Mercedes-Benz is launching an interactive consumer exhibition at this year’s US Open featuring a voice-activated, augmented reality (AR) tennis lesson from 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens as she competes in real life on the court. The activation was modeled after the tennis pro’s winning game.
To develop the AR experience, Mercedes-Benz recorded Stephens’ 2017 US Open Champion game in front of a green screen as an alpha-channel enabled video to create the illusion of mimicking her real-life motions. The captured footage of the tennis player’s style and play was then translated into AR features without the need for mobile device target or facial recognition.
Upon approaching the tennis court backdrop, guests can activate the game by verbally asking, “Hey Mercedes, teach me to play like Sloane.” In response, she will appear. The fully immersive court side will give visitors a personalized one-on-one tennis lesson, with an untethered racquet in hand, from Stephens.
Visitors can partake in the immersive experience at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queen, New York starting today through September 8 before it debuts at the US Open. Thereafter, the AR activation will travel to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the first Atlanta Falcons home game of the season. The second phase of the activation will give guests control of the lesson with voice controls, DMX integration and 4D environmental awareness for an experience that mirrors real-life play.
Mercedes-Benz has continued developing technological advancements at full throttle for the in-car experience and beyond. In April 2018, it introduced the Mercedes cAR app which lets users configure any of the vehicle models from where they are via Apple’s ARKit and Mercedes’ Car Configurator product. Prospective buyers can use the app to customize any car, even if it’s not physically on the shop floor, then take it for a spin. The app was downloaded by more than 34,800 iOS users in the first three months following its release.
