Animated Figure Projection Mapping for Immersive Realism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animated figures in entertainment venues lack the ability to appear lifelike and contextually blend with their environment, leading to a break in immersion for guests.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamic media generation that involves defining a computer-generated model of an animated figure, generating a tangible model, simulating projection of imagery onto the model, and projecting the imagery onto the tangible model using processing circuitry and a projector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional projection mapping is used with predetermined images, then the animated figure can be visually supplemented, but the figure appears unrealistic and cannot contextually blend with the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static predetermined images to dynamic generated images that adapt in real-time to the animated figure's movements and environmental context. The projection mapping is continuously updated based on motion detection and scene analysis, making the figure appear more lifelike and contextually appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback loops where sensors detect the animated figure's position, orientation, and movements, and this information is fed back to the image generation system. This closed-loop control enables the projection to adjust dynamically, improving realism by ensuring the projected images consistently match the figure's actual state and environment.
2Illumination intensity
If internal projectors are used for rear projection, then the animated figure can be illuminated, but unrealistic backlighting or glow is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the projection function from the internal position and relocates it to an external projector. This allows for more flexible and realistic lighting control, as the external projector can position light sources appropriately in the scene and avoid the inherent unrealistic glow of internal back-projection while still providing adequate illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly projecting onto the figure's surface with internal projectors, the system generates realistic lighting effects by projecting images that copy and simulate natural light interactions with the figure's form and environment, creating believable highlights, shadows, and illumination patterns.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed images are projected onto the animated figure, then the figure can be enhanced visually, but the guest immersion is broken due to lack of contextual blending
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the environment and animated figure characteristics before generating projection images. By pre-processing scene data, detecting figure movements, and predicting required visual adjustments, the system can generate contextually appropriate images that adapt to changing conditions without requiring overly complex real-time processing during performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of dynamic media generation for presentation via projection on an animated figure includes defining, via processing circuitry, a computer-generated model of the animated figure, operating, via the processing circuitry, a manufacturing system to generate a tangible model based on the computer-generated model, generating, via the processing circuitry, a revised computer-generated model based on the tangible model, simulating, via the processing circuitry, projection of imagery onto the revised computer-generated model, and operating, via the processing circuitry, a projector to project the imagery onto the tangible model based on simulated projection of the imagery onto the revised computer-generated model.