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Winter Olympics "black technology"! The new perspective of "time condensation" on the field comes from this scientific research team

Condensing time, freeze-frame moments, moving perspectives, in the broadcast of a number of sports events at the Beijing Winter Olympics, the free perspective technology brought wonderful moments different from previous competitions for the audience.

At the curling arena and the National Speed Skating Hall, ShanghaiTech University and its company participated in the design of the free view acquisition system, and deployed 64 sets of 4K ultra-high-definition multi-view camera systems in the "Ice Cube". At the National Speed Skating Hall, they deployed 80 sets of 4K Ultra HD multi-view camera systems to photograph speed skaters from all directions and angles.

There are two key technologies for free-view broadcasting: one is the three-dimensional calibration of the camera system, so that the picture taken from each perspective forms a continuity in space, does not jump up and down, so that the perspective can be smoothly switched; the second is based on the neural network rendering (NeRF) free-point of view video generation technology, the computer system automatically generates some virtual pictures according to the broadcast screen, and seamlessly connects with the real scene.

The combination of massive data and deep learning can automate and intelligentize the process of 3D rendering. Because the deployment cost of 4K multi-view cameras is quite high, to minimize the number of devices, the artificial intelligence system generates virtual perspective scenes with fake real views, which can reduce the cost of free-view broadcasting.

Winter Olympics "black technology"! The new perspective of "time condensation" on the field comes from this scientific research team

Footage captured by a 4K Ultra HD multi-view camera system deployed at the speed-skating curve

Project leader Ma Wenguang showed two videos. Only to see that in the curling competition, the picture of the athlete at the moment of throwing the pot will be frozen, as if time condenses; at the same time, the broadcast perspective begins to turn, allowing the audience to see the various angles of the athlete's throwing moment. The highlight of another speed skating video is at the bend, only to see two players crossing the corner, time seems to condense, and at the same time, the viewing angle begins to rotate, from the athlete's front to the back, so that the audience can see the two people's gliding posture and position relationship.

"Cornering is a great opportunity for speed skaters to overtake their opponents, and it is also a place where mistakes are easy to make, so we mainly arrange the free perspective and the 'time condensation' special effect at the corner." Ma Wenguang introduced.

With the advent of the 5G era, this technology will be more and more applied, and mobile clients and smart TV users can independently choose the viewing angle to achieve personalized and immersive smart viewing. In the future, technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, and free perspectives will be applied to application scenarios such as smart venues and smart spectators, which will bring viewers a more interesting viewing experience.

(The original title was "Winter Olympics "Black Technology"!) The new perspective of "time condensation" on the field comes from this scientific research team")

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