xR Safety Overlay via SLAM Camera Hazard Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual, augmented, and mixed reality applications, there is a lack of effective systems and methods for providing environmental safety notifications to users wearing head-mounted devices (HMDs) in real-time, particularly in environments where thermal, electrical, and chemical hazards exist, which can pose risks to the wearer and others.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an Information Handling System (IHS) that utilizes a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) camera to detect the location and orientation of an HMD, identifying safety events and overlaying virtual reality objects to indicate hazards, such as thermal, electrical, or chemical hazards, directly within the user's field of view, using visual, infrared, or near-infrared imaging, and adapting the visual emphasis based on the user's proximity and gaze.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional VR devices are used to immerse users in virtual environments, then user immersion is improved, but awareness of real-world safety hazards is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges virtual reality immersion with augmented reality safety overlays by combining digitally-generated images with real-world hazard notifications in a single xR display system. The host IHS processes both VR rendering and safety event detections, merging them into unified xR objects displayed through the HMD that maintain immersion while providing safety awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary safety notification system that acts as a mediator between the virtual environment and real-world hazards. The host IHS serves as an intermediary processor that receives SLAM camera data, identifies safety events, and translates them into virtual xR objects that can be displayed within the immersive environment without breaking immersion.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If AR/MR devices overlay digitally-generated content upon real-world surroundings, then real-world awareness is improved, but processing capability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments processing responsibilities between the HMD and host IHS. The HMD captures SLAM camera data and transmits it to the host IHS, which performs the computationally intensive safety event identification and xR object generation. This segmentation allows the HMD to remain relatively simple while the host IHS handles complex processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of safety hazards as xR objects that represent real-world threats. Instead of directly processing and displaying raw sensor data about hazards, the system creates simplified virtual representations (xR objects) that convey safety information without requiring the HMD to perform complex hazard analysis itself.
3Reliability
If safety notifications are provided in real-time during xR applications, then user safety is improved, but system resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by continuously monitoring the environment through SLAM cameras and pre-identifying potential safety hazards before they become critical threats. The system proactively detects thermal, electrical, and chemical hazards in advance, allowing the host IHS to prepare and display appropriate xR warning objects before the user encounters actual danger.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensor systems with computational image analysis. Instead of requiring dedicated thermal sensors, electrical sensors, or chemical sensors in the HMD, the system uses standard SLAM cameras and substitutes mechanical detection with software-based safety event identification algorithms running on the host IHS.
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
This solution enables real-time detection and notification of environmental hazards, improving user safety by providing intuitive and adaptive visual warnings that can be customized and resource-efficiently processed, without requiring additional hardware, thus enhancing safety in various industrial and first-responder applications.
Implementation Method 1
The SLAM camera may include a visual spectrum camera, an infrared (IR) camera, or a near-IR (NIR) camera
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for providing environmental safety notifications in virtual, augmented, and mixed reality (xR) applications are described. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a host processor and a memory coupled to the host processor, the memory having program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution, cause the IHS to: receive an image from a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) camera configured to detect a location of a Head-Mounted Device (HMD) worn by a user during an xR application; identify a safety event based upon the image; and produce an xR object for display by the HMD, wherein the xR object indicates the safety event.