3D Volumetric Display

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3D Volumetric Display

• Team 3D

Erik Lorhammer Christopher
Bermel Josh Cornelius Electrical Computer
Engineering Electrical
Engineer Electrical Engineer
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Proposal

• Objectives
• 3D Volumetric Display
• System will load pictures from an external memory
  source to main memory and send pictures to
  projector in a specified order.
• Project an image onto a rotating screen, the
  rotation of this screen will produce the
  appearance of a 3D image. The projected images
  will be 2D.
• Uses Projection of 3D images can be used for
  multiple purposes, examples could include
  military use, topographical maps, educational use
  (DNA strands), medical, etc.

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Initial Block Diagram
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Current Design
Motor
Control Board (FPGA)
Projector
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Control Board

• Main board of the system
• Connects by VGA to projector and has external
  memory interface.
• Connects to an external button panel which will
  provide all the inputs needed. (Load from
  external memory to memory, turn on/off system,
  start output to projector, stop output to
  projector)
• Development work will be done on the Altera
  Development Board present in capstone lab which
  already has Flash input and VGA output.
• Once development work is completed the
  Development Board will no longer be used and a
  PCB will be constructed with only the following
  components
• Altera FPGA
• External Memory Input
• VGA Output
• Control Panel hookup
• Power Subsystem
• On-Board Flash Memory

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Display

• A series of images will be displayed on a
  rotating translucent screen. Each image will be
  taken from a different angle, so the projection
  of the sequence will appear 3 dimensional.
• Mirrors will rotate along with the screen so the
  projector can remain stationary.
• The translucent screen will transmit 50 of the
  light, so the image will appear to be floating in
  space.
• The projector we are currently looking at is a
  small handheld projector.
• The desired resolution is either 480x320 or
  640x480, depending on the projector.
• The projector will connect to the control board
  through either VGA.

http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translucence
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Mechanical

• Step-up Motor by Automation Direct which will
  operate at a certain RPM determined by our
  hardwares FPS and the refresh rate of the
  projector we choose.
• Rotate disk that will contain a screen and set of
  mirrors by either a system of gears or belt
• Possible Materials
• Aluminum
• Rotating Disk (possibly Plexi-glass)
• Structurally hold Screen
• Base
• Purchase Gears

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Schedule
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Risks Contingencies

• FPS may not be sufficient to produce a quality 3D
  image.
• Lower resolution
• Decrease complexity
• Decrease number of colors (ie. 24 bit to 256
  color)
• Unfamiliar Technology
• Altera FPGA (Cyclone II)
• Xilinx board (used in digital logic, but prefer
  not to)
• Interfaces
• Flash
• VGA
• Mechanical aspects
• Materials (metals, gears, belts, etc)
• Could use outside assistance to get mechanical
  aspects working correctly
• Torque of motor may be insufficient

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Risks Contingencies (contd)

• Financial
• Cheaper components that are still effective
• Instead of metal use alternate for example
  Plexi-glass or Plastics
• Request bailout for 3D volumetric display
  industry
• Schedule Uncertainty
• Other classes
• Work
• Weather
• Machining Schedule and Class
• Cant exactly predict how long components will
  take us to build/test

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Economic Impacts

• Cost
• Motor - 20 (AutomationDirect STP-MTR-17048)
• Altera FPGA SparkFun - Free
• PCB 10
• Mirrors - 100
• Projector - 400
• Screen - 50
• Dome - 100
• Base - 50
• MFG / Production / Materials Cost - 400
• Total 1130
• Potential Marketability
• Military, Education, Medical, Architecture,
  anyone who would ever want to see a 3D image,
  etc. Could be adopted for multiple other uses in
  the future.
• Purchase price Mass Production - 5000
• Environmental Impact of Manufacturing
• The union of the impacts of manufacturing the
  individual components plus putting them together.
  Energy cost of running the unit.

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Considerations

• Sustainability
• Parts from more than one vendor? No, the parts
  are chosen carefully to fit specific needs.
• Maintenance and support? Mechanical aspects of
  the system could possibly break. Need replacement
  parts for every part of the system, plan to
  replace every part. Will have User Manual and
  1-800 number if system ever reaches market. 
• Manufacturability
• Effect of Component tolerances? System could
  overheat, metal and mirrors and glass will be
  spinning at high speed.
• Worst-case analysis, expected production yield?
  Worst case is system becomes unstable during
  rotation or mirrors shatter during vibration as
  well as electrical components coming detached.
  99/100 systems will be manufactured well as long
  as defects are not in our suppliers products.
• Testability? Straight forward, make sure all
  components work especially the mechanical
  components and put out dummy image to see if the
  full system is working.
• Compliance to regulations? Will have to keep
  system within FCC regulations, system will be
  shielded by its casing. Have to make sure the
  mechanical aspects are safe.

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Considerations (contd)

• Safety
• Safety in the workspace? Glass will be thick
  enough in final product to protect user from any
  demolition inside the globe.
• System safety issues? Discussed in earlier
  sections, the system will plug straight into the
  wall with shielded cables.
• Impact on society
• This product will have a huge positive impact on
  society. The pros will outweigh the cons.

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