Costumed Character Electromagnetic Prop Interaction Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Costumed character outfits often limit an entertainer's ability to interact realistically with their surroundings, restricting the use of character appendages.

Innovation Solution

Integration of electromagnets and magnetic pieces in character costumes and stage props to enable controlled magnetic interactions, allowing for enhanced interaction through electromagnetic locks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional motion capture systems with multiple cameras and markers are used, then motion tracking accuracy is improved, but system complexity and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion tracking accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the complex infrastructure of multiple synchronized cameras and physical markers from the motion capture system. Instead, it uses only a single camera combined with computer vision algorithms to detect and track motion, thereby maintaining measurement precision while dramatically reducing system complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual model (digital twin) of the physical environment and characters. This virtual copy allows the system to track motion by comparing real-time camera images against the pre-scan virtual model, enabling accurate motion capture without requiring multiple physical cameras or markers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Shape

If detailed character models with many polygons are used, then visual realism is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual realismVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic level-of-detail (LOD) technology that automatically adjusts the polygon count and model complexity based on the character's distance from the camera and current action intensity. When a character is far away or performing simple actions, the model uses fewer polygons; when close or performing complex actions, the model increases detail. This dynamic adaptation maintains visual realism while significantly reducing processing time and computational resource requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Speed

If real-time rendering with high frame rates is achieved, then interaction responsiveness is improved, but computational load and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinteraction responsivenessVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements frame rate adaptation that dynamically adjusts rendering frequency based on scene complexity and character distance. When characters are far away or the scene is simple, the frame rate is reduced; when characters are close or scene complexity increases, the frame rate increases to maintain responsiveness. This periodic adjustment maintains interaction responsiveness while significantly reducing computational energy consumption during less critical moments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4580769B1System and method for costumed character interaction
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 UNIVERSAL CITY STUDIOS LLC
  • EP4580769B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4580769B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4580769B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A system for controlling costumed character interaction includes a character costume configured to be worn by a user. The character costume includes an electromagnet integrated into the character costume. The system also includes a stage prop including a magnetic piece integrated into the stage prop. The system further includes a control interface coupled to the electromagnet. The control interface is configured, via a control signal, to activate and to deactivate the electromagnet to control interaction between the character costume and the stage prop via magnetic interaction between the electromagnet and the magnetic piece.