TII's Secure Systems Research Center (SSRC) in Abu Dhabi has launched a motion capture (MOCAP) facility for testing drones in augmented reality, the first such facility outside the US. SSRC's MOCAP facility will simulate environments like Abu Dhabi city to enable high-precision ground truth for experiments. The facility will allow the modelling and operation of a cloud-based secure autonomous system of drones. Why it matters: This positions the UAE as a leader in drone security research, enabling advanced testing and development of secure drone systems for various critical applications.
KAUST students Daniya Boges and Dr. Corrado Calì developed an AR tool for medical applications, leading to the startup IntraVides. The project was supported by KAUST's Smart Health Initiative, which provided access to AR/VR facilities and seed funding through the KAUST Innovation Fund. The KAUST Entrepreneurship Center also helped incubate the idea from concept to business. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's role in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare through strategic investments in advanced technology and dedicated support programs.
This article discusses the evolution of mobile extended reality (MEX) and its potential to revolutionize urban interaction. It highlights the convergence of augmented and virtual reality technologies for mobile usage. A novel approach to 3D models, characterized as urban situated models or “3D-plus-time” (4D.City), is introduced. Why it matters: The development of MEX and 4D.City could significantly enhance user experience and analog-digital convergence in urban environments, offering new possibilities for human-computer interaction.
Eyal Ofek of Microsoft Research is researching how to augment users' senses and use scene understanding to create more inclusive workspaces, especially for remote work. His work involves designing applications flexible to changing environments and personalized to each user. Ofek's background includes computer vision, augmented reality, and leading research groups at Microsoft. Why it matters: This research aims to improve remote collaboration and adapt technology to individual user needs, which could enhance productivity and inclusivity in the evolving work landscape of the GCC region.
Dezhen Song from Texas A&M University presented a talk on Co-Modality Active sensing and Perception (C-MAP) for robotics, covering sensor fusion for autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, and remote environmental monitoring. The talk highlighted lessons learned in sensor fusion using autonomous motorcycles and NASA Robonaut as examples. Recent works in robotic remote environment monitoring, especially focused on subsurface surface void and pipeline mapping were discussed. Why it matters: This research explores sensor fusion techniques to enhance robot perception, which could improve the robustness and capabilities of autonomous systems developed and deployed in the Middle East, particularly in challenging environments.