Abstract: A method for using Augmented Reality (AR), in conjunction with a real or simulated thermal imager. A primary application is to train emergency first responders. Particularly, the system uses a thermal imaging camera or standard video camera, and tracking system to provide a tracked viewpoint in an AR environment. The augmented portions of the environment can consist of fire, smoke, extinguishing agent, or other emergencies. This allows for inexpensive, flexible, and realistic on-site training of fire fighting, damage control, search and rescue, and other first responder techniques using thermal imaging.

Abstract: A method for displaying otherwise unseen objects and other data using augmented reality (the mixing of real view with computer generated imagery). The method uses a motorized camera mount that can report the position of a camera on that mount back to a computer. With knowledge of where the camera is looking, and its field of view, the computer can precisely overlay computer-generated imagery onto the video image produced by the camera. The method may be used to present to a user such items as existing weather conditions, hazards, or other data, and presents this information to the user by combining the computer generated images with the user's real environment. These images are presented in such a way as to display relevant location and properties of the object to the system user.

Abstract: The invention disclosed instruments a firefighter's SCBA with electronic and passive equipment, and protects this instrumentation from shock and undesirable environmental pollutant penetration. The invention provides for doing this through the use of a rugged cover on the equipment as well as soft equipment mounts. The cover provides the instrumentation with protection from impact as well as protection from contamination by environmental pollutants.

Abstract: A wireless or extra-long-tethered augmented reality (AR) system and method, where the user wears some or all of the equipment necessary to perform the simulation. Various arrangements are presented that can be selected based on the needs of the system, such as the number of users and type of tracking equipment. Most of the discussion is optimized to a firefighter training system, but the disclosure is applicable to most any other application of wireless AR.

Abstract: The invention is a method for displaying otherwise unseen objects and other data using augmented reality (the mixing of real view with computer generated imagery). The method uses image parameters (such as field of view, focus, aperture, and shading) that affect the real world view as captured by a camera. The camera may have a motorized camera mount that can report the position of a camera on that mount back to a computer. With knowledge of where the camera is looking and the additional image parameters, the computer can precisely overlay computer-generated imagery onto the video image produced by the camera such that the appearance of computer-generated imagery is consistent with the image of the real world. The method may be used to present to a user such items as existing weather conditions, hazards, or other data, and presents this information to the user by combining the computer generated images with the user's real environment.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for an augmented reality-based firefighter training system. The system includes hardware for motion tracking, display, and vari-nozzle instrumentation. System software includes a real-time fire model, a layered smoke obscuration model, simulation of an extinguishing agent, and an interface to a zone fire model. Physical modeling and graphical elements in the software combine to create realistic-looking fire, smoke, and extinguishing graphics. The hardware and software components together contribute to a realistic, interactive training experience for firefighters.

Abstract: The invention is a method for augmenting images with the predicted effectiveness of ordinance deployed or dropped at a specific aim point. The method uses JMEM data to calculate the predicted effectiveness of a selected weapon over an area surrounding the aimpoint and calculates the parameters for a graphical representation of the numerical results. Predicted effectiveness is displayed onto an overhead or perspective view image by overlaying with a series of ellipses, a variable color area, a variable transparency area, or some combination of the three.

Abstract: The invention is a method for displaying otherwise unseen atmospheric phenomenon using augmented reality (the mixing of real media with computer generated media). The method uses computer generated images to represent existing weather conditions and presents this data to the user by combining the computer generated images with the user's real environment. Computer generated images are used to represent such weather phenomenon as wake vortices, wind shear, and microbursts. These images are represented in such a way as to intuitively display relevant properties of the phenomenon to the system user, which increases the user's situational awareness and safety. The primary intended applications are for air traffic controllers and pilots to view these disturbances.

Abstract: The invention is a method for displaying otherwise unseen objects and other data using augmented reality (the mixing of real view with computer generated imagery). The method uses a motorized camera mount that can report the position of a camera on that mount back to a computer. With knowledge of where the camera is looking, and the size of its field of view, the computer can precisely overlay computer-generated imagery onto the video image produced by the camera. The method may be used to present to a user such items as existing weather conditions, hazards, or other data, and presents this information to the user by combining the computer generated images with the user's real environment. These images are presented in such a way as to display relevant location and properties of the object to the system user.

Abstract: The invention is a method for augmenting images to highlight regions where objects of interest are likely to appear. The method uses fuzzy set theory to classify locations that may contain objects of interest, uses fog volumes to represent the fuzzy sets in three dimensions, and renders these fog volumes from the vantage point of the image to provide a colored overlay with which to augment the image. Where fog volumes of different colors overlap in an image, the invention renders the overlapping area using cross-hatching, so that the multiple colors appear side by side rather than blending to make a third color.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to protect an instrumented firefighter's fire hose nozzle from shock and undesirable environmental pollutant penetration. The invention provides for doing this through the use of a rugged cover on the equipment as well as soft equipment mounts. The cover provides the instrumentation with protection from impact as well as protection from contamination by environmental pollutants. On the inside of the cover, the shock sensitive equipment is seated on an island that is mounted by one or more soft vertical posts, which protect this equipment from shock.

Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to create a method to allow a real person or movable physical object to occlude virtual objects in a augmented reality application using a single tracking data sensor for objects or only head tracking data for a real person. The method involves occluding virtual objects with a real world human in augmented reality. The method comprises creating an orthogonal plane billboard with soft texture edges representing a user's head; creating an orthogonal plane billboard with soft texture edges representing a user's torso; positioning and orienting the head billboard using motion tracker data; positioning and orienting the torso billboard relative to the head billboard; displaying the head and torso billboards in real-time 3-D to correspond to the location of a real person; and mixing the resulting image with a live image of a real person.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for an augmented reality-based firefighter training system. The system includes hardware for motion tracking, display, and vari-nozzle instrumentation. System software includes a real-time fire model, a layered smoke obscuration model, simulation of an extinguishing agent, and an interface to a zone fire model. Physical modeling and graphical elements in the software combine to create realistic-looking fire, smoke, and extinguishing graphics. The hardware and software components together contribute to a realistic, interactive training experience for firefighters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for an augmented reality-based firefighter training system. The system includes hardware for motion tracking, display, and vari-nozzle instrumentation. System software includes a real-time fire model, a layered smoke obscuration model, simulation of an extinguishing agent, and an interface to a zone fire model. Physical modeling and graphical elements in the software combine to create realistic-looking fire, smoke, and extinguishing graphics. The hardware and software components together contribute to a realistic, interactive training experience for firefighters.

Abstract: A method is presented for calculating a force to apply to components in a computer simulation to simulate the effect that an extinguishing agent stream (e.g., water or foam from a nozzle) should have on airflow in the vicinity of the stream, thereby affecting the movement of other components of the simulation. The method is designed to work in real-time as part of a virtual reality, augmented reality, or other real-time 3-D graphics simulation. In addition to the preferred embodiment of calculating forces to apply to a fire and smoke plume, the invention also contemplates calculation of a force to apply to aerosols and particles that are not part of a fire and smoke plume.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for instrumentation of a firefighter's vari-nozzle for motion tracking and measurement of pattern selector and bail handle positions. In the embodiment presented here, brackets and associated hardware attach (1) a position tracking device to the nozzle to measure its 6-DOF (Degrees of Freedom) position and orientation, and (2) potentiometers to measure the angular positions of the two main, moving components (the bail handle and the pattern selector) of the nozzle. The mounts are attached to the brass nozzle with holes drilled into the main body of the nozzle. One application of this instrumentation is control of an augmented reality or virtual reality water stream, or other extinguishing agent. The electronic signals from potentiometers in the instrumentation permit a computer to calculate and display graphical representations of water flow from the nozzle for virtual reality and augmented reality applications.

Abstract: The invention uses fuzzy logic and/or probability distributions to automatically calculate and display the effects of contextual information on the confidence that an object in an image is an object of interest. The goal is to assist in determining the location and type of target objects of interest in that imagery. The imagery can come from any kind of imaging sensor or can be non-sensor imagery (e.g., two-and three-dimensional maps), and can be live or archived imagery. The locations of context objects can be provided by a human or a computer. The resulting set of data, including the original imagery, the locations of context objects, any results from AOD, and predictions about target object type and location, can be combined into a display that helps a human better understand where target object appears in the imagery.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are presented for an augmented reality-based firefighter training system. The system includes hardware for motion tracking, display, and vari-nozzle instrumentation. System software includes a real-time fire model, a layered smoke obscuration model, simulation of an extinguishing agent, and an interface to a zone fire model. Physical modeling and graphical elements in the software combine to create realistic-looking fire, smoke, and extinguishing graphics. The hardware and software components together contribute to a realistic, interactive training experience for firefighters.