iPhone Holographic Projector

Researchers have created a two-layer optical reproduction of a full-color 3D image by displaying one holographic layer on the screen of an iPhone 14 Pro and a second layer on a spatial light modulator. The resulting image measured a few millimeters on each side.

They are now working to improve the technology so that it can display larger 3D images with more layers. Additional layers would make images look more realistic by improving spatial resolution and allowing objects to appear at several different depths, or distances, from the viewer.

More information:

https://scitechdaily.com/unlocking-the-future-of-vr-new-algorithm-turns-iphones-into-holographic-projectors/

AR for Autonomous Road Safety

A study at Glasgow University has investigated how augmented reality can bolster the safety of autonomous driving, alerting drivers when they need to take the wheel. The Glasgow study tasked drivers in a simulated environment with different cognitive tasks using a ‘heads down’ tablet and a ‘heads up’ AR display.

Screens displayed a series of 40 video clips of real road situations, with the clips stopping abruptly before a potentially hazardous situation developed, such as a pedestrian stepping onto the road. Drivers then had to select from one of four predictions about what would happen next based on their understanding of the road conditions at the point the video cut off.

More information:

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/glasgow-trial-explores-ar-cues-for-autonomous-road-safety/

Fusing Camera and Radar Data Tracks Vehicles at Greater Distances

A new approach that fuses camera and radar data can now track vehicles precisely at distances of up to 500 meters. Real-time data on the flow and density of traffic can help city managers avoid congestion and prevent accidents. So-called roadside perception, which uses sensors and cameras to track vehicles, can help create smart roads that continually gather this information and relay it to control rooms.

Installing large numbers of road-side sensors can be expensive, though, as well as time consuming to maintain. For smart roads to be cost effective you need to use as few sensors as possible, she says, which means sensors need to be able to track vehicles at significant distances. Using a new approach to fuse data from high-definition cameras and millimeter-wave radar, researchers created a system that can pinpoint vehicle locations to within 1.3 meters at ranges of up to 500 meters.

More information:

https://spectrum.ieee.org/smart-road-camera-radar-fusion