HMD Overlay Alignment Measurement for VR Flight Simulators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining the accuracy of viewpoint alignment between virtual and physical environments in flight simulator testing has remained challenging, necessitating improved methods for precise spatial positioning and overlay alignment.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing a head-mounted display (HMD) with integrated LiDAR and sensors to project virtual and physical environments, allowing users to align virtual pointers with physical elements, and measure the difference between them, adjusting the virtual environment to reduce positional discrepancies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If head mounted displays are incorporated into flight simulator testing, then immersive training environments are created, but determining the accuracy of viewpoint alignment between virtual and physical environments becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces physical markers placed in the physical environment that serve as intermediaries for alignment verification. These markers are detectable by both the optical tracking system and visible to the user through the HMD, enabling precise measurement of viewpoint alignment accuracy between virtual and physical environments without compromising the immersive training capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical alignment verification methods with optical-based measurement using the HMD's camera system and marker detection. This substitution enables non-intrusive, high-precision measurement of spatial alignment while maintaining the full immersive experience, resolving the contradiction between immersion and measurement capability
2Measurement precision
If optical systems using cameras and sensors are used for tracking, then precise positioning of virtual elements to physical elements is achieved, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple physical markers that create optical copies or representations of physical elements in the virtual environment. These markers are captured by the HMD camera and rendered as virtual references, enabling precise positioning verification without requiring complex sensor systems or processing infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the HMD device multi-functional by using its existing camera and display components for both immersive visualization and alignment measurement. This universal use of existing components achieves precise positioning verification without adding separate complex tracking systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures high accuracy in spatial positioning, facilitating realistic simulations by aligning virtual models with physical controls, enhancing user interaction and simulation fidelity.
Implementation Method 1
monitoring a physical pointer of the user that is contacting the physical element in the physical environment that corresponds to the virtual reference point identified by the target includes LiDar. LiDar is provided by a sensor integrated into the head mounted display.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for testing overlay of a virtual environment to a physical environment that includes generating a target to identify a virtual reference point in a virtual environment. The virtual reference point corresponds to a physical element in a physical environment. A virtual reference point position is recorded. The target is projected on the virtual reference point to a user through a head mounted display. The user identifies the target. The method can continue with projecting the physical environment to the user, and monitoring a physical pointer of the user that is contacting the physical element in the physical environment that corresponds to the virtual reference point. A virtual pointer may be generated in the virtual environment corresponding to the physical pointer of the user. A vector can then be measured characterizing a difference between a position of the virtual pointer and the virtual reference point position.