Digital twins, unlocking the future of virtual and real connectivity
In an animation park in Tianjin Binhai High-tech Zone, there is a unique motion capture studio. I saw an actor in a special costume sweating in the studio, and dozens of infrared cameras around him were capturing the movement tracks marked on his body at a millisecond rate.
As he moves, a virtual character is rendered on the computer screen, doing exactly the same actions as the actor. This is the application of digital twin technology in the field of motion capture, which digitizes real-world movements and builds a virtual model that exactly corresponds to the physical entity.
Digital twin technology can be said to be the bridge between the real and virtual worlds seamlessly. It collects and integrates large amounts of data to provide accurate digital representations and simulations of entities or systems with the goal of optimizing designs, monitoring operational status, fault diagnosis, and optimal maintenance.
Blending the virtual and the real, they are the "experts" of digital twins
In the command center of the motion capture studio, a group of young people are operating various equipment in a nervous and orderly manner. They are the core members of the digital twin application technology team, which is composed of multiple roles such as motion capture actors, motion capture artists, and data retouchers.
Motion cap actors wear special costumes and are tasked with bringing the action to life. They need to have precise control of their movements, and show every subtle movement clearly. "A small deviation in motion can lead to distorted motion of the rendered digital twin. Actor Zhang Zhang said, "We have to have a high level of professionalism in the action. ＂
And the motion capture artist is the "commander" of the whole process. They monitor the screen to observe the motion capture effect in real time and make adjustments and corrections to the actors' movements. "We're like a stage director, we have to control the rhythm and the effect of the whole audience. Capture master Wang Lei said.
The captured motion data is not flawless, and this is where the "craft" of a data refiner comes in. They used professional software to optimize the data, fix noise and missing in the motion data, and ensure that the final rendered digital twin moved smoothly and naturally.
With the integration of virtual and real, digital twins are opening up infinite possibilities
The application of digital twin technology in the field of motion capture is just a microcosm of its broad prospects. This technology has taken root in many fields such as film and television animation, cultural tourism, and life sciences, and will continue to open up more new application scenarios.
In film and television animation production, digital twins can restore real actions and inject life into virtual characters. In the field of cultural tourism, it allows tourists to experience virtual attractions in an immersive way. In the life sciences, doctors can simulate and train on digital twins.
More importantly, digital twins provide a new way to preserve and pass on intangible cultural heritage. Treasures of traditional Chinese culture, such as Tai Chi, Peking Opera, and folk art, can all be permanently preserved through digital twin technology to avoid being washed away or lost by time.
"Digital twins create reality and help people solve problems more efficiently. Cui Shengji said, "The prospects of this technology are infinitely broad. ＂