Distinguishing holographic objects from physical objects

A system for distinguishing between physical and holographic objects, the system comprising:

• one or more cameras for detecting shadows cast from one or more objects in an environment;
• a sonic generator for directing sound at the one or more objects and a detector to detect reflections from the sound directed at the one or more objects;
• one or more processors configured to:
• identify object as a holographic object as a result of not detecting a shadow associated with the object and as a result of not detecting a reflection of the sound directed at the object, and
• identify another object as a physical object as a result of detecting a shadow associated with the other object and as a result of detecting a reflection of the sound directed at the object;
• and
• depict, on a map of the environment, physical and holographic objects.

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a computer processor to cause the computer processor to perform a method for distinguishing between physical and holographic objects, comprising:

• in response to locating an object within an environment, directing at least one of light, sound and an electromagnetic (EM) wave toward the object;
• determining that the object is a physical object by at least one of:
• detecting a shadow cast by the object created by the light;
• detecting a reflection of the EM wave directed at the object;
• and
• detecting a reflection of a sound wave directed at the object;
• and
• otherwise, determining that the object is a holographic object as a result of one or more of the following:
• not detecting a shadow being cast by the object;
• not receiving a reflection of the EM wave from the object;
• and
• not detecting a reflection of the sound wave from the object.