Physical 3D renderer

A process for creating a physical 3D topological structure from images, comprising:

• receiving a depth image of a structure to be replicated;
• determining depth information at a dense distribution of points corresponding to points in the depth image so that the physical 3D topological structure that is replicated reflects the structure to be replicated;
• feeding the depth information to an array of air jets that are covered with a skin;
• adjusting pressurized air streams output by each air jet in the array based on the depth information to deflect the surface of the skin to create the physical 3D topological structure in real-time;
• verifying the created physical 3D topological structure by measuring the deflections to the surface of the skin corresponding to physical 3D topological structure and comparing the measured deflections to the fed depth information;
• and
• correcting any discrepancies between the measured deflections to the surface of the skin and the fed depth information by adjusting the pressurized air streams output by one or more air jets.

A system for creating a physical 3D topological structure from images, comprising:

• a first depth camera that captures depth images of a structure to be replicated;
• a processor that determines the depth information at a dense distribution of points corresponding to points in a depth image captured by the first camera;
• actuators on sliding shafts in an array that receive the depth information captured by the first camera and adjust each sliding shaft to the depth in the depth image to create the physical 3D topological structure like the structure to be replicated;
• and
• a second depth camera that captures depth images of the created physical 3D topological structure in order to verify that the created physical 3D topological structure accurately represents the structure to be replicated,
• wherein discrepancies between the depth image of the surface to be replicated and the depth image of the created physical 3D topological surface are corrected by adjustments to the created physical 3D topological surface using the actuators.