PFI-TT: Kits for Developing Aerial 3D Display Technology

这个创新-技术转化伙伴关系（PFI-TT）项目的更广泛影响是创建一个商业化版本的光阱显示（OTD）套件。OTD是一种新兴的显示技术，能够在空气中创建全色图像。 这个PFI项目将从头开始制作空中3D显示器。该技术还将创建一个开放的数据库，使学生和企业家能够在全球范围内进行合作，以获得与构建空中3D显示相关的想法，实践和数据的自由流动。 这项研究将为第二代和第三代原型提供信息，提供客户验证，并将演示推向潜在投资者和许可合作伙伴;所有这些都是迈向科幻显示器普及的未来的关键步骤。拟议的项目将产生一套新颖的，可扩展的，市场就绪的光学陷阱显示（OTD）套件原型。 将进行研究，以克服优化引入颗粒收集的捕获过程的挑战，以实现接近1的努森数和在最低可实现的激光功率下大于99%的捕获率。 可扩展的材料和施工技术将被纳入实验室到工具包的翻译和相关的学生课程将与犹他州干行动中心合作开发。 该原型将扩大三个OTD参数的理解：光功率，颗粒尺寸（及其与克努森数的关系），并通过背反射的关键透镜对齐。这些工具包将使新公民科学家在分享实验数据时能够自动化、网络化地探索这些参数。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Partnerships for Innovation - Technology Translation (PFI-TT) project is to create a commercialized version of an optical trap display (OTD) kit. The OTD is an emerging display technology with the ability to create full-color images in air. This PFI project will produce aerial 3D displays from scratch. This technology will also create an open database allowing students and entrepreneurs to collaborate globally to access a free flow of ideas, practices, and data related to building aerial 3D displays. This research will inform the second- and third-generation prototypes, provide customer validation, and drive the demonstration to potential investors and licensing partners; all critical steps toward a future in which the sci-fi displays are commonly available. The proposed project will result in a set of novel, scalable, market-ready optical trap display (OTD) kit prototypes. Research will be conducted to overcome the challenges of optimizing the trapping process for introductory particle collection to achieve a Knudsen number close to 1 and a trap rate greater than 99% at the lowest achievable laser power. Scalable materials and construction techniques will be incorporated for lab-to-kit translation and an associated student curriculum will be developed in partnership with Utah STEM Action Center. The prototypes will expand the understanding of three OTD parameters: optical power, particle dimension (and its relation to the Knudsen number), and critical lens alignment by back-reflection. The kits will enable an automated, networked exploration of these parameters by new citizen-scientists as they share their experimental data.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.