Pepper's Ghost Beam Splitter Control for Undistorted Virtual Effects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing amusement park attractions lack the ability to create highly immersive and realistic special effects, particularly in combining real and virtual elements, limiting the guest experience.
Innovation Solution
A Pepper's Ghost system is employed with a beam splitter to combine real and virtual imagery, using a control system to adjust and distort virtual elements based on properties of real objects, creating a realistic illusion of virtual elements being physically present in the real environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a beam splitter is used to combine real and virtual imagery, then immersion and realism are improved, but distortion of virtual elements occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts display parameters (position, orientation, shape, size) of virtual elements based on the identified distortive characteristics of real objects. By changing these parameters in real-time, the virtual imagery is pre-distorted to compensate for the distortion introduced by the beam splitter and real objects, achieving realistic appearance without actual distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a digital copy or representation of the real object's distortive characteristics and applies this information to modify the virtual elements. By copying the distortion pattern from the real object and using it to pre-distort the virtual imagery, the system achieves realistic integration of virtual and real elements through the beam splitter.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual elements are added to enhance immersion, then guest experience is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically identifies real objects in the viewing area, determines their distortive parameters, and uses this information to adjust the display of virtual elements without requiring manual configuration. This self-adjusting capability reduces operational complexity while maintaining high immersive capability through dynamic adaptation to the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the viewing area for real objects and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the display parameters of virtual elements. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain realistic integration of virtual and real imagery while adapting to changing conditions, managing complexity through automated feedback-based adjustment.
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
Enhances the realism and immersion of attractions by realistically portraying virtual elements as if they are physically present within the real environment, providing a more engaging experience for guests.
Implementation Method 1
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 (50) of an amusement park includes a viewing area (58), a virtual area (60), a beam splitter (64) positioned to enable visibility of a portion of the viewing area (58) through the beam splitter (64) and visibility of a portion of the virtual area (60) via reflection off the beam splitter (64), and a controller (74). The controller (74) is configured to generate image data based on a distortive parameter associated with a first element disposed in the viewing area (58) and transmit the image data to cause display of a second element in the virtual area (60). The distortive parameter is indicative of a distortion of an appearance of an object (100) visible through the first element.