A method of recognizing objects in a shooter game for remote-controlled toys

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of recognizing objects for a video shooter game, the system comprising a first remote-controlled vehicle ( 51 ) having an on-board video camera ( 25 ), a second remote-controlled vehicle ( 53 ), and an electronic video display entity serving to remote control the first vehicle ( 51 ).

1 . A shot validation method for a video game system, the system comprising:
 a first remote-controlled vehicle ( 51 ) including an onboard video camera ( 25 );   a second remote-controlled vehicle ( 53 ); and   an electronic video display entity ( 35 ,  37 ) serving to remotely control the first vehicle ( 51 );   the method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps:   displaying the image delivered by the on-board camera on the video display of the electronic entity ( 100 );   displaying virtual cross-hairs ( 43 ) that are movable in the video image ( 101 );   detecting a command to fire a virtual shot being input into the electronic entity ( 102 );   acquiring the position A of the virtual cross-hairs ( 43 ) in the video image ( 103 );   recognizing the second remote-controlled vehicle ( 53 ) in the video image ( 104 ); and   if recognition fails, invalidating the virtual shot ( 105 ); or   if recognition succeeds:
 a) acquiring the position B of the second vehicle ( 53 ) in the video image ( 106 ); 
 b) comparing the position A with the position B ( 107 ); 
 c) in the event of A and B being identical, validating the virtual shot ( 108 ); or else 
 d) in the event of A and B being different, invalidating the virtual shot ( 109 ). 
   
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , the second vehicle ( 53 ) being recognized by recognizing distinctive elements arranged on the second vehicle, namely LEDs. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2 , the LEDs:
 being arranged to form a specific pattern;   flashing at a determined frequency;   having specific colors; and/or   having colors that vary over time;   
     in order to facilitate recognizing the second vehicle ( 53 ). 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 2 , recognition of the LEDs including measuring their total brightness in order to enable a fraction of the second vehicle ( 53 ) that is visible to be recognized as a function of the measured brightness value. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further including a step of predicting the movement of the second vehicle ( 53 ) in the video image, on the basis:
 of a measurement of the movement of the first vehicle ( 51 ); and/or   of the earlier movement of the second vehicle ( 53 ) in the video image.   
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , the vehicles ( 51 ,  53 ) having sensors, in particular position sensors, to track their movements, and telecommunications means for enabling said movements to be transmitted, position B of the second vehicle ( 53 ) in the video image ( 106 ) being recognized on the basis of information from the sensors as transmitted by the vehicles ( 51 ,  53 ). 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , the positions measured by the sensors being used as initial conditions for recognition algorithms in the video image ( 106 ). 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 2 , including an analysis step consisting in considering that the second vehicle ( 53 ) passes behind a real obstacle when the recognition of distinctive elements in the video image ( 106 ) indicates a sudden disappearance of the second vehicle ( 53 ). 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , including an alternative step of validating a shot, in the event of indirect shooting, the shot being validated by simulating the trajectory of a virtual projectile and its impact at the position B of the target vehicle ( 53 ) in the video image ( 106 ). 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 3 , recognition of the LEDs including measuring their total brightness in order to enable a fraction of the second vehicle ( 53 ) that is visible to be recognized as a function of the measured brightness value. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 3 , including an analysis step consisting in considering that the second vehicle ( 53 ) passes behind a real obstacle when the recognition of distinctive elements in the video image ( 106 ) indicates a sudden disappearance of the second vehicle ( 53 ). 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 4 , including an analysis step consisting in considering that the second vehicle ( 53 ) passes behind a real obstacle when the recognition of distinctive elements in the video image ( 106 ) indicates a sudden disappearance of the second vehicle ( 53 ).