3D Visualization Capability for Fleet Remotely Operated Vehicles (Topic 192-099)

VRTUL’s Phase I base research and development effort demonstrated with in-water tests the feasibility of a complete end-to-end hardware and software solution for low latency 360 3D and Virtual Reality (VR) visualization on an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle). The initial objectives were successfully accomplished using Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) electrical components combined with custom marine engineered enclosures. In Phase II we will improve the marine enclosure design utilizing carbon fiber, design and manufacture a board level multi-camera array, and then develop a custom game engine “VR Mission Control Room” both for live environment missions and simulation training to provide an integrated immersive curriculum for Navy EOD Techs and ROV Pilots. The successful completion of the Phase II Option 2 should lead to a large set of new opportunities in the Navy to implement cutting edge telepresence, teleoperation, and machine learning applications on other ROV, UUV, and robotic vehicles in the Navy fleet beyond the intended EOD application of this SBIR.