29-09-2012, 04:12 PM
Animatronics
ABSTRACT
Animatronics is the name given to a technology. This technology is used to create
imitation creatures: real world visual simulations of life, which can move and perform for
an audience or for a camera. In this way it is separate from CGI (Computer Generated
Imagery) which "exists" only in a virtual world of computers.
Examples of traditional movie animatronics.Combinations of animatronics and CGI
are normal today, giving the advantages of both, e.g. : Jurassic Park, Babe, the recent
remakes of Godzilla and 101 Dalmations. Animatronics is really a combination of many
other technologies.
An animatronics system and method for incorporation in talking toys, puppets, an-
imated special e®ects and costumes. The system utilizes a removable storage device
such as a °ash memory chip to store pre-programmed audio and animation data and
a microcontroller con¯gured with both an audio player and an animation player. The
microcontroller is adapted to access the audio and animation data and play the data in a
manner such that the system produces synchronized sound and movement. The system
also incorporates an auto-tuning system which automatically calibrates the system to
compensate for variations in the arrangement of mechanical components in individual
units.
Animatronics is a type of special e®ects which involves building mechanized creatures
like dinosaurs, imaginary animals, and others. The name "animatronics" is used to refer
to generic animatronic creations made by other ¯lm studios, while Disney has copyrighted
"audio-animatronics" to refer to their creature creations. In combination with other spe-
cial e®ects, animatronics can lend a level of reality and texture to a ¯lm that computer
animation does not provide.
ABSTRACT
Animatronics is the name given to a technology. This technology is used to create
imitation creatures: real world visual simulations of life, which can move and perform for
an audience or for a camera. In this way it is separate from CGI (Computer Generated
Imagery) which "exists" only in a virtual world of computers.
Examples of traditional movie animatronics.Combinations of animatronics and CGI
are normal today, giving the advantages of both, e.g. : Jurassic Park, Babe, the recent
remakes of Godzilla and 101 Dalmations. Animatronics is really a combination of many
other technologies.
An animatronics system and method for incorporation in talking toys, puppets, an-
imated special e®ects and costumes. The system utilizes a removable storage device
such as a °ash memory chip to store pre-programmed audio and animation data and
a microcontroller con¯gured with both an audio player and an animation player. The
microcontroller is adapted to access the audio and animation data and play the data in a
manner such that the system produces synchronized sound and movement. The system
also incorporates an auto-tuning system which automatically calibrates the system to
compensate for variations in the arrangement of mechanical components in individual
units.
Animatronics is a type of special e®ects which involves building mechanized creatures
like dinosaurs, imaginary animals, and others. The name "animatronics" is used to refer
to generic animatronic creations made by other ¯lm studios, while Disney has copyrighted
"audio-animatronics" to refer to their creature creations. In combination with other spe-
cial e®ects, animatronics can lend a level of reality and texture to a ¯lm that computer
animation does not provide.