Robotic Character Pose Control for Camera Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capturing quality photographs of robots and robotic characters is challenging due to their animated movements, which often result in blurred images or undesirable facial expressions, limiting photographers' opportunities for retakes.
Innovation Solution
A control system that detects when a photograph is about to be taken, using sensors to signal a motor controller to freeze or adjust the robotic assembly's pose, ensuring the character's eyes are open and mouth is in a favorable expression, utilizing pre-flash detection, range finder signals, or object recognition to execute camera-friendly poses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the robotic character is animated with motorized movements to enhance entertainment value, then the character becomes more lively and engaging, but the photographic quality deteriorates due to motion blur and undesirable facial expressions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of camera presence (via sensors detecting flashes, range finders, or camera images) before the actual photograph is taken. Upon detection, the control system preemptively adjusts the robotic character's pose and facial features to optimal positions, ensuring the character is properly posed before the shutter closes. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by preparing the character in advance for the photographic moment while maintaining normal animation during entertainment sequences.
2Speed
If the robotic character moves quickly during performance, then the entertainment experience is enhanced, but the photograph capture opportunity is reduced due to motion blur
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects camera presence in advance and preemptively slows down or freezes the robotic character's movement to a stationary pose before the photograph is taken. This allows the character to maintain high-speed movement during entertainment performance while ensuring reliable, blur-free photographs when cameras are detected.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the robotic character maintains continuous animation, then the character remains engaging, but the photograph quality deteriorates due to closed eyes or unfavorable expressions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors for camera presence and, upon detection, preemptively adjusts facial features (opening eyes, positioning mouth, arranging eyebrows) to favorable expressions before the photograph is taken. After the photograph opportunity passes, the character resumes its continuous animation sequence. This allows the character to maintain engaging continuous animation while ensuring high-quality facial expressions in photographs.
4Productivity
If photographers take photographs during character performance, then audience documentation is enabled, but the character may be captured in unfavorable poses due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to detect camera presence and provides feedback to the control system, which then adjusts the robotic character's pose in real-time. This feedback loop enables the character to respond dynamically to photography opportunities, maintaining high photograph capture rates with consistently favorable poses rather than random positioning.
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 photographic results by ensuring robots and robotic characters are posed favorably for photography, increasing the chances of capturing high-quality images with open eyes and appropriate facial expressions.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor may be mounted on the robotic apparatus and adapted for detecting a pre-flash of light from a red-eye effect control flash of a camera
Implementation Method 2
The sensor may be adapted for detecting a range finder beam from a range finder of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a robotic apparatus to produce desirable photographic results. The method includes, with a motor controller, first operating a robotics assembly to animate the robotic apparatus and, then, detecting an upcoming image capture. The method further includes, with the motor controller in response to the detecting of the upcoming image capture, second operating the robotics assembly to pose the robotic apparatus for the upcoming image capture. In some embodiments, the detecting includes a sensor mounted on the robotic apparatus sensing a pre-flash of light from a red-eye effect reduction mechanism of a camera. In other cases, the detecting includes a sensor mounted on the robotics apparatus sensing a range finder signal from a range finder of a camera. The posing may include opening eyes, moving a mouth into a smile, or otherwise striking a pose that is held temporarily to facilitate image capture with a camera.