Object Rig Selection by Visual Appearance for Faster Animation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for creating rigs for objects are resource-intensive and require numerous user inputs to select and apply them, which can be cumbersome and detract from the user experience.

Innovation Solution

The system and method for determining the user's selection of the user's selection of a visual appearance of the object.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual rig creation is used, then rig quality and precision are improved, but time consumption and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverig qualityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing object geometry, shape, and visual appearance to select and apply appropriate rigs without requiring manual user input. The device autonomously completes the rigging process by matching objects with suitable rigs from a library based on their characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of rig creation with an automated computational system. Instead of users manually configuring rigs, the system uses image processing and pattern recognition algorithms to automatically analyze objects and select appropriate rigs, substituting human labor with computational automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual rig creation is used, then rig customization is improved, but resource intensity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverig customizationVSAvoidresource intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements universality by creating a library of reusable rigs that can be automatically applied to multiple different objects based on their characteristics. Instead of creating custom rigs for each object, the same rig library serves multiple purposes across different object types, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by analyzing object properties such as geometry, shape, and visual appearance to automatically select the most appropriate rig from the library. This parameter-based selection approach allows versatile rig customization without manual intervention, reducing resource intensity while maintaining adaptability to different object types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If automated rig selection is implemented, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent generation speedVSAvoidvisual appearance analysis accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by analyzing object visual appearance and using this information to select appropriate rigs. The automated process uses image processing feedback to continuously improve matching accuracy, ensuring that productivity gains do not compromise the precision of rig-object matching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12614330B2Rigging an object

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 APPLE INC

AI summary

A method includes determining a set of one or more visual appearance values that indicate a visual appearance of an object that is to be placed in an environment. The method includes selecting, based on the set of one or more visual appearance values, a rig that allows the object to be manipulated to exhibit movement in the environment. The method includes applying the rig to the object by associating joints of the rig with respective portions of the object. The method includes animating the object within the environment by manipulating the joints of the rig associated with the object.