No Arabic abstract
Edge Computing exploits computational capabilities deployed at the very edge of the network to support applications with low latency requirements. Such capabilities can reside in small embedded devices that integrate dedicated hardware -- e.g., a GPU -- in a low cost package. But these devices have limited computing capabilities compared to standard server grade equipment. When deploying an Edge Computing based application, understanding whether the available hardware can meet target requirements is key in meeting the expected performance. In this paper, we study the feasibility of deploying Augmented Reality applications using Embedded Edge Devices (EEDs). We compare such deployment approach to one exploiting a standard dedicated server grade machine. Starting from an empirical evaluation of the capabilities of these devices, we propose a simple theoretical model to compare the performance of the two approaches. We then validate such model with NS-3 simulations and study their feasibility. Our results show that there is no one-fits-all solution. If we need to deploy high responsiveness applications, we need a centralized server grade architecture and we can in any case only support very few users. The centralized architecture fails to serve a larger number of users, even when low to mid responsiveness is required. In this case, we need to resort instead to a distributed deployment based on EEDs.
We present a congestion-aware routing solution for indoor evacuation, which produces real-time individual-customized evacuation routes among multiple destinations while keeping tracks of all evacuees locations. A population density map, obtained on-the-fly by aggregating locations of evacuees from user-end Augmented Reality (AR) devices, is used to model the congestion distribution inside a building. To efficiently search the evacuation route among all destinations, a variant of A* algorithm is devised to obtain the optimal solution in a single pass. In a series of simulated studies, we show that the proposed algorithm is more computationally optimized compared to classic path planning algorithms; it generates a more time-efficient evacuation route for each individual that minimizes the overall congestion. A complete system using AR devices is implemented for a pilot study in real-world environments, demonstrating the efficacy of the proposed approach.
In this paper, we present a fully-customized AR display design that considers the users prescription, interpupillary distance, and taste of fashion. A free-form image combiner embedded inside the prescription lens provides augmented images onto the vision-corrected real world. We establish a prescription-embedded AR display optical design method as well as the customization method for individual users. Our design can cover myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia, and allows the eye-contact interaction with privacy protection. A 169$g$ dynamic prototype showed a 40$^circ$ $times$ 20 $^circ$ virtual image with a 23 cpd resolution at center field and 6 mm $times$ 4 mm eye box, with the vision-correction and varifocal (0.5-3$m$) capability.
Fluoroscopic X-ray guidance is a cornerstone for percutaneous orthopaedic surgical procedures. However, two-dimensional observations of the three-dimensional anatomy suffer from the effects of projective simplification. Consequently, many X-ray images from various orientations need to be acquired for the surgeon to accurately assess the spatial relations between the patients anatomy and the surgical tools. In this paper, we present an on-the-fly surgical support system that provides guidance using augmented reality and can be used in quasi-unprepared operating rooms. The proposed system builds upon a multi-modality marker and simultaneous localization and mapping technique to co-calibrate an optical see-through head mounted display to a C-arm fluoroscopy system. Then, annotations on the 2D X-ray images can be rendered as virtual objects in 3D providing surgical guidance. We quantitatively evaluate the components of the proposed system, and finally, design a feasibility study on a semi-anthropomorphic phantom. The accuracy of our system was comparable to the traditional image-guided technique while substantially reducing the number of acquired X-ray images as well as procedure time. Our promising results encourage further research on the interaction between virtual and real objects, that we believe will directly benefit the proposed method. Further, we would like to explore the capabilities of our on-the-fly augmented reality support system in a larger study directed towards common orthopaedic interventions.
This study considers modern surgical navigation systems based on augmented reality technologies. Augmented reality glasses are used to construct holograms of the patients organs from MRI and CT data, subsequently transmitted to the glasses. This, in addition to seeing the actual patient, the surgeon gains visualization inside the patients body (bones, soft tissues, blood vessels, etc.). The solutions developed at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University allow reducing the invasiveness of the procedure and preserving healthy tissues. This also improves the navigation process, making it easier to estimate the location and size of the tumor to be removed. We describe the application of developed systems to different types of surgical operations (removal of a malignant brain tumor, removal of a cyst of the cervical spine). We consider the specifics of novel navigation systems designed for anesthesia, for endoscopic operations. Furthermore, we discuss the construction of novel visualization systems for ultrasound machines. Our findings indicate that the technologies proposed show potential for telemedicine.
We present an early study designed to analyze how city planning and the health of senior citizens can benefit from the use of augmented reality (AR) using Microsofts HoloLens. We also explore whether AR and VR can be used to help city planners receive real-time feedback from citizens, such as the elderly, on virtual plans, allowing for informed decisions to be made before any construction begins.