Project Overview

Notwithstanding stereoscopic, auto-stereoscopic and VR ‘stereo’ type display systems, that simulate 3 dimensional images, there are no real-time ‘true’ 3D-display systems available today. Present conditions inhibit designers, engineers, manufacturers and others who use 3D mathematical data displayed on these graphics systems as a necessary tool to develop their ideas and complete their tasks. Historically this causes communication problems within their respective disciplines. Albeit most CAD/CAM applications manipulate 3D data as a result of multi-axis algorithms contained therein, the final ‘3D’ output is then projected onto a flat monitor or screen and/or printed/plotted as a perspective drawing. What the customer gets is not always what the customer saw or thought they thought they agreed to early on. Hence, the present condition almost always demands the production of many physical prototypes before a final product evolves, which increases throughput time, waste and costs within industry as a whole.

Proposed Solution / Approach:

Utilize current advances in Photonics, modern optics, lasers, real time computer driven imaging algorithms and newly developed composites. Assemble these parts and processes so as to define a new combined functionality, thus producing a true ‘real-time’ volumetric imaging system - VIS^4D.

Phase I: - Ongoing

Identify North American strategic alliance partners who are interested in developing, manufacturing, marketing and/or acquiring the device. Obtain cooperative working agreements from strategic partners, and leverage resources by creating a multi-disciplined team of commercializers and users, derived from the strategic partnership.

Phase II: - Complete

Build a proof-of-concept model of the VIS^4D technology that meets the metrics and the objectives of both the users and commercializers. All parties will proceed with the advanced development and utilization, while simultaneously soliciting functionality enhancements and potential markets within the collaborative alliance.

Phase III: - Next Step

VIS^4D moves into full commercialization providing advanced users with negotiated lead time advantages, etc.

Deliverables:

Deploy physical prototype of a 4D volumetric imaging system, VIS^4D – a workstation. The prototype to display in real time (the 4^th dimension) in front of the observer(s); a computer generated, full color, full parallax, true volumetric ethereal model with acoustic and haptic interface and whose overall image criteria are comfortable to the user(s).

Benefits/Impact:

Benefits to manufacturing are a reduction in the number of physical prototypes required by many involved within that industry today. The new device, when deployed, will sharply reduce the throughput time required to execute an idea from "Art to Part". The current physical prototypes are replaced with real-time, computer generated, volumetrically displayed, interactive ethereal models.

These new "prototypes" when observed may be touched, changed, analyzed, tested, tele-ported worldwide and changed again until approved for production without ever physically being built.

The VIS^4D would also impact such public service areas as Air Traffic Controllers, Communications, Meteorologists, Public Safety, etc.. Any discipline requiring 3D information in its process, and having such information available to it today, will be impacted and will definitely benefit from such a device.