Low Cost Cockpit head tracking and gestural recognition

This proposal offers a solution for the development of a revolutionary new, low-cost, human machine interface for aviators. In this endeavor, Kutta and its partners design and develop an innovative concept that leverages commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware and software. The well-structured applied research Work Plan overcomes some of the known issues with the Kinect and other COTS gaming technology for gesture recognition and head tracking with an equally innovative solution that leverages nano-technology. The resulting research yields an optimized product that takes advantage of as much COTS technology as possible to drive cost out of the resulting product. The product is a ubiquitous controller that can be utilized by pilots in the air, soldiers on the ground, and drivers in their automobiles to interact with machines through innovative gestures and head tracking technology. The Phase I work culminates in a demonstration of the product in a simulated cockpit and summary of the lessons learned through actual quantitative applied research. The Phase I option concludes with recommended methodologies and action plans on how to design, develop, test, and ruggedize the technology for transition into the Department of Defense aviation community.