Synchronisation of a real cyclist with an autonomous virtual cyclist in augmented reality

2023-05682 - Synchronisation of a real cyclist with an autonomous virtual cyclist in augmented reality

Contract type : Internship

Level of qualifications required : Master's or equivalent

Fonction : Internship Research

The Inria Centre at Rennes University is one of Inria's eight centres and has more than thirty research teams. The Inria Center is a major and recognized player in the field of digital sciences. It is at the heart of a rich R&D and innovation ecosystem: highly innovative PMEs, large industrial groups, competitiveness clusters, research and higher education players, laboratories of excellence, technological research institute, etc.

This internship is part of the European project SHARESPACE which is interested in simulating virtual agents that facilitate group dynamics, such as managing a race in a pack of cyclists. It will be carried out within the MimeTIC team of Inria Rennes and in collaboration with researchers from the M2S laboratory of the University of Rennes 2, specialised in the biomechanical and perceptual analysis of sports gestures, from the EuroMov laboratory of the University of Montpellier, specialised in human synchronisation and biological systems, and from the DFKI laboratory of the University of Kaiserslautern, specialised in cognitive augmented reality.

Co-supervision: Inria Rennes (Franck Multon), University Rennes 2 (Richard Kulpa), University of Montpellier (Benoît Bardy), University of Kaiserslautern (David Stricker).

Our contribution to the SHARESPACE project consists in designing an autonomous virtual human who analyses the dynamics of groups of several cyclists (some real, gathered together on ergocycles, others at a distance, and finally the last ones simulated), and decides on actions to be carried out to encourage actions in this pack, such as preventing an adversary from escaping, or on the contrary encouraging the start of a teammate. With the help of augmented reality (AR) glasses, the cyclist who is actually cycling alone will be able to see his or her partners and opponents around him or her, including the autonomous virtual human facilitator. It is a real technological and scientific challenge to be able to use AR glasses in these conditions, at high speed, in an unknown and variable environment, while ensuring the coherent positioning of one or more other cyclists.

The objective of the internship is therefore:

Required skills: development in C# and Unity3D, knowledge in AR. Appreciated skills: animation of virtual humans. Languages: French or English

3,90€/h

Inria is the French national research institute dedicated to digital science and technology. It employs 2,600 people. Its 200 agile project teams, generally run jointly with academic partners, include more than 3,500 scientists and engineers working to meet the challenges of digital technology, often at the interface with other disciplines. The Institute also employs numerous talents in over forty different professions. 900 research support staff contribute to the preparation and development of scientific and entrepreneurial projects that have a worldwide impact.

Defence Security : This position is likely to be situated in a restricted area (ZRR), as defined in Decree No. 2011-1425 relating to the protection of national scientific and technical potential (PPST).Authorisation to enter an area is granted by the director of the unit, following a favourable Ministerial decision, as defined in the decree of 3 July 2012 relating to the PPST. An unfavourable Ministerial decision in respect of a position situated in a ZRR would result in the cancellation of the appointment.

Recruitment Policy : As part of its diversity policy, all Inria positions are accessible to people with disabilities.

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