3D Fiducial Marker Cube for AR Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current augmented and virtual reality technologies are hindered by high costs, making them inaccessible to the general public due to the need for expensive hand-held controllers and complex tracking systems, which limits widespread adoption.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional object with multi-layered fiducial markers, such as a cube, is used for interaction with augmented and virtual reality environments, enabling accurate tracking and control using computer vision techniques, eliminating the need for expensive controllers and complex tracking systems by leveraging widely available technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive hand-held controllers and complex tracking systems are used, then interaction accuracy with VR/AR environments is improved, but system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture images of the physical environment and creates a virtual copy of the three-dimensional space. Fiducial markers are placed in the real world, and their virtual representations are rendered in the AR environment, allowing the system to track and interact with virtual objects based on captured real-world geometry without requiring specialized expensive controllers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical tracking systems and specialized controllers with a camera-based computer vision system. Instead of using mechanical sensors and dedicated tracking hardware, the system uses standard camera technology to detect fiducial markers and calculate three-dimensional positions, substituting complex mechanical tracking with optical detection and image processing
2Ease of operation
If expensive hand-held controllers are used, then user interaction capability is improved, but accessibility to general public deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera device itself universal by enabling it to function both as a standard imaging device and as a VR/AR controller. The same camera can capture photos, record videos, and simultaneously track fiducial markers for virtual reality interactions, eliminating the need for separate specialized controllers and making the technology accessible through devices people already own
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive fiducial markers that can be easily printed and placed in the environment. These markers are low-cost visual elements that replace expensive persistent tracking infrastructure, allowing anyone to set up a VR/AR interaction system with minimal investment
3Measurement precision
If complex tracking systems are used, then tracking accuracy is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical tracking systems with optical tracking using standard camera technology. The camera captures images containing fiducial markers, and software processes these images to calculate precise three-dimensional positions and orientations, substituting expensive mechanical sensors with accessible optical detection
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of fiducial markers in the rendered environment and matches them with detected real-world markers. This allows the system to track position and orientation by comparing the known geometry of marker copies with their detected positions in camera images, achieving accurate tracking through image processing rather than complex hardware
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed an apparatus comprising processor and memory and a three-dimensional object bearing at least two, unique fiducial markers, the processor executing instructions which cause the processor to generate a three-dimensional environment including a user interface element for interacting with the three-dimensional environment, detect rotational movement of the three-dimensional physical object using the at least two unique fiducial markers, and update the user interface element within the three-dimensional environment based upon the rotational movement of the three-dimensional physical object.