3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) has revolutionized novel-view synthesis by producing photorealistic renderings of virtually any object. However, 3DGS methods primarily support static scene representations, limiting flexibility and preventing direct application in scenarios that require visual variety. Our novel approach, Shape-Shifting Splats, addresses this limitation by enabling dynamic runtime transformations of Gaussian splats. Our versatile formulation allows changes in both color and geometry during render time, without increasing memory usage or introducing visual artifacts. Once trained, our Shape-Shifting Splats generate high-fidelity novel views while supporting modifications in geometry and appearance of the underlying model. In addition to applications in gaming and e-commerce, our method is applicable to mobile, industrial maintenance, and inspection. With multimodal data (e.g., thermal and RGB), we create interactive 3D representations that allow inspectors wearing VR glasses to seamlessly switch between thermal and RGB views, helping to prevent oversights.

We introduce a rear-view camera system designed for trailers, comprising multiple cameras, to address the challenges of limited visibility and the awkward maneuverability of a trailer when performing a reverse driving task (e.g., parking). The cameras are placed on the top edge of the trailer looking downwards, while the different camera feeds are transformed and stitched to create a top-down view. The actual steering angle of the vehicle and the hitch angle are measured using IoT hardware. The path of the trailer is determined using inverse kinematics of the vehicle and trailer, and lines are overlaid on the top-down view to provide drivers with dynamic, real-time guiding lines on their smartphone. We describe a practical implementation of our system on one instance of a vehicle and a trailer, and extrapolate the concept to different types of trailers in simulations.