SBIR-STTR Award

We propose to develop and demonstrate reliable, robust and effective methods for presenting and evaluating the combined effects of EO/IR augmented reality and appropriate in-band signatures on human-in-the-loop psycho-physical perception. The overall effort in Phase I will focus on research and development of the experimental design and methodology for augmenting target acquisition performance measurement and experimentation. In addition, we will determine the metrics that will be used to evaluate probability of detection and time to detect. These metrics will in large part determine what and how testing must be conducted and with what type of hardware and software. We strongly believe that success in solving this critical problem will rely on a heuristic approach with significant input from our subject matter experts. Our goal for the proposed effort is to develop and demonstrate a proof-of-concept methodology in Phase I that can lead to a generalized fidelity formulation and prototype in Phase II. The generalized fidelity formulation will allow the simulation community to determine the adequacy and suitability of real-world augmented reality for their specific simulation implementation and application, including testing of EO/IR sensors in various environments.

We propose to develop and demonstrate reliable, robust and effective methods for presenting and evaluating the combined effects of augmented reality and appropriate EO/IR sensor imagery on human-in-the-loop psycho-physical perception. The augmented reality metrics and test methodology, test imagery, and software developed along with proof-of-principle testing conducted in Phase I provide a foundation for the research and developed to be conducted in the Phase II effort. The Phase II effort will result in a software and hardware design and development of Simulation for Perception Experimentation using Augmented Reality (SPEAR). The prototype SPEAR and test methods developed will provide a capability to assess the use of augmented reality in providing enhanced, real-world experimentation and training to Soldiers using new EO/IR sensor modalities. The Phase II simulation advancements include increasing the experimentation difficulty, varying the conditions in which metrics are collected, and establishing a repeatable experiment for use in a perception testing laboratory. Our goal for the proposed effort is to develop and demonstrate a prototype simulator that integrates hardware and software to allow simulation for perception experimentation using augmented reality.