System and method to simulate anatomical features in an entertainment figure

Abstract

A system includes an animated figure. The system also includes a set of tubes disposed in a portion of the animated figure. The system also includes at least one membrane that defines at least one chamber. The at least one chamber is disposed about the set of tubes. The system also includes a first pump fluidly coupled to the set of tubes. The first pump is configured to inflate each tube of the set of tubes, deflate each tube of the set of tubes, or a combination thereof. The system also includes a second pump fluidly coupled to the at least one chamber. The second pump is configured to inflate each chamber of the at least one chamber, deflate each chamber of the at least one chamber, or a combination thereof.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an animated figure;   a set of tubes disposed in a portion of the animated figure;   at least one membrane that defines at least one chamber, the at least one chamber disposed about the set of tubes;   a first pump fluidly coupled to the set of tubes, the first pump configured to inflate each tube of the set of tubes, deflate each tube of the set of tubes, or a combination thereof; and   a second pump fluidly coupled to the at least one chamber, the second pump configured to inflate each chamber of the at least one chamber, deflate each chamber of the at least one chamber, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a contour of the set of tubes is configured to appear from beneath the at least one chamber at an exterior surface of the portion of the animated figure in response to an inflation of the set of tubes, a deflation of the at least one chamber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one tube of the set of tubes is configured to actuate independently of one or more remaining tubes of the set of tubes. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber, the set of tubes, or a combination thereof is coupled to an actuator configured to produce a movement of an external portion of the animated figure. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber comprises a set of chambers, and the system comprises:
 a first manifold fluidly coupled to the first pump and the set of tubes;   a second manifold fluidly coupled to the second pump and the set of chambers;   or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each chamber of the set of chambers is configured to actuate independently of one or more remaining chambers of the set of chambers. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber, the set of tubes, or a combination thereof is configured to be inflated with a gas. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one chamber, the set of tubes, or a combination thereof is configured to be inflated with a hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the animated figure comprises a neck portion. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 an animated figure;   at least one tube disposed in a portion of the animated figure;   at least one membrane that defines at least one chamber disposed about the at least one tube;   a first pump system fluidly coupled to the at least one tube, the first pump system configured to inflate the at least one tube, deflate the at least one tube, or a combination thereof;   a second pump system fluidly coupled to the at least one chamber, the second pump system configured to inflate the at least one chamber, deflate the at least one chamber, or a combination thereof; and   a control system, comprising:
 a memory configured to store instructions; and 
 one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to control the first pump system, the second pump system, or a combination thereof. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein a contour of the at least one tube is configured to appear from beneath the at least one chamber at an exterior surface of the portion of the animated figure in response to an inflation of the at least one tube, a deflation of the at least one chamber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each tube of the at least one tube is configured to expand in response to a first operation of the first pump system, wherein each chamber of the at least one chamber is configured to expand, via the at least one membrane, in response to a second operation of the second pump system. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to:
 receive one or more images from a camera, wherein the one or more images are indicative of an effect of a corresponding portion of an actor; and   generate the instructions comprising commanded states associated with the at least one tube, the at least one chamber, or a combination thereof, based on the one or more images.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one tube comprises a set of tubes and the at least one chamber comprises a set of chambers, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to:
 control a first pump, a first manifold, and/or a first set of valves of the first pump system; and   control a second pump, a second manifold, and/or a second set of valves of the second pump system.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one tube comprises a set of tubes and the at least one chamber comprises a set of chambers, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to control the first pump system and the second pump system in a coordinated manner to:
 at a first time, concurrently cause a first tube of the set of tubes to expand and a first chamber of the set of chambers to deflate, wherein the first chamber is disposed about the first tube; and   at a second time, concurrently cause a second tube of the set of tubes to expand and a second chamber of the set of chambers to deflate, wherein the second chamber is disposed about the second tube.   
     
     
         16 . A method for providing an effect for a portion of an animated figure, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a processor, instructions for adding the effect to the portion of the animated figure;   controlling, via the processor, a first pump system to adjust a set of tubes disposed in the portion based on the instructions; and   controlling, via the processor, a second pump system to adjust a set of chambers disposed about the set of tubes based on the instructions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 receiving, via the processor, the instructions comprising first commanded states associated with the set of tubes, the set of chambers, or a combination thereof; and   controlling, via the processor, the first pump system, the second pump system, or a combination thereof based on the instructions.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising:
 receiving, via the processor, sensor data from one or sensors associated with the first pump system and the second pump system;   receiving, via the processor, the instructions comprising second commanded states associated with the first pump system, the second pump system, or a combination thereof;   receiving, via the processor, sensor data from one or more sensors associated with the first pump system, the second pump system, or a combination thereof; and   controlling, via the processor, the first pump system and the second pump system, or a combination thereof based on the instructions and the sensor data.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein controlling the set of tubes, the set of chambers, or the combination thereof based on the instructions comprises:
 controlling, via the processor, at least one tube of the set of tubes independently of remaining tubes of the set of tubes;   controlling, via the processor, at least one chamber of the set of chambers independently of remaining chambers of the set of chambers;   or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 controlling, via the processor, the first pump system to adjust the set of tubes and controlling, via the processor, the second pump system to adjust the set of chambers disposed about the set of tubes in a coordinated manner based on the instructions to mimic changes in anatomical features in the portion of the animated figure during a performance of the animated figure.