Here's a message I posted on the simpits-tech list:
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Well today I had my mind blown. Not just a little either. We're talking
full skullcap separation here.

I've been peripherially aware of an augmented reality project called
castAR. I saw a still photo of it in action the other day and this caused
me to reach out to the designer with some questions about it.

Holeeee #%&*$#.

The castAR in its most basic form is a pair of 720p pico projectors
attached to what amounts to eyeglass frames, coupled with some glue logic
and a TrackIR style head tracker.

The light output of the projectors is so low that you won't see the image
they project on a normal surface. It requires what is called a "retro
reflective surface" It's essentially the same thing as a theatre's
projection screen.

Now think about this - you're in a cockpit with all these things that
won't reflect the light from the projectors, but "outside" is this
material. As you move your head around, you're going to see outside
visuals where ever the castAR output hits the screen material. Because of
the head tracking (accurate to .07mm apparently) you're always going to
see the right visual.

You see why my head exploded?

Now add to the outside visuals - instead of stuffing your cockpit with
LCDs for the various avionics displays, stuff properly sized bits of this
reflective material where ever the instruments go. When you're looking at
them, you'll be seeing those glass displays where they belong.

That's why the top of my head came off.

This is the most disruptive technology I think I've ever seen. This could
single handedly revitalize the whole flight simulator genre. From what
I've read, adding support for castAR isn't that difficult of a programming
challenge. I suspect that it won't take long for Eagle Dynamics and 1C to
add support for castAR once it hits the market.

The company is called Technical Illusions and the hardware is designed by
Jeri Ellsworth. The website is http://www.technicalillusions.com

They're going to be opening a Kickstarter on October 15th - I would highly
recommend that you folks check it out when it goes up. Come hell or high
water, I'm going to figure out how to get my hands on a pair of these
things as early as I can.
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This morning, Technical Illusions posted a new demo video of the castAR in use with a flight simulator demo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3HGrclGkIE

I think you can see why I'm so insanely excited about this thing.

Please sign up for the forum over there and cheer them on!

g.

Can you imagine the mayhem you could enjoy with a castAR enabled copy of DCS A-10C or one of the IL2 games? Not only that, because you don't have the heavy display gear to deal with, it would be practical to build a motion base.

g.

That is very slick!

Nice!

I agree. Very, very interesting.

I'll admit that I didn't understand the coNcept at first, but now that I do I can definitely imagine a pit with an enclosing "bubble" of retro reflective material...

Incidentally the Spad and balloons looked AWFULLY familiar!

The only problem is to find enough retrorefkective panels

Apparently the material of choice is a fabric that Jeri describes as being "relatively inexpensive"

The Spad & Balloons are familiar, but I can't for the life of me remember where I saw them.

I also found out that you can have multiple tracking targets so you could have total 360 degree coverage without any problems. You could easily build an environment that would allow you to keep visual on a bad guy you just tore past by grabbing a handle on the canopy bow and cranking your head around to track him.

g.

The balloons for sure are from Rise of Flight and I'd bet that the Spad is too... But the scenery definitely is not from RoF.
Very interesting tech...

Jeri posted this in reply to the diy head tracking marker question I posted:

"We don't plan on hiding the modulation scheme for the markers, so folks can make their own. A simple microcontroller and IR LEDs is all you would need."

So yeah, there's going to be some kick butt cockpits coming online as soon as castAR hits the streets.

g.

Looks interesting

Anything on price?

I am wondering what the peripheral vision will see though and what this can bring over and above what Oculus rift will deliver.

EDIT: After a little pondering, I'm presuming that you could add the canopy to your cockpit and fit the glass panels out with the "reflective material". if that is the case I can definitely see what this can add over what OR will bring us.

Brigstock, from what I've read their target price is under $300.

A close-fit canopy probably woudn't be a good idea. From what Jeri's written about it, 24" is about as close as you want to get, but that may change or be adjustable at some point. If they transition to laser pico projectors, then it becomes a moot point because they'll focus wherever they hit.

g.

Which could be a cool move.
Having a replica cockpit and a canopy fitted with screens instead of glass would be very cool

What's the projection angle for these?

If one was to cover all four walls, and floor and ceiling, of a room with the retroreflective fabric, could one conceivably create a believable "holodeck", or would the wearer be able to tell that it's just a room because not all the peripheral vision is being projected?

I couldn't tell from the videos.

There's a thread on their forum about someone wanting to do something like this - I can't answer the question about peripheral vision though. I suspect that the final version of the castAR won't allow "light leak" in from the sides, making it a moot point.

g.

Very cool! If nothing else, for simulation applications that require less of a FOV then flight sims it'll be very easy to make realistic enclosures. For that matter just being able to set up a 60" square of screen and use it as a monitor is pretty awesome by itself!

-Jenrick