StreetGamez: A Moving Projector Platform for Projected Street Games

The StreetGamez project introduces the concept of a Moving Projector Platform (MPP), which utilizes autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to deliver and project interactive gaming surfaces to arbitrary outdoor locations. The primary thesis is that by decoupling gaming infrastructure from static, indoor environments, this technology can revitalize traditional street games, promote physical activity through exergaming, and foster social interaction by removing the need for players to carry devices or focus on handheld screens.

The system design integrates a quadcopter, a micro-projector, and motion-tracking sensors to create a mobile, interactive play area. The current prototype configuration utilizes a Phantom III drone, an Asus S1 projector, and a Google Tango device for depth mapping and connectivity. Key technical challenges identified include managing the weight of the payload to ensure adequate flight time, stabilizing the projected image via a 2-axis gimbal, and overcoming the limited brightness of micro-projectors, which necessitates use in shaded or low-light conditions.

The research scope focuses on the intersection of human-drone interaction and location-based gaming. By proposing an open-source platform, the project aims to facilitate academic exploration into new exergame paradigms, such as static hover play, dynamic on-the-move scenarios, and games where the drone acts as an active participant. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to contribute to ongoing debates regarding civil aviation regulations for the civic use of drones. By demonstrating the potential for drones to serve as beneficial, recreational tools, the project aims to improve public perception and social acceptance of drone technology in everyday environments.