Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: To address the Navy"s need for an innovative collimated controller display for a rota

Description

To address the Navy"s need for an innovative collimated controller display for a rotary-wing flight simulator, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Variable Collimation Autostereo Synthetic Holographic 3D display (VCASH-3D) system. The proposed system is based on a novel synthetic holographic principle implemented using commercially available laser-based miniature projectors and POC"s new design of a holographic angular multiplexer screen. The innovative use of a 2D array of laser projectors and their integration via the multiplexing screen allows VCASH-3D to form synthetic holographic 3D images with any desired depth of collimation and view direction without distortion due to viewer head movement. As a result, VCASH-3D offers variable collimation and improved 3D depth perception with automatic stereo vision for rotary-wing chin windows and cargo hatches as well as forward out-of-the-windshield imagery, which directly address the Navy"s requirements for a new collimated visual display. In Phase I, POC will design a VCASH-3D system that meets the unique requirements and demonstrate its feasibility by a proof-of-concept prototype setup. In Phase II, POC will optimize the design and integrate, demonstrate, and validate a prototype that addresses the Navy"s requirements for innovative collimated controller display for rotary wing and VSTOL flight simulators.