Integration of Notification with 3D Visualization of Rover Operations

3D visualization has proven effective at orienting remote ground controllers about robots operating on a planetary surface. Using such displays, controllers can watch a robot move through surface terrain maps and react to objects in that terrain. Readings taken in the robot's surroundings can be overlaid on terrain maps to improve human understanding. 3D visualization, however, focuses a controller's attention on what is happening in the vicinity of the robot. The effectiveness of visualization at centering attention on the robot means that information not spatially linked to that view could be missed. TRACLabs, Carnegie Mellon University, and Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies propose to develop software for notifying users of 3D visualization about important new information that may not be spatially linked to the current view. We will identify use cases where notification is needed when using 3D visualization and design software for constructing and presenting notices for these use cases. We will evaluate this design for use in K10 rover operations by defining an approach for integrating notification with the Visual Environment for Remote Virtual Exploration (VERVE). The extensive experience of this team in developing advanced software for robotic surface operations will contribute to the timely delivery of the proposed technology.