Realization Of A Spatial Augmented Reality System - A Digital Whiteboard Using a Kinect Sensor and a PC Projector

Recent rapid development of cost-effective, accurate digital imaging sensors, high-speed computational hardware, and tractable design software has given rise to the growing field of augmented reality in the computer vision realm. The system design of a 'Digital Whiteboard' system is presented with the intention of realizing a practical, cost-effective and publicly available spatial augmented reality system. A Microsoft Kinect sensor and a PC projector coupled with a desktop computer form a type of spatial augmented reality system that creates a projection based graphical user interface that can turn any wall or planar surface into a 'Digital Whiteboard'. The system supports two kinds of user inputs consisting of depth and infra-red information. An infra-red collimated light source, like that of a laser pointer pen, serves as a stylus for user input. The user can point and shine the infra-red stylus on the selected planar region and the reflection of the infra-red light source is registered by the system using the infra-red camera of the Kinect. Using the geometric transformation between the Kinect and the projector, obtained with system calibration, the projector displays contours corresponding to the movement of the stylus on the 'Digital Whiteboard' region, according to a smooth curve fitting algorithm. The described projector-based spatial augmented reality system provides new unique possibilities for user interaction with digital content

Photo-Luminescent Targets in Space

Photo-luminescent ("glow in the dark") products have seen a dramatic increase in performance is the last 15 years with the use of a strontium aluminate formulation. Because of this, ISS uses photo-luminescent markers for interior emergency egress guidance. The marker is COTS material composed of strontium aluminate doped with europium, imbedded in PVC and achieves a light emission performance rated at 600/90 (600 mcd at 10 minutes and 90 mcd at 1 hour, 2 mcd is minimum required for human visibility). The ICA goal is to determine this material's effectiveness for use externally on ISS and/or on visiting vehicles, when packaged in Lexan for UV protection. A thermal test was conducted by EC to characterize the luminance emission profile of the material at extreme cold and hot temperatures, such as experienced on ISS

Realization Of A Spatial Augmented Reality System - A Digital Whiteboard Using a Kinect Sensor and a PC Projector

Recent rapid development of cost-effective, accurate digital imaging sensors, high-speed computational hardware, and tractable design software has given rise to the growing field of augmented reality in the computer vision realm. The system design of a 'Digital Whiteboard' system is presented with the intention of realizing a practical, cost-effective and publicly available spatial augmented reality system. A Microsoft Kinect sensor and a PC projector coupled with a desktop computer form a type of spatial augmented reality system that creates a projection based graphical user interface that can turn any wall or planar surface into a 'Digital Whiteboard'. The system supports two kinds of user inputs consisting of depth and infra-red information. An infra-red collimated light source, like that of a laser pointer pen, serves as a stylus for user input. The user can point and shine the infra-red stylus on the selected planar region and the reflection of the infra-red light source is registered by the system using the infra-red camera of the Kinect. Using the geometric transformation between the Kinect and the projector, obtained with system calibration, the projector displays contours corresponding to the movement of the stylus on the 'Digital Whiteboard' region, according to a smooth curve fitting algorithm. The described projector-based spatial augmented reality system provides new unique possibilities for user interaction with digital content

Lighting Automation - Flying an Earthlike Habitat

Currently, spacecraft lighting systems are not demonstrating innovations in automation due to perceived costs in designing circuitry for the communication and automation of lights. The majority of spacecraft lighting systems employ lamps or zone specific manual switches and dimmers. This type of 'hardwired' solution does not easily convert to automation. With advances in solid state lighting, the potential to enhance a spacecraft habitat is lost if the communication and automation problem is not tackled. If we are to build long duration environments, which provide earth-like habitats, minimize crew time, and optimize spacecraft power reserves, innovation in lighting automation is a must. This project researched the use of the DMX512 communication protocol originally developed for high channel count lighting systems. DMX512 is an internationally governed, industry-accepted, lighting communication protocol with wide industry support. The lighting industry markets a wealth of hardware and software that utilizes DMX512, and there may be incentive to space certify the system. Our goal in this research is to enable the development of automated spacecraft habitats for long duration missions. To transform how spacecraft lighting environments are automated, our project conducted a variety of tests to determine a potential scope of capability. We investigated utilization and application of an industry accepted lighting control protocol, DMX512 by showcasing how the lighting system could help conserve power, assist with lighting countermeasures, and utilize spatial body tracking. We hope evaluation and the demonstrations we built will inspire other NASA engineers, architects and researchers to consider employing DMX512 "smart lighting" capabilities into their system architecture. By using DMX512 we will prove the 'wheel' does not need to be reinvented in terms of smart lighting and future spacecraft can use a standard lighting protocol to produce an effective, optimized and potentially earthlike habitat

Radiance Rendering Acceleration

No abstract availabl

Lighting Automation - Flying an Earthlike Habit Project

Our proposal will enable the development of automated spacecraft habitats for long duration missions. Majority of spacecraft lighting systems employ lamps or zone specific switches and dimmers. Automation is not in the "picture". If we are to build long duration environments, which provide earth-like habitats, minimize crew time, and optimize spacecraft power reserves, innovation in lighting automation is a must. To transform how spacecraft lighting environments are automated, we will provide performance data on a standard lighting communication protocol. We will investigate utilization and application of an industry accepted lighting control protocol, DMX512. We will demonstrate how lighting automation can conserve power, assist with lighting countermeasures, and utilize spatial body tracking. By using DMX512 we will prove the "wheel" does not need to be reinvented in terms of smart lighting and future spacecraft can use a standard lighting protocol to produce an effective, optimized and potentially earthlike habitat

Avoided Crossing Patterns and Spectral Gaps of Surface Plasmon Modes in Gold Nano-Structures

The transmission of ultrashort (7 fs) broadband laser pulses through periodic gold nano-structures is studied. The distribution of the transmitted light intensity over wavelength and angle shows an efficient coupling of the incident p-polarized light to two counter-propagating surface plasmon (SP) modes. As a result of the mode interaction, the avoided crossing patterns exhibit energy and momentum gaps, which depend on the configuration of the nano-structure and the wavelength. Variations of the widths of the SP resonances and an abrupt change of the mode interaction in the vicinity of the avoided crossing region are observed. These features are explained by the model of two coupled modes and a coupling change due to switching from the high frequency dark mode to the low frequency bright mode for increasing wavelength of the excitation light. PACS numbers: 73.20.Mf, 42.70.Qs, 42.25.-p,Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure