Patent Application
20160096120
1. Field
This disclosure generally relates to the field of puppeting configurations. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a control mechanism for manipulating movement of a puppet.
2. General Background
Various entertainment environments, e.g., theme parks, provide entertainment features having a puppet whose movement is manually or automatically manipulated with different control mechanisms. The control mechanisms can be rods, strings, etc. that are attached to the puppet and manipulated by a human, machine, etc. to initiate movement of the puppet.
With advances in the realistic appearance of virtual characters generated through animation and computer generated imagery (“CGI”), generating a similar realistic appearance for a physical puppet has been difficult. For instance, computer graphics can be used to display and manipulate an animated character without any visible control mechanisms. In contrast, a physical puppeting configuration requires visible control mechanisms that are attached to the physical puppet. Current approaches attempt to hide the visible control mechanisms, e.g., placement of the control mechanisms behind a curtain in front of which the physical puppet is positioned, physical barrier that prevents spectators from viewing the side of the physical puppet where control mechanisms may be located, placement of the physical puppeting configuration in a dark environment where the lack of lighting hides the control mechanisms, etc.
Such approaches are limited to dry environments, i.e., using curtains, dimmer lighting, physical barriers, etc., are simply not practical for a puppet that moves in a fluid environment. For instance, hiding the control mechanisms attached to a mermaid puppet that moves through a fluid environment is quite difficult and impractical. Cloudy water can be used to attempt to hide some of the control mechanisms, but then the physical features of the puppet are also hidden.
Therefore, current puppetting configurations do not have adequate control mechanisms for controlling the movement of puppets in a fluid environment in an invisible and realistic manner. An invisible control mechanism for controlling the movement of a puppet in a fluid environment is needed for a puppeting configuration to provide a realistic puppeting performance.
An apparatus comprises a puppet device. The apparatus also comprises a control mechanism operably connected to the puppet device to control movement of the puppet device. The control mechanism comprises a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the control device are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible.
Further, an apparatus comprises an object. The apparatus also comprises an actuator that is operably connected to the object and moves in a fluid environment based upon movement of a control mechanism that interacts with the actuator in the fluid environment, the control mechanism comprising a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction to render the control mechanism substantially invisible in the fluid environment.
In addition, an apparatus comprises a tube that interacts with a puppet device to move the puppet device. The tube comprises a material having a material index of refraction that substantially matches a fluid index of refraction of a fluid in which the puppet device and the tube are positioned such that the control mechanism is rendered substantially invisible.
The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and in which:
A puppeting configuration has an control mechanism that is invisible in a surrounding medium to provide a realistic puppeting performance in a fluid environment. A material is selected for the control mechanism to match the index of refraction of the surrounding medium, i.e., the index of refraction of the fluid environment in which the puppet and control mechanism are positioned. The control mechanism is thereby rendered invisible in the fluid environment.
Further, the control mechanism can also be used as a transit conduit for the delivery of hydraulic fluid from an external hydraulic pump to actuators of the puppet. The hydraulic fluid is selected to match the index of refraction of the surrounding medium. The puppet is then powered with hydraulic fluid that is invisible in the fluid environment.
Therefore, the puppeting configuration provides a control mechanism and a powering mechanism that are invisible. As a result, puppeteering performances in a fluid environment can provide a sense of realism. As an example, an aquariam can use fish puppets that are controlled and powered with invisible mechanisms such that the fish puppets appear realistic.
The control mechanisms 104 are fabricated from a material that has an index of refraction that substantially matches the index of refraction of the fluid environment 102. As the index of refraction of the material for the control mechanisms 104 is substantially similar to the index of refraction for the fluid environment, the control mechanisms 104 appear invisible within the fluid environment 102. As an example, the material can be acrylic as acrylic has a substantially simile index of refraction as water if water is used for the fluid environment 102.
In one implementation, a plurality of motors 105 are operably connected to the control mechanisms 104. Therefore, movement of the control mechanisms can be automated. In another implementation, the control mechanisms 104 are operated manually without the plurality of motors 105.
The puppet 101 is moved in the fluid environment 102 in a manner that appears as if the puppet 101 is moving by itself. Additional props such as curtains, lighting, etc. are not necessary to help the control mechanisms 104 appear invisible in the fluid environment 102. Further, the puppet 101 can be viewed from different angles without any viewing restrictions. For example, theme park guests can move around a water tank to view the puppet 101 from different angles. Such lack of viewing restrictions also helps provide an enhanced sense of realism.
The puppet 101 can also have a plurality of actuators that are activated to perform a particular movement. Rather than having the motor 105 or a human move the control mechanism 104 in the intended direction of the actuator, the control mechanism 104 can be used to be used as a conduit to deliver an activation medium, e.g., air pressure, hydraulic fluid, etc., to an actuator to perform the particular movement.
Although the hydraulic pump 202 is illustrated as a powering mechanism for the actuator 204, other types of powering mechanisms can be used instead. For instance, an air pump can be used to deliver air pressure through the control mechanism 104 to the actuator 204. As air is invisible, the delivery of the air pressure to the actuator 204 is also invisible.
It is understood that the apparatuses, systems, and processes described herein may also be applied in other types of apparatuses, systems, and processes. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various adaptations and modifications of the aspects of the apparatuses, systems, and processes described herein may be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the present apparatuses, systems, and processes. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present apparatuses, systems, and processes may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
