Augmented Reality: Don’t We All Wish We Lived In One?

摘要

From stereophonic, positional sound to high-definition imagery that is crisp and clean, highfidelity computer graphics enhance our view, insight, and intuition regarding ourenvironments and conditions. Contemporary 3-D modeling tools offer an open architectureframework that enables integration with other technologically innovative arenas. Oneinnovation of great interest is Augmented Reality, the merging of virtual, digital environmentswith physical, real-world environments creating a mixed reality where relevant data andinformation augments the real or actual experience in real-time by spatial or semanticcontext. Pairing 3-D virtual immersive models with a dynamic platform such as semiautonomousrobotics or personnel odometry systems to create a mixed reality offers a newand innovative design information verification inspection capability, evaluation accuracy,and information gathering capability for nuclear facilities. Our paper discusses theintegration of two innovative technologies, 3-D visualizations with inertial positioningsystems, and the resulting augmented reality offered to the human inspector. The discussionin the paper includes an exploration of human and non-human (surrogate) inspections of anuclear facility, integrated safeguards knowledge within a synchronized virtual modeloperated, or worn, by a human inspector, and the anticipated benefits to safeguardsevaluations of facility operations including less reliance upon inspector memory, attentionalfocus, and mental computation.