BANC 3, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N201-015

Description

BANC3 proposes the use of Augmented Reality (AR) technology to enhance the capabilities of aircraft maintainers,  by giving more natural, intuitive, hands-free instruction. Benefits include reducing manning and empowering the ability to rapidly employ advanced equipment such as cold-spray metallization and clean-laser systems, and using recording capability, providing an accurate, objective assessment of material readiness such as corrosion state. We will demonstrate unique Mixed Reality (MR) capabilities such as the ability to display virtual objects, using a currently available “best-of-breed” AR product and applications running on a common, open-source operating system capable of completely stand-alone operation, and we will provide a path to a military-hardened product that meets all environmental, ElectroMagnetic Interference/ Compatibility (EMI/ C) and Information Assurance Requirements for operation in a maritime environment.  We will assess the applicability of currently available AR smartglasses and technology to aircraft maintenance practices as well as to use of advanced equipment such as cold-spray metallization and clean-laser trimming systems. We will suggest specific functions based upon customer input / need and the availability of suitable software applications.  Then we will demonstrate these and quantitatively demonstrate the benefits in reduced manpower and/ or enhanced effectiveness. The training demonstration may use the full suite of current ThirdEye user interface functions including head gestures, pushbuttons (the pushbuttons on the ThirdEye product, with the cursor moved by head gesture), and/ or voice recognition and gesture controls. These may be used to enhance the user experience while using available, open-standard instruction.  We will prepare for trainee use, three-dimensional virtual training material using markerless SLAM capability (available in the BANC3 ThirdEye product, this function will be available in the selected technology following the survey portion of this program). We will show how AR can provide an Objective record for Aircraft Inspection actions and results. This can include cleaning, coatings removal, non-destructive inspection, with full, high resolution video recording of all procedures. The video recordings will provide an accurate record of Material Readiness Condition. We will also show Other NDI features, e.g. providing an external camera feed into the MR Smartglasses, to easily enable inspections in tight places (into which a user cannot fit). As part of this phase, we can consider providing multi-level hearing protection, including active noise cancellation, for an inspector using the selected AR  smartglasses.