Pepper's Ghost Beam Splitter for Distorted Virtual-Real Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement park attractions lack the ability to create highly immersive and realistic special effects, failing to effectively combine virtual and real-world elements to enhance guest experience.
Innovation Solution
A Pepper's Ghost system is employed, utilizing a beam splitter to combine imagery from a viewing area and a virtual area, with a controller adjusting image data to create a distorted appearance of virtual elements that interact realistically with real objects, enhancing the perceived integration of virtual and real elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a beam splitter is used to combine virtual and real imagery, then visibility of both viewing area and virtual area is improved, but the realism of the combined imagery deteriorates due to lack of distortion interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The controller modifies the image data by applying distortion parameters that correspond to the optical properties of the first element. This changes the visual parameters of the virtual imagery to match the distortion characteristics of viewing through the physical element, creating realistic interaction between the virtual and real elements when viewed through the beam splitter.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a distorted copy of the virtual imagery that mimics how light would actually be distorted by passing through the first element. This copied distorted imagery is then combined with the real imagery through the beam splitter, making the virtual elements appear to physically interact with the real elements in the viewing area.
2Device complexity
If simple image combination is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the immersive experience deteriorates due to lack of realistic interaction between virtual and real elements
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical distortion devices with a computational approach. The controller uses image processing algorithms to apply distortion effects to the virtual imagery, substituting mechanical complexity with computational processing while achieving the same realistic visual interaction effect.
3Measurement precision
If distortion correction is applied to virtual elements, then visual clarity is improved, but the perceived integration with real objects deteriorates due to mismatched distortion characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of correcting the distortion of virtual imagery to make it clear, the system applies the opposite approach by intentionally distorting the virtual imagery to match the distortion characteristics of the first element. This inverted approach makes the virtual elements appear to be viewed through the same optical medium as the real elements, enhancing perceived integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a more realistic and immersive experience by creating a distorted appearance of virtual elements that interact with real objects, enhancing the perceived integration and realism of the combined imagery.
Implementation Method 1
a beam splitter positioned to enable visibility of a portion of the viewing area through the beam splitter and visibility of a portion of the virtual area via reflection off the beam splitter
Data Source
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AI summary
An attraction system of an amusement park, the attraction system comprising: a viewing area, a virtual area, a beam splitter positioned to enable visibility of a portion of the viewing area through the beam splitter and visibility of a portion of the virtual area via reflection off the beam splitter, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform operations comprising: generating image data that is distorted in correlation to a distortive parameter associated with a first element disposed in the viewing area, wherein the distortive parameter is indicative of a distortion applied by the first element to light interacting with the first element; and transmitting the image data to cause display of a second element in the virtual area.