Augmented Reality Systems

Background and Current Research of AR Systems

Dana Schlesinger2006

Augmented Reality (AR) - Definition

“Combine Real and Computer Generated Information, Interact in Real Time and align virtual objects” (Azuma, 1997)

“The World becomes the Interface”

(Hollerer, 2004)

History of AR systems

● Early 60's: 3D see-through head-worn display (HMD), signs presented on the lab walls (Sutherland, '68).

● 70-80's: AR research at just a few institutions: US Air

Force, NASA, MIT, N. Carolina University etc.

● Early 90's: AR research at Boeing: instructions for

aircraft assembly to construction workers.

History – The emergent of Mobile Systems

The Emergent of Mobile Augmented Reality Systems

(MARS):

● Early 90's: GPS-based outdoor system, presenting

navigational assistance to the visually impaired (Loomis).

● '96: Columbia Touring Machine,outdoors guided campus tour.

● Since mid-90's: AR experience a renaissance: ubiquitous

computing, tangible UI, wearable computing.

ERGIS 2.0Enriched Reality Geographic Information

System

ERGIS 2.0Enriched Reality Geographic Information

SystemFeatures:

● Wearable system

● Location-based information system (LBS)

● 6DOF (six degrees of freeddom): x,y,z,yaw,pitch,roll

● Indoors and Outdoors system

● Connection to location-based information (such as froogle, google

earth etc..)

● Client-Server connection

● Multiple users

AR Research Many of the AR publications are "application papers"

● Assembly and Construction (e.g. Feiner et al.,1999)

● Maintenance and Inspection

(e.g. Zhang et al. 2001)

● Navigation and Path Finding

(e.g. Loomis et al. 1993)

● Tourism (e.g. Cheverst et al.

2000)

AR Researchcont..

● Architecture and Archaeology (e.g. Vlahakis et al. 2002)

● Entertainment (e.g. Thomas et

al. 2000)

● Medicine (e.g. Hasvold, 2002)

● Military Training and Combat

(e.g. Tappert et al. 2001)

● Personal Information

Management (e.g Feiner, 2002)

Challenges

"..In spite of the great potential of Mobile AR, .. progress in the field was so far almost exclusively been demonstrated in a growing number of prototypes.."

(Hollerer, 2004)

Challenges

Improving the AR Display System

Challenges

Position Tracking:

● Sensor fusion (electronic compass, gyroscope, tilt

sensor)

● Camera support

● Closed-loop tracking vs. Open-loop tracking

● GPS : from simple GPS to Differential GPS, and

Real Time Kinematic GPS

● WiFi location calculation

Additional Challenges

● Human Interface

● Wearable backpack

● Low power support

● Physical objects with Location-based metadata

● Lighting and brightness of the outside, different

weather conditions etc..

Thank You