The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology (FIT) has developed an augmented reality (AR) system for underwater use that outfits a scuba diver’s mask with a display that overlays computer-generated virtual scenes onto real underwater surroundings.

The AR technology is being explored to find applications for professional divers. Underwater use is a major challenge for technical systems, which have to be waterproof and robust enough to withstand the pressure of diving.

FIT’s AR system is a waterproof display in front of a diver’s mask that allows the diver to see the real underwater environment as well as additional virtual objects. An ultra-mobile PC, worn on the diver’s back, detects underwater markers in a video stream supplied by a camera on top of the diver’s mask.

The system uses pictures from the camera and data from inertial and magnetic field tracking of the diver’s orientation to generate three-dimensional scenes. The researchers developed a prototype AR game that places divers in the role of an underwater archaeologist in search of a treasure chest. The researchers say the prototype game is a robust platform that could be used to develop technology to support professional divers in the maintenance of bridges, offshore oil rigs, or dams.

Source: Fraunhofer.de

Related posts:

1. Virtual World Research: Reality in a Can Virtual worlds are increasingly being used by researchers as a...
2. How Do You Picture Yourself in a Virtual World? The MOdelling Of SecondLife Environments (MOOSE) project is exploring the...
3. Microsoft DreamSpark lets students have Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition for free! It's all about giving students Microsoft professional-level developer and...