Versatile volumetric video camera rig

1. A versatile volumetric camera rig comprising:

an at least partially spherical structure formed by the combination of a plurality of substructures;

the plurality of substructures comprising a plurality of arm components with at least one end and joint components with at least one end;

the arm components comprising an elongated, curved length of curved along an arc centered on a center point of the at least partially spherical structure and including a plurality of mounting points for fastening other obj ects to the at least partially spherical structure;

a set of the plurality of arm components joined together by at least one joint component to form a substructure by attaching at least a part of an arm component to at least a part of a joint component;

a series of arm components selected from a first group of substructures attached to a series of joint components selected from a second group of substructures;

wherein at least one arm component contains a plurality of mounting points tangential to an exterior surface of the partially spherical structure and capable of accepting at least one fastener;

wherein the ends of the arm components further comprise at least two open grooves for the insertion of fasteners;

wherein the ends of the joint components further comprise at least two open grooves complementary to the grooves on the ends of the arm components with the grooves open in a direction perpendicular to the exterior of the at least partially spherical structure;

wherein an arm component and a joint component may be attached to each other through the use of a fastener and a mounting point on a joint component and a mounting point on an arm component.

2. The versatile volumetric camera rig of claim 1 wherein the substructure comprises a hexagonal structure;

the hexagonal structure further comprising a joint with at least six ends;

each end further configured to accept at least one part of an arm component.

3. The versatile volumetric camera rig of claim 1 wherein at least one mounting hole is used to mount a camera, sensor, light or fixture.

4. The versatile volumetric camera rig of claim 1 wherein at least one of the arm components contains a back side with a U or C shaped groove;

wherein the plurality of mounting points is found on the exterior of the U or C;

wherein a cavity formed by the U or C is capable of storing cords.

5. The versatile volumetric camera rig of claim 1 wherein a mounting point pattern is either 2470 mm, 2485 mm, or 2500 mm away from the center of an arm curvature.

6. The versatile volumetric camera rig of claim 1 wherein pins and shoulder screws are configured at at least one joint arm connection to form a quick release system in which the joint arm connection may be removed without the use of unscrewing a bolt.

7. A method of constructing a versatile volumetric video camera rig comprising:

forming a at least partially spherical structure by combining a plurality of arm components, each with a plurality of mounting points, two ends, and a curve along a circular arc centered around a center point of the partially spherical shape, with a plurality of joint components, each with a plurality of mounting points and six ends capable of accepting a portion of an arm component, each of the plurality of joint components curved in a manner corresponding to the curve of the plurality of arm components along the circular arc centered around the center point of the partially spherical shape;

forming from the combination of arm components and the plurality of joint components a plurality of combination structures, each comprising one joint component connected to at least four of the plurality of arm components via a connection between an end of one of the plurality of arm components and one end of the one joint component, and a fastener affixing the one of the plurality of arm components and the one joint component;

joining the combination structures together until the at least partially spherical structure has been constructed;

wherein at least one arm component contains a plurality of mounting points tangential to an exterior surface of the partially spherical structure and capable of accepting at least one fastener;

wherein the ends of the arm components further comprise at least two open grooves for the insertion of fasteners;

wherein the ends of the joint components further comprise at least two open grooves complementary to the grooves on the ends of the arm components with the grooves open in a direction perpendicular to the exterior of the at least partially spherical structure;

wherein an arm component and a joint component may be attached to each other through the use of a fastener and a mounting point on a joint component and a mounting point on an arm component.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the substructure comprises a hexagonal structure;

the hexagonal structure further comprising a joint with at least six ends;

each end terminal further configured to accept at least one part of an arm component.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one mounting hole is used to mount a camera, sensor, light or fixture.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein at least one of the arm components contains a back side with a U or C shaped groove;

wherein the plurality of mounting points is found on the exterior of the U or C;

wherein a cavity formed by the U or C is capable of storing cords.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the mounting points found on the arm and joint components are spaced from each other at a distance of 1.5 cm from a center point of a mounting point to the next mounting point and the mounting point itself has a diameter of about a ¼ inch.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein a mounting point pattern is either 2470 mm, 2485 mm, or 2500 mm away from the center of an arm curvature.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein pins and shoulder screws are configured at at least one joint arm connection to form a quick release system in which the joint arm connection may be removed without the use of unscrewing a bolt.

14. A versatile volumetric camera rig comprising:

an at least partially spherical structure formed by the combination of a plurality of substructures;

the plurality of substructures comprising a plurality of arm components with at least one end and joint components with at least one end;

the arm components comprising an elongated, curved length of curved along an arc centered on a center point of the at least partially spherical structure and including a plurality of mounting points for fastening other objects to the at least partially spherical structure;

a set of the plurality of arm components joined together by at least one joint component to form a substructure by attaching at least a part of an arm component to at least a part of a joint component;

a series of arm components selected from a first group of substructures attached to a series of joint components selected from a second group of substructures;

wherein the mounting points found on the arm and joint components are spaced from each other at a distance of 1.5 cm from a center point of a mounting point to the next mounting point and the mounting point itself has a diameter of about a ¼ inch.