Systems and Methods for Generating Spatial Sound Information Relevant to Real-World Environments

A spatial exploration system, comprising:

• a sensor system;
• a speaker system comprising at least a left output channel, and a right output channel;
• a processor;
• memory containing a spatial exploration application;
• wherein execution of the spatial exploration application by the processor directs the processor to:
• acquire sensor data using the sensor system;
• construct a 3D spatial model using at least acquired sensor data;
• determine a location and orientation of a user within the 3D spatial model using at least acquired sensor data;
• determine a path through the 3D spatial model;
• instantiate a 3D guide avatar at a location within the 3D spatial model;
• repeatedly:
• determine updated locations and orientations of the user within the 3D spatial model using at least acquired sensor data;
• determine updated locations of the 3D guide avatar with the 3D spatial model relative to the determined path through the 3D spatial model based upon the updated locations and orientations of the user;
• and
• generate spatial sound based upon the position of the 3D guide avatar relative to the location and orientation of the user within the 3D spatial model, where the spatial sound is generated by modifying at least one audio clip to produce audio outputs on the left and right audio channels that simulate a sound originating at a location in the real world corresponding to the location of the 3D guide avatar within the 3D spatial model.