Animatronic Surface Projection Alignment Without Manual Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animatronic figures require tedious manual calibration and mechanical actuators for projection alignment, leading to costly repairs and complex mechanical systems that wear out over time, making development and maintenance expensive and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A system that dynamically renders projections onto animatronic surfaces using real-time rendering engines and sensors to synchronize content with mechanical movements, reducing the need for manual calibration and simplifying mechanical systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual calibration is used to align projections with animatronic surfaces, then projection alignment precision is improved, but development time and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical calibration processes with an automated image processing system. The system uses cameras to capture images of the animatronic surface and computationally determines the correct projection alignment, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and calibration procedures while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-calibration by automatically detecting the animatronic surface geometry and determining optimal projection parameters. The image processing algorithm independently analyzes captured images and computes alignment without requiring skilled operators or manual intervention, allowing the system to calibrate itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical actuators are used to generate animatronic movements, then animation capability is improved, but wear and tear on skin materials increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical actuators with projection-based animation. Instead of using physical motors and joints that move skin materials, the system projects dynamic visual content onto the animatronic surface to create the appearance of movement and animation, eliminating mechanical wear on the skin.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of animated surfaces through projection rather than physically moving the actual skin materials. By projecting 2D or 3D visual representations onto the animatronic surface, the system achieves animation effects without the mechanical stress and wear that would otherwise occur from physical actuation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical actuators are used for animatronic movement, then movement capability is improved, but repair costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical actuators by using projection systems to create movement effects. This substitution removes the complex mechanical components that require maintenance and repair, significantly reducing long-term operational costs while preserving animation and movement capabilities through visual projection.
Solution Approach 2:
The projection-based system uses software and visual content rather than expensive, wear-prone mechanical components. The 'consumable' elements are digital projection data and lightweight projection hardware, which are far cheaper to replace or update than mechanical actuators and skin materials.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method includes determining an orientation of a mechanically animated surface relative to one or more projectors configured to project content onto the mechanically animated surface, dynamically rendering the content based on one or more parameters derived from the orientation of the mechanically animated surface relative to the one or more projectors, and presenting the content on the mechanically animated surface using the one or more projectors.