TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Electronics, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Infantry Weapons PM Optics and Non-lethal Systems

The technology within this topic is restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR), which controls the export and import of defense-related material and services. Offerors must disclose any proposed use of foreign nationals, their country of origin, and what tasks each would accomplish in the statement of work in accordance with section 3.5.b.(7) of the solicitation.

OBJECTIVE: This topic seeks technology that will utilize eye-tracking and optical directing techniques to present high resolution imagery only where the user is looking, with lower detail imagery in peripheral vision. The system shall increase situational awareness of the dismounted Marine by providing the perception of increasing the detailed field of view of head mounted displays (HMDs) but only where the eyes are pointed. The system shall also work for night and limited visibility imaging systems, while preserving or improving the resolution of current imaging systems.

DESCRIPTION: Current night vision goggles and head mounted displays have very limited fields of view, resulting in decreased peripheral vision. The use of fully digital enhanced vision systems will be limited by associated displays. A wide field of view display encompassing the majority of the human visual field that maintains the high resolution needed for tasks such as target identification and reading would require a prohibitively expensive single (or multiple) display of tens to hundreds of millions of pixels. Current HMD technology has not achieved the two million pixels necessary to replicate a high-definition television with a single micro-display. An alternative to maintaining full resolution across the entire display area is to present high resolution imagery only where the eye is looking at a given instant. Existing eye tracking technology can be used to determine the location of the fovea (the region of the human eye responsible for detailed viewing) to allow a suitable display system to present only the resolution the various regions of the eye are capable of utilizing. This method is inherently efficient as the computing power (expressed in electrical input and heat output) to process and render the entire displayed scene is significantly reduced while the perception of increased resolution is provided. Current efforts are all directed at increasing the resolution of the whole display while this topic seeks to provide the user with the appearance of a wide field of view high resolution display.

PHASE I: Develop a preliminary design for a proof-of-concept dynamic foveal vision display demonstrator, ideally incorporating technology scalable for use in a head mounted application. Model the performance of the demonstrator device and define the specifications for a notional full capability HMD suitable for the dismounted infantry environment.

PHASE II: Develop and build a proof-of-concept demonstrator device. Demonstrate the performance and physical attributes of a full capability HMD and identify key technologies requiring further development.

PHASE III: Further Phase III development will advance the key technologies to implement a producible low cost high resolution HMD.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: The capability has the potential for wide ranging application to all instances where a high resolution display is required. Video games, virtual reality, and training simulators could also benefit.

REFERENCES:
1. http://www.stanford.edu/~sgould/papers/ijcai07-peripheralfoveal.pdf

2. http://stinet.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA457946

3. http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn13264-eyetracking-game-hides-baddies-in-plain-view.html

KEYWORDS: fovea; high resolution display; head mounted display; eye tracking; Simulated high resolution; imaging systems

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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