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US 2026/0138284 A1Published application
Systems and methods for optical performance captured animated figure with real-time reactive projected media
AssigneeUniversal City Studios LLC
InventorsAnthony Alexander Mecca, Timothy J. Eck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reactive media system includes a motion control system that includes an animated figure having a figure portion. The reactive media system also includes a media control system. The media control system includes a camera configured to generate updated image data indicative of updated images to be projected onto an external surface of the figure portion. The media control system also includes a projector configured to receive the updated image data from the camera and project the updated images onto the external surface of the figure portion.
Claims20
A reactive media system of an amusement attraction, the reactive media system comprising:
- a motion control system, comprising:
- an animated figure having a figure portion that comprises a moveable joint;
- and
- a figure controller communicatively coupled to one or more interactive data sources, wherein the figure controller is configured to, based on interactive data received from the one or more interactive data sources, determine an interactive response of the animated figure, wherein the interactive response comprises actuating the moveable joint;
- and
- a media control system, comprising:
- a camera configured to generate sensor signals indicative of a position of the animated figure, wherein the camera is configured to:
- determine an animated figure position and animated figure orientation, relative to the camera, based on the sensor signals;
- generate a skeletal model of the figure portion based on the animated figure position and the animated figure orientation;
- generate, using the skeletal model, image data indicative of images to be projected onto an external surface of the figure portion;
- dynamically update the skeletal model of the figure portion based on updated sensor signals, wherein the updated skeletal model reflects the interactive response of the figure portion comprising actuation of the moveable joint;
- and
- generate, using the updated skeletal model, updated image data indicative of updated images to be projected onto the external surface of the figure portion;
- and
- a projector configured to:
- receive the image data indicative of the images and the updated images from the camera;
- and
- project the images and the updated images onto the external surface of the figure portion.
15 more elements
A reactive media system of an amusement attraction, the reactive media system comprising:
- one or more interactive data sources configured to generate interactive data that is variable over time;
- a motion control system comprising:
- an animated figure disposed within the amusement attraction, wherein the animated figure comprises a figure portion that comprises a moveable joint;
- and
- a set of actuators disposed within the figure portion and configured to actuate the moveable joint;
- and
- a media control system comprising:
- a camera configured to generate a state signal indicative of a position and of an orientation of the animated figure;
- and
- a media controller communicatively coupled to the camera and configured to:
- receive the state signal indicative of the position and of the orientation of the animated figure from the camera;
- and
- generate content to be projected onto a portion of the animated figure based on the position and the orientation of the animated figure,
- wherein the media controller is configured to identify a non-operational portion of the animated figure and to adjust the generated content based on the identified non-operational portion.
11 more elements
A method of operating a reactive media system of an amusement attraction, the method comprising:
- receiving, via a figure controller of an animated figure, interactive data from one or more interactive data sources of the amusement attraction;
- generating, via the figure controller, an interactive response of the animated figure based on the interactive data;
- instructing, via the figure controller, one or more actuators disposed within the animated figure to perform the interactive response by actuating a movable joint of the animated figure via actuation of the one or more actuators;
- receiving, via a media controller, sensor feedback indicative of a position and orientation of the animated figure from a camera coupled to the media controller;
- dynamically updating a skeletal model based on the sensor feedback;
- generating, via the media controller, data indicative of images to be projected onto an external surface of the animated figure using the updated skeletal model;
- and
- instructing, via the media controller, a projector to project the generated images onto the external surface.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.