AUTOMATED STUDIO
An automated studio acquires photographs and/or videos of vehicles and makes them available on the Internet via a virtual showroom. The automated studio comprises a mobile cart and cameras for acquiring images of the vehicle, a computer for automating the image and information acquisition processes, a database for storing the images and information, and a virtual showroom for presenting the acquired images and information. The automated studio further comprises a turntable for rotating a vehicle and at least one camera for acquiring images of the vehicle while it is rotating.
1 . A system for rendering a virtual vehicle showroom comprising:
a turntable adapted for receiving a vehicle, said turntable having a rotatable platform for supporting the received vehicle;
at least one camera for acquiring one or more images of the vehicle;
a database for storing the acquired images and corresponding information; and
a computer executing computer-executable instructions for rendering a virtual showroom user interface for presenting the acquired images and the corresponding information.
2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a second computer executing computer-executable instructions, wherein the second computer is communicatively connected to the turntable and the camera.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second computer executes computer-executable instructions for:
displaying a systematic procedure for acquiring the one or more images;
receiving commands for acquiring the one or more images; and
executing the received commands to manipulate the camera and turntable to acquire the one or more images.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second computer executes computer-executable instructions for automatically stitching at least two of the acquired images together.
5 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the second computer executes computer-executable instructions for compressing the acquired images.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera is an Internet protocol camera.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the virtual showroom user interface comprises a website template for integrating with the database to populate the template with the acquired images and the corresponding vehicle information.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the database further logs metrics and reporting data.
9 . A system for acquiring images for rendering a virtual vehicle showroom comprising:
a mobile cart;
a support arm extending from the cart;
a linear motion member on the cart for manipulating the support arm;
a plurality of cameras mounted on the support arm; and
at least one wireless communications transceiver on the cart for transmitting images acquired by the cameras and for receiving control communications.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the support arm is sized and shaped to enable positioning within an interior of a vehicle.
11 . The system of claim 9 further comprising an electrical power source on the cart for supplying electrical power to the system.
12 . The system of claim 9 further comprising at least one light source mounted on the support arm.
13 . The system of claim 9 further comprising a barcode scanner.
14 . The system of claim 9 further comprising a turntable adapted for receiving a vehicle, said turntable having a rotatable platform for supporting the received vehicle.
15 . The system of claim 9 further comprising:
a database for storing images acquired by the cameras and corresponding information; and
a computer executing computer-executable instructions for rendering a virtual showroom user interface for presenting the acquired images and the corresponding information.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the virtual showroom user interface comprises a website template for integrating with the database to populate the template with the acquired images and corresponding information.
17 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the database further logs metrics and reporting data.
18 . The system of claim 9 further comprising a computer executing computer-executable instructions for:
displaying a systematic procedure for acquiring one or more images from the cameras;
receiving commands for acquiring the one or more images; and
executing the received commands to manipulate the cart to acquire the one or more images.
19 . A system for rendering a virtual vehicle showroom comprising:
a mobile cart having a plurality of cameras affixed thereon for acquiring one or more images of a vehicle, an electrical power source, and at least one wireless communications transceiver;
a database for storing the acquired images and corresponding information; and
a computer executing computer-executable instructions for rendering a virtual showroom user interface for presenting the acquired images and the corresponding information.
20 . The system of claim 19 further comprising a light source mounted on the cart.
21 . The system of claim 19 further comprising a turntable adapted for receiving the vehicle, said turntable having a rotatable platform for supporting the received vehicle.
22 . The system of claim 19 further comprising a second computer executing computer-executable instructions for:
displaying a systematic procedure for acquiring the one or more images;
receiving commands for acquiring the one or more images; and
executing the received commands to manipulate the self-locomotive cart to acquire the one or more images.
23 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the virtual showroom user interface comprises a website template for integrating with the database to populate the template with the acquired images and corresponding information.