N121-005 TITLE: Small Projector Array Display System

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Information Systems, Sensors, Human Systems

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: JSF-AL

RESTRICTION ON PERFORMANCE BY FOREIGN CITIZENS (i.e., those holding non-U.S. Passports): This topic is "ITAR Restricted". The information and materials provided pursuant to or resulting from this topic are restricted under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 22 CFR Parts 120 - 130, which control the export of defense-related material and services, including the export of sensitive technical data. Foreign Citizens may perform work under an award resulting from this topic only if they hold the "Permanent Resident Card", or are designated as "Protected Individuals" as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). If a proposal for this topic contains participation by a foreign citizen who is not in one of the above two categories, the proposal will be rejected.

OBJECTIVE: Develop innovative technology leveraging the large numbers of small commercial off the shelf (COTS) Light Emitting Diods (LED) based projectors to create a cost effective, high performance, immersive, rear-projection display system with small footprint.

DESCRIPTION: Currently, projectors used to create immersive high resolution display systems have cost, performance, size, and reliability issues. Arrays of LED based pico projectors can be harnessed to solve these problems but the technology does not yet exist to integrate them into arrays suitable for the unique requirements for real time simulation. Pico projectors are a recent product development and are rapidly improving in brightness and resolution, as high as 1280 by 800. This makes them a viable solution for rear projection displays by replacing one high performance projector with an array of pico projectors. The missing component of such a system is a video processor capable of importing one or more Image Generator video inputs, processing the video as required for immersive displays, and exporting to multiple pico projectors. Research and development is needed to create a rear projection system solution. Inherent advantages include low maintenance, high system reliability and stability, lower power, low cost, higher resolution, smaller display system footprint, and video black levels suitable for stimulating Night Vision Goggles (NVGs). Current training simulators typically have less than 20/20 visual resolution. In order to achieve 20/20 resolution, an array of small solid state projectors is required to replace each current projector. Also for rear projection systems, the display footprint and height is large, resulting in significant construction cost for facilities large enough. The large size also limits where they can be used. This system design approach includes any features uniquely beneficial to or necessary for real time training simulation.

PHASE I: Research and develop a system design approach to incorporate LED projector arrays into a display system suitable for training simulators. Evaluate benefits, risks, and feasibility of the proposed concept design. Demonstrate the technical feasibility of new techniques.

PHASE II: Complete/enhance the design proposed in Phase I. Build a prototype capable of meeting typical simulator display system requirements including alignment, synchronization, latency, compatibility. The prototype should also demonstrate any innovative features uniquely beneficial to real time training simulation. The prototype may be a subsystem of an immersive display or a fully immersive display. The specific implementation of the prototype shall be determined at a later date by mutual agreement between the government and contractor

PHASE III: Refine and transition the Phase II prototype effort into a solution that supports military and commercial real time simulation for pilot training.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: Commercial training flight simulators, improved immersive display systems for research such as the cave immersive display that is low resolution, extremely high resolution (20/20) with a large Field of View (FOV) display is the ideal solution for human visual interface with many applications including remote surveillance. The new display technology would be an ideal match for collimated wide displays required by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for commercial pilot training.

REFERENCES:
1. Colin, D. (2009). The Pico Projectors Have Arrived! http://www.projectorcentral.com/pico_projectors.htm

2. Ephanov A. & Coleman C., Virtual Texture: A Large Area Raster Resource for the GPU, I/ITSEC 2006.

3. Patrick, E., Cosgrove, D., Slavkovic, A., Rode, J.A., Verratti, T., & Chiselko, (2000). Using a large projection screen as an alternative to head-mounted displays for virtual environments. In Proc. of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI �00), ACM Press, 478-485.

KEYWORDS: training; simulation; projectors; virtual reality; visual; display

** TOPIC AUTHOR (TPOC) **

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