STTR Phase I: 3D Position Sensing Utilizing Wireless Low Frequency Magnetic Beacon and Its Application to a 3D Man-machine Interaction Device

该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是促进在许多不同领域使用低成本、高清晰度3D运动传感设备创建许多应用程序，包括计算、娱乐、自动化、机器人、工业设计、制造、培训和教育。例如，没有视线限制的高速运动传感可以在理解人体运动动力学和人体工程学方面发挥重要作用，使体育和工业培训的应用不断发展。现有的3D人机交互市场被划分为几个小的应用领域，其规模仍然很小，主要是因为现有技术的局限性。最终用户和解决方案提供商仍在寻求紧凑、易于使用和直观的解决方案。该项目将显著提高我们对无线3D运动跟踪及其在人机界面技术中的应用的理解，从而产生易于使用、快速和准确的3D用户界面设备。随着鼠标在过去几十年中彻底改变了人和计算机的连接方式，一种简单易用、直观和自然的3D人机交互设备将对我们与计算机/机器的联系方式产生重大影响，从而在广泛的应用领域产生重大的商业影响。这个小型企业技术转移研究(STTR)第一阶段项目将开发一种基于无线磁信标的3D位置传感器及其在3D人机用户界面中的应用。现有的3D位置跟踪解决方案适用于需要3D人机交互的应用，使用光学视频传感器、红外传感器、惯性传感器、超声波传感器或弯曲传感器。尽管最近取得了进展，但各种根本的挑战仍然存在，包括使用光学传感时的视线要求和缺乏触觉反馈，以及惯性传感的漂移问题。该技术利用磁信标信号，所提出的3D用户界面设备的独特特征包括非视距能力、无漂移的绝对位置和方向跟踪、触觉反馈能力、低计算量、高精度和高读取速度。预期的应用包括用于CAD设计的输入设备、数字艺术、处理3D MRI、CT和内部器官图像的3D医学成像系统，以及需要3D交互的教育设备。开发的3D设备将通过其紧凑的尺寸和直观的使用方式显着提高最终用户的工作效率。它还将为应用程序开发人员提供一个新的机会，以构建具有成本效益但功能强大的基于3D交互的设计、教育、教学和培训应用程序。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be to facilitate the creation of many applications utilizing a low-cost, high definition 3D motion-sensing device in many distinct areas including computing, entertainment, automation, robotics, industrial design, manufacturing, training, and education. For example, high-speed motion sensing without line-of-sight limitations can play an important role in understanding the dynamics of human body motion and ergonomics, allowing applications for sports and industrial training to evolve. The existing 
3D man-machine interaction market is segmented into a few small application areas and it remains small largely because of the limitations in existing technologies. The end users and solution providers still seek a compact, easy-to-use, and intuitive solution. This project will significantly enhance our understanding of wireless 3D motion tracking and its application to man-machine interface technology, resulting in an easy-to-use, fast and accurate 3D user interface device. As the mouse completely changed the way man and computer have connected over the last several decades, an easy-to-use, intuitive, and natural 3D man-computer interaction device will have great impact in the way we relate to computers/machines, resulting in a significant commercial impact in a broad range of application areas.This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase I project will develop a wireless magnetic beacon-based 3D position sensor and its application to a 3D man-computer user interface. Existing 3D position tracking solutions for applications requiring 3D man-machine interaction utilize optical video sensors, infrared sensors, inertial sensors, ultrasound sensors or bending sensors. Despite recent progress, various fundamental challenges remain, including a line-of-sight requirement and the lack of haptic-feedback when using optical sensing, and the drift issue for inertial sensing. The proposed technology utilizes a magnetic beacon signal, and the unique characteristics of the proposed 3D user interface device include non-line-of-sight capability, absolute position and orientation tracking without drift, haptic feedback capability, low computational load, high accuracy, and high read speed. Anticipated applications include input devices for CAD design, digital art, 3D medical imaging systems handling 3D MRI, CT, and inner organ images, and educational devices requiring 3D interaction. The developed 3D device will significantly improve the work productivity of end users through its compact size and intuitive way of use. It will also provide a new opportunity for application developers to build cost-effective yet powerful 3D interaction-based design, educational, instructional and training apps.