Apparatus and method for real-time volumetric rendering of dynamic particles

An apparatus for real-time volumetric rendering of dynamic particles, the apparatus comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to
• convert particle data representing each of the dynamic particles into a density volume representing a density distribution of the respective dynamic particle distributed in a three-dimensional (3D) space,
• precompute a light distribution within the density volume representing a light value for each grid point within the density volume using ray marching from a light source, grid points within the density volume corresponding to fixed reference positions;
• render the dynamic particles in real-time by computing pixel color values determined using (i) ray marching toward a viewpoint position, (ii) the density volume, and (iii) the light distribution, and
• cause an output of a representation of the dynamic particles based on the rendering.

A system for real-time volumetric rendering of dynamic particles, comprising:

• first processing circuitry,
• second processing circuitry, and
• control circuitry configured to:
• control the first processing circuitry to convert particle data representing each of the dynamic particles of a first frame into a density volume representing a density distribution of the respective dynamic particle distributed in a three-dimensional (3D) space;
• control the first processing circuitry to precompute light distribution within the density volume representing a light value for each grid point within the density volume using ray marching from a light source, grid points within the density volume corresponding to fixed reference positions;
• copy the light distribution of the first frame from the first processing circuitry to the second processing circuitry,
• upon completion of the precomputing in the first processing circuitry with respect to the first frame, control the first processing circuitry to convert particle data of a second frame into a density volume;
• control the second processing circuitry to render the dynamic particles in the first frame in real-time by computing pixel color values determined using (i) ray marching toward a viewpoint position, (ii) the density volume, and (iii) the light distribution copied from the first processing circuitry;
• and
• cause an output of a representation of the dynamic particles in the first frame based on the rendering.