Immersive Animatronics: Animating Multi-Limbed Avatars in VR

In the realm of virtual reality (VR), human-like avatars have been predominantly utilized to create immersive experiences. However, this project aims to investigate the possibility of achieving natural and organic movement with non-human avatars, specifically focusing on multi-limbed avatars inspired by spiders and octopuses. The objective is to explore the effects of embodiment and body perception by relying on inverse kinematics and procedural animation rather than relying on pre-defined animations. By utilizing these techniques, this thesis project seeks to examine the potential for these avatars to exhibit lifelike and realistic movements. The findings from this research could contribute to a better understanding of the impact of avatar design on user perception and immersion in virtual environments, ultimately broadening the possibilities for avatar representation beyond human forms.
At 14:00 – 16:00 O’clock