Augmented Reality Gaze-Under-control Super-resolution Head Mounted Display

To address the USMC need for a dynamic foveal vision display, which increases situational awareness of dismounted Marines, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Augmented Reality Gaze-Under-control Super-resolution Head-Mounted Display (ARGUS HMD). The ARGUS-HMD is based on optical-electronic-software implementation of foveal vision that creates an illusion of a panoramic high-resolution image on a see-through display from data stored in a PDA. This unique performance is achieved due to innovative system design and optimized image rasterization software integrated with eye-safe eye trackers. The image with a high resolution raster is rendered within the foveal area and with gradually lower resolution in the peripheral area. The rasterized image is projected onto a see-through ballistic-impact face shield that allows the Marine to see augmented high-resolution data such as detailed 3D maps, floor plans, or instruction text while looking through this image to a real ambient scene. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the ARGUS-HMD system and identify potential advantages and limitations of the proposed approach. In Phase II POC plans to develop a fully operating prototype implemented on a real HMD, which will be ready for testing by Marines in a field environment.