Multiplayer Tracking for Virtual Design/Scenario Assessment

This Phase I feasibility effort is directed toward developing a system level instrumentation assemblage to precisely monitor the movement and interaction (e.g., multiparticipant interface, equipment workbay clearances) among a multimember (e.g., 8) untethered mission team and equipment in a virtual (or real) operating environment (e.g., lab equipment related handling of hazardous chemicals). The proposed instrumentation is comprised of multiple (e.g., 4) stereo cameras deployed at predetermined/precise locations in the workspace (e.g., 20ft x 20ft) based on the specific scenario being assessed. Additionally, each member has a strapdown inertial sensor suite coupled to a wireless "downlink" transmitter, in a backpack. All the stationary (e.g., camera) and moving (e.g., inertial) sensor data is input to a (central or distributed) multiprocessor that executes a sensor processing/feature tracking algorithm in real time and provides the task driven member state vector data stream at 30 Hz for each member, to a corresponding array of video scene view generators (15Hz) which are then "uplinked: via a wireless transmitter to the corresponding member. The proposed baseline scalable system will be designed for a evaluation scenario of 1 hour. The crew member state vector dimensionality (e.g., all limbs had orientation only, elbows only) and accuracy are anticipated to be a function of the specific operational scenario work space design objective. The accuracy performance will be characterized as a function of range from the nearest stereo camera tracker to assess the feasibility of this concept.