SBIR-STTR Award

In this Phase I SBIR program DTI proposes to investigate the adaptation of its advanced, disruptive, glasses free 3D display technology as a platform for visualization within at least one Air Force application, as identified in the focus areas identified at afwerks.af,mil. The technology embodied in the display – DTI’s proprietary 3D optics and backlight system and face tracking capability, provides natural 3D in the Human Machine Interface (HMI) and creates a Virtual Reality Window on the desktop, flight deck, or workstation. DTI is developing its display for similar commercial applications related to the needs of Boeing Aerospace, which has been partially funding development through a Phase IIe SBIR program and follow on contract, plus a second company supplying hazardous waste handling facilities. The Phase I and Phase II programs represent an opportunity to adapt the technology to Air Force applications followed by sales to Air Force customers in Phase III.

During this AFWERX Phase II SBIR effort DTI will configure a scaled up version of its 3D/2D glasses free autostereoscopic display (year 1) that will be configured for testing and evaluation at the Gaming Research Integration for Learning Laboratory (GRILL) facility at WPAFB for use in KC-46 refueling operations (months 13 – 15). Subject Matter Experts and boom operators from then KC-46 group will use the display to perform simulated refueling operations and their actions as well as subjective impressions recorded, observed, and timed to determine whether use of the DTI display is superior to existing 2D and 3D glasses based displays in use and whether it quatifiably improves speed and accuracy. During the course of the display configuratiuon DTI will advance the display design closer to a commercializable desktop sized product for telerobotic applications inside and outside the military. DTI will build five displays – one for testing, one as a backup, and three to use as demos and seed units for future customers. After the first display is built, DTI will, with the assistance of a manufacturing partner, redesign display components, especially the back lighting system, optics, and case, to a more efficiently manufacturable configuration.