a whole can be equal to the intake volume of the intake device 20, or the exhaust volume can be more or less than the intake volume. Moreover, the exhaust volume of each exhaust device 10 can be adjusted individually. Thus, as detailed later, when the floating object F deviates from its predetermined position and moves for some reason, the floating object F can be returned to its predetermined position by individually controlling the exhaust devices 10 and the intake device 20. Furthermore, not limited to keeping the floating object F in a predetermined position, performances can also be conducted by individually controlling the exhaust devices 10 and the intake device 20, allowing the floating object to move up and down or along a predetermined path within the performance space.

[0026] The performance system 100 further includes a position detection sensor 30, which is used to detect the position of the floating object F within the performance space. In this embodiment, an optical sensor is used as the position detection sensor 30. An example of an optical sensor is a TOF (Time of Flight) sensor. Specifically, the optical sensor projects a laser, such as infrared light, from a light-emitting element and measures the time it takes for this laser to be reflected back to the light-receiving element by the object (floating object F). The optical sensor is preferably installed at multiple locations, such as the ceiling and walls surrounding the performance space. Thus, by projecting a laser from the optical sensor onto the floating object F, the position of the floating object F within the performance space and its coordinates relative to its outline can be obtained. Furthermore, as... Figure 2 As shown, the detection information obtained by the position detection sensor 30 is input to a control device 40, which is a known PC or similar device. The control device 40 performs calculations based on the information measured by the position detection sensor 30, which calculates the distance from the sensor to the object and the coordinates of the object within the performance space.

[0027] Furthermore, although not illustrated, the position detection sensor 30 can also be composed of a transmitter mounted inside the floating object F (sphere) and receivers located on the ceiling and walls near the performance space. In this case, multiple receivers receive the wireless signals emitted from the transmitter inside the floating object F, and the control device 40 analyzes the reception strength of the wireless signals received by these multiple receivers, thereby obtaining the position information of the floating object F within the performance space.

[0028] The detection information from the position detection sensor 30 is used to control the floating state of the floating object F. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the detection information from the position detection sensor 30 is transmitted to the control device 40 via the main bus. The control device 40 is a PC (computer processing unit) with built-in control programs, and performs individual control of each exhaust device 10 and intake device 20. Specifically, the control device 40 controls the airflow or speed of the exhaust air for each exhaust device 10, and controls the airflow or speed of the intake air for each intake device 20.

[0029] As an example of the control method performed by the control device 40, the operating conditions of each exhaust device 10 and intake device 20 can be linked to the coordinate values ​​of the floating object F detected by the position detection sensor 30 and pre-programmed into the control device 40. Figure 3 This illustrates an example of the control process performed by control device 40. For example... Figure 3As shown in step S1, basically, the control device 40 controls the exhaust device 10 and / or the intake device 20 to keep the floating object F continuously floating near the center of the performance space (floating control mode). On the other hand, as in steps S2 and S3, if the floating object F is detected to have deviated from the center of the performance space by a certain distance based on information from the position detection sensor 30, the control device 40 controls the exhaust device 10 and / or the intake device 20 to return the floating object F to this center (reset control mode). For example, when the coordinates of the floating object F are close to the ground, the airflow of the exhaust device 10 and / or the intake device 20 is increased to lift the floating object F upwards. On the other hand, when the coordinates of the floating object F are close to the intake device 20 and the ceiling, the airflow of the exhaust device 10 and / or the intake device 20 is reduced, just enough to prevent the floating object F from being sucked in by the intake device 20. Furthermore, when the floating object F moves to a position that is offset to the front, back, left, or right of the performance space, for example, the airflow from the exhaust device 10 located near the moved floating object F is increased to generate an airflow that returns the floating object F to the center of the space. Also, as in step S4, when it is detected by information from the position detection sensor 30 that the floating object F has returned to the vicinity of the center of the performance space, the control device 40 switches from the reset control mode (step S3) to the floating control mode (step S1).

[0030] Furthermore, the control processing performed by the aforementioned control device 40 can also be achieved using machine learning methods such as artificial neural networks (deep learning, etc.) and reinforcement learning. For example, deep learning can be performed using data sets of the actions of each exhaust device 10(a) to (d) and the intake device 20 and the state changes of the floating object F caused by their actions as training data, and the resulting learned model can be used for control processing of the control device 40. Thus, by referring to this learned model, each exhaust device 10(a) to (d) and the intake device 20 can be operated effectively in a way that optimizes the floating state of the floating object F in response to its actions. For example, in the case of implementing reinforcement learning, it is possible to reward the environment in which the floating object F is in an appropriate position within the performance space and its floating state is stable, or to punish the environment in which the floating object F is attached to the ground or ceiling, and to control the various devices 20 and 30 in a way that maximizes the reward or minimizes the punishment. In this way, by utilizing machine learning, the actions of the floating object F that change due to the environment (e.g., airflow) within the performance space can be effectively optimized.

[0031] In this embodiment, a sphere is used as an example of the float F. This sphere is a hollow sphere containing air or gases such as nitrogen or helium. The outer membrane of the sphere is preferably formed of a transparent or translucent, soft, flexible material. Examples of materials forming the sphere are silicone resin or synthetic rubber. The sphere is preferably 0.1m to 5m in diameter or 0.5m to 3m in diameter, and particularly preferably 1m to 2.5m in diameter. It is recommended that the sphere be formed of a relatively lightweight material so that it can float freely in the performance space while maintaining a hovering time above the audience's heads. Furthermore, one or more spheres can be prepared depending on the size of the performance space. In addition, as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, LED lighting fixtures and speakers can be pre-installed inside the sphere.

[0032] The following description, though omitting illustrations, will illustrate any possible structure of the performance system 100. The performance system 100 may also include loudspeakers within a room containing the performance space. For example, the loudspeakers may be installed near the walls and ceiling of the room. Furthermore, the loudspeakers are connected to a control device 40. The control device 40 controls the sound effects, such as background music (BGM) or sound effects, emitted from the loudspeakers. The control device 40 can receive position information, such as that of the floating object F, from the position detection sensor 30 via the main bus, and control the sound output from the loudspeakers based on this position information. For example, the BGM or sound effects can be changed according to the position of the floating object F within the performance space.

[0033] The performance system 100 may further include projectors for projecting images onto the floating object F. For example, two projectors may be positioned symmetrically around the center of the performance space. Therefore, the floating object F, which floats near the center of the performance space, can be projected onto the two projectors from both sides. This allows for the projection of an image onto the approximately entire floating object F. Furthermore, the number of projectors can be adjusted, for example, by considering the size of the performance space or the size of the floating object F. The projectors only need to be pre-installed near the ceiling of the building containing the performance space. The projectors are connected to a control device 40 and project images onto the floating object F according to the control of this device 40.

[0034] The control device 40 can control each projector to perform a so-called light sculpture projection on the floating object F. The control device 40 stores CG images, etc., projected onto the floating object F and projects these images from each projector. Furthermore, the control device 40 obtains the coordinate information of the outline of the floating object F from the position detection sensor 40 via the main bus. Based on the coordinate information of the floating object F, the control device 40 changes the images projected from each projector in real time, or controls the projection direction of the image light. For example, the control device 40 can change the content of the image projected onto the floating object F and the color of the light according to the size, shape, or floating position of the floating object F. Thus, the surface of the floating object F floating in the performance space can be used as a projection surface for effective light sculpture projection.

[0035] The performance system 100 may further include lights for illuminating the performance space or the floating object F. For example, a chandelier may be installed near the ceiling of the building including the performance space. Also, for example, a moving head light may be installed above the center of the performance space to illuminate the floating object F. Furthermore, for example, a floor lamp may be installed on the floor of the building including the performance space. These lights are connected to a control device 40. The control device 40 controls the amount (brightness), color temperature, and flicker of the light from each light. In particular, the control device 40 can control the direction of the moving head light. Specifically, the control device 40 receives coordinate information of the floating object F from the position detection sensor 30 and can control the direction of the moving head light based on this coordinate information. For example, the direction of the moving head light can be controlled to illuminate the floating object F.

[0036] exist Figure 1 The image schematically illustrates a performance space and a performance system 100 that generates airflow within it. However, multiple performance systems 100 can also be arranged within the same room. In this way, multiple performance spaces can be formed within a single room.

[0037] In this application specification, in order to illustrate the content of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 The embodiments of the present invention will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes modifications or improvements that are obvious to those skilled in the art based on the matters described in this application specification.

[0038] Industrial applicability

[0039] This invention relates to a performance system and method for levying floating objects F, such as balls, in the air. Therefore, this invention is preferably applicable to the entertainment and advertising industries.

[0040] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0041] 10: Exhaust device

[0042] 20: Inhalation device

[0043] 30: Position detection sensor

[0044] 40: Control device

[0045] 100: Performance System

[0046] F: Floating objects

Claims

1. A performance system for levying a float, configured to contain gas via a flexible outer membrane, in the air. Its features are, Includes: control device; Multiple exhaust devices; and Sensors are used to detect the position of the floating objects within the performance space surrounded by the exhaust vents of the plurality of exhaust devices. The control device controls the plurality of exhaust devices to generate an airflow that, when viewed from above, rotates clockwise or counterclockwise within the performance space, and through this airflow, causes the floating object to float within the performance space. The control device controls the air volume or wind speed of the exhaust device based on the detection information of the sensor. When the floating object is close to the ground, the air volume of the multiple exhaust devices is increased to lift the floating object upward. When the floating object is close to the ceiling, the air volume of the multiple exhaust devices is reduced to make the floating object fall downward.

2. The performance system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It is further equipped with an air intake device. Above the performance space, the air intake device or its intake port is provided in a manner that draws in the air exhausted by the exhaust device.

3. A performance method that causes a gas-containing float, configured to be suspended in the air by a flexible outer membrane, to levitate, characterized in that, include: The control device controls multiple exhaust devices to generate an airflow that, when viewed from above, is clockwise or counterclockwise within a performance space surrounded by the exhaust vents of the multiple exhaust devices, and a first step is taken to cause the floating object to float within the performance space by means of the airflow; and The second step of the control device controlling the airflow or wind speed of the exhaust system is based on detection information from sensors used to detect the position of the floating objects within the performance space. In the second step, when the floating object is close to the ground, the air volume of the plurality of exhaust devices is increased to lift the floating object upward, and when the floating object is close to the ceiling, the air volume of the plurality of exhaust devices is reduced to make the floating object fall downward.

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