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Authoring tools typically convert 3D animation data into 2D rasterized formats for display, a process that imposes computational burdens, degrades depth fidelity, and complicates the recovery of original 3D information. This paper presents the first known direct integration of Blender, a widely used 3D animation tool, with Dronevision (DV), a 3D multimedia display composed of synchronized Flying Light Specks (FLSs). In addition to raster-based pipelines, this integration enables real-time, high-fidelity illumination of 3D animations directly in physical space. Our system leverages Blender’s piecewise animation model—comprising manually placed keyframes and mathematically defined interpolation functions—to generate spatiotemporal trajectories that are mapped to the motion of autonomous FLS drones. We introduce the concept of a display clock that is maintained by each FLS and synchronized across all FLSs using a broadcast based protocol. Our techniques have a fixed complexity independent of the number of FLSs. They enable a DV to scale to millions and billions of FLSs.
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This content will become publicly available on July 19, 2027
Dronevision, Holodecks, and Spatial Computing Using Flying Light Specks
This SIGGRAPH 2026 Frontiers workshop discusses Flying Light Specks (FLSs), their application use cases, current status, and future research directions. An FLS is a miniature drone equipped with a lighting apparatus. It is a building block of next-generation displays, ranging from desktop Dronevision (DV) systems to room-sized holodecks and outdoor spatial-computing environments. Swarms of FLSs will illuminate graphics and animations visible to the naked eye, allowing users to interact with them using their bare hands. This workshop describes the emerging technology behind this exciting area of research. Topics include a classification of FLS devices with LightBender and its 2D lighting apparatus as an example, an end-to-end architecture from content generation to illumination and interaction, physicalization of virtual objects for bare-hand interaction, and a monitoring environment to evaluate and refine the quality of user experience while ensuring their safety. This visionary workshop articulates how these technologies will be used to realize DVs, holodecks, and spatial computing. It describes the use of complementary technologies that realize the vision of these systems. An example is HoloTiles by Lanny Smoot, SIGGRAPH 2026 keynote speaker, as the flooring of a holodeck. More generally, we examine robots of varying forms, morphologies, and functions in relation to DV, holodecks, and spatial computing. This workshop is the prelude to the Third International Conference on Holodecks that takes place on the campus of the University of Southern California on July 24, 2026. The conference includes a tour of our Fly lab with hands-on experience using our authoring tools, FLSs, and illuminations.
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- PAR ID:
- 10695947
- Publisher / Repository:
- ACM
- Date Published:
- ISBN:
- 9798400725531
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 3
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Flying Light Specks Dronevision Holodecks Spatial Computing
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Location:
- Los Angeles CA USA
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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