Assembled Block System with Camera-Based Shape Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices that reflect movement or shape changes in a real space within a virtual environment are limited by the need for complex mechanisms and increased manufacturing costs, particularly when aiming for flexible forms and intuitive operation.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a set of blocks that can be assembled and modified, where communicating blocks with sensors and actuators measure and adjust their shape and position, while non-communicating blocks provide flexibility in form and material, allowing for advanced expressions and interactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If infrared LEDs and photosensors are included in all coupling portions to measure angles of rotation, then the shape and movement can be measured accurately, but the manufacturing cost increases and the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple independent blocks, each capable of being assembled together. Not all blocks need to include measurement elements, only those where shape and movement measurement is required. This segmentation allows accurate measurement where needed while reducing overall device complexity and manufacturing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
A camera is introduced as an intermediary measurement device to capture images of the blocks from multiple angles. The camera system processes these images to determine the shape and movement of blocks without requiring measurement elements in every block coupling portion, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
2Adaptability or versatility
If all parts include infrared LEDs and photosensors to measure angles of rotation, then the shape variable range can be measured, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple blocks where only necessary blocks include measurement elements. This allows the shape variable range to be measured across the assembled structure without requiring every single block to have expensive measurement components, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using physical measurement elements in all blocks, the system creates a digital copy of the physical blocks through camera imaging. This digital representation is then processed to determine shape and movement, eliminating the need for expensive physical sensors in every block while maintaining the ability to measure shape variable range.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the shape of the device is made variable to widen the range of uses, then the adaptability increases, but the mechanism complexity for measuring the form increases
Solution Approach 1:
A camera system serves as an intermediary that captures the variable shapes and movements of blocks from multiple angles. This external measurement system eliminates the need for complex internal measurement mechanisms in each block, allowing the device to achieve high adaptability while keeping individual block complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system serves multiple functions: it captures images for shape determination, tracks movement over time, and works with blocks of various shapes and configurations. This universal measurement approach supports a wide range of uses without requiring separate specialized measurement mechanisms for each application.
Data Source
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AI summary
A core information receiving section 20 of an information processing device 10 receives information related to the state of a core from a first block 142a of a block set 120 assembled by a user. A structure analyzing section 22 identifies the shape, posture, and position of the block set 120 on the basis of an image photographed by a camera 122 and the information related to the state of the core. An information processing section 30 performs predetermined information processing according to the shape, posture, and position of the block set 120 or an operation on an input device 14 by the user. A display processing section 32 generates an image to be displayed as a result of the information processing, and outputs the image to a display device 16. A driving control section 34 transmits a signal for controlling the operation of the block set 120.