A constraint-based autonomous 3D camera system

Abstract

Camera control techniques for interactive digital entertainment (IDE) are reaching their limits in terms of capabilities. To enable future growth, new methods must be derived to address these new challenges. Existing academic research into camera control is typically devoted to cinematography and guided exploration tasks, and is not directly applicable to IDE. This paper describes a novel application of constraint satisfaction in the design of a camera system that addresses the unique and difficult challenges of IDE. It demonstrates a specialized constraint solver that exploits the spatial structure of the problem, enabling the real-time use of the camera system. The merit of our solution is highlighted by demonstrating the computational efficiency and ability to extend the cameras capabilities in a simple and effective manner.