Adjustable Robot Scale Cues for Accurate Virtual Object Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Actors in video game production face challenges in simulating interactions with virtual objects without a frame of reference, leading to time-consuming edits to correct scaling issues in action sequence data, which increases production costs.
Innovation Solution
A robot is used to provide a physical attribute adjustment at a three-dimensional location in the performance space to simulate the scale of virtual objects, allowing actors to perform interactions accurately without the need for subsequent data editing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actor estimates the location of virtual objects without a frame of reference, then the actor can perform interactions independently, but the scaling accuracy of interactions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A robot is introduced as an intermediary physical object in the performance space to represent virtual objects. The robot provides a tangible frame of reference that the actor can interact with physically, while sensors track the interaction and translate it to the virtual environment. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling both actor independence and scaling accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the actor's mental estimation process with an automated sensor-based measurement system. Cameras and depth sensors automatically track the robot's position and the actor's movements, eliminating the need for the actor to mentally calculate scales and positions, thereby ensuring precise scaling without compromising ease of operation.
2Productivity
If the actor's estimate of the location is off by a significant margin, then the actor can still perform the action, but the production time and cost increase due to editing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is positioned in advance at the precise location representing the virtual object before the actor performs the interaction. This preliminary setup ensures that the actor's natural movements are captured at the correct scale from the outset, eliminating the need for subsequent editing to correct scaling errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time visual feedback to the actor through the robot's physical presence and positioning. The actor can see and interact with the robot as a tangible reference, allowing for immediate correction of any positioning issues during the performance, thereby preventing errors that would require later editing.
3Manufacturing precision
If a robot is used to provide scale reference, then the scaling precision of virtual object interactions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robot is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously serves as a physical frame of reference for the actor, a tracked object for sensor systems, and a representative of the virtual object. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into a single device, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining scaling precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The robot creates a physical copy or representation of the virtual object in the performance space. By replicating the virtual object's key characteristics (position, scale, orientation) in the physical realm, the system enables accurate interactions without requiring complex virtual-to-physical translation mechanisms during the performance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating action sequence data for a character to be rendered in a video game is provided. The method includes, during recording of an actor in a performance space, providing a cue to the actor to perform an action that simulates interacting with a virtual object at a location in the performance space. The method also includes instructing a robot to move to the location in the performance space at which the actor is to simulate interaction with the virtual object, and instructing the robot to adjust a physical attribute of the robot when at the location. The physical attribute of the robot, when adjusted, is placed at a three-dimensional location in the performance space to simulate a scale of the virtual object with which the actor is to simulate interaction. The virtual object can be either an animated object or a non-animated object.