Barco partners with A.R.T. to give Indiana University a new 3-D MoVETM Lite virtual reality lab
Indianapolis, IN – Following one year of successful partnering in Europe, Barco and Advanced Realtime Tracking (A.R.T.) have announced their first joint project in the US: a Barco MoVE Lite system equipped with IR optical tracking deployed at Indiana University–Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI).
“This system represents a major leap forward in our high-end visualization facilities at IUPUI and is the capstone of our University-wide visualization infrastructure,” says Dr. Eric Wernert, Senior Scientist and Manager of Indiana University’s Advanced Visualization Lab (AVL). “The capabilities and flexibility of the MoVE Lite and A.R.T tracking will enhance our existing visualization activities and are certain to spur many new applications in research, education, and creative activity across the schools and departments of Indiana University.”
“It was surely a challenge to equip the nearly 30-foot wide, reconfigurable MoVE Lite with high-precision optical tracking, but thanks to the close cooperation with our technology partner Barco the setup worked very well,” says Dr. Armin Weiss, co-managing director of A.R.T. “I am sure that this impressive ‘virtual reality theatre’ will enable many important and exciting VR applications to be realized at IUPUI.”
"Barco’s MoVE Lite is a key tool in collaborative, immersive visualization," says Ken Hunter, Barco’s Director of Virtual and Augmented Reality Sales. "The versatility of this system enables individuals as well as 20-member audiences to engage in research and development with minimal re-configuration time."
Barco's MoVE (Motorized multi-purpose Virtual Environment) Lite is powered by Barco’s Galaxy projection system and is designed for large-scale stereoscopic viewing. It allows researchers to perform scientific or engineering analysis alongside colleagues, educators to convey complex spatial concepts to students, and artists to create immersive virtual environments for participatory audiences. The MoVE Lite system purchased by Indiana University will run a variety of university-developed and open-source software, and it will be used for a breadth of research, teaching, and creative applications in a wide range of fields, including engineering, medicine, geographic information analysis, computer science, informatics, and new media. Noted Wernert, “One of the greatest strengths of the AVL is its diversity of users and application areas. This new system will allow us to customize the display and the input devices to better fit the specific needs of each group of users.”
IUPUI´s MoVE Lite is equipped with an eight-camera A.R.T. tracking system, combining ARTtrack1 and ARTtrack2 IR cameras and allowing tracking in the I-Space mode, as well as in the CADWall mode. No recalibration is necessary after moving the projection screens.
In the CADWall or flat configuration, the large 29.5’ x 8’ (9 x 2.5 meters) screen allows a full auditorium to view a panoramic stereoscopic presentation; the 45-degree, partially immersive configuration can accommodate up to 20 viewers. In fully immersive, cubic I-Space configuration, up to five people can work together, enabling collaborative research with multi-disciplinary teams.
The projection for Indiana University’s MoVE Lite is driven by four active-stereo Barco Galaxy 3-chip DLP™ projectors for high-brightness, high-contrast, and high-resolution active stereoscopic images. The system includes three rear-screen projectors and one front-floor projector.
A.R.T´s tracking system, the “ARTtrack & Dtrack”, uses lightweight, wireless targets made from retro-reflecting (passive) spherical markers. Simultaneous six degree-of freedom tracking of up to 20 items (subjects or objects) is possible. The system allows the use of custom targets, as well as active targets that may be used for special applications. A.R.T.’s Flystick provides interaction and navigation in the virtual environment and collaborative work with up to four Flysticks can be supported by the system.
The reconfigurable MoVE Lite system for Indiana University has been developed, built, and integrated by Barco Simulation US in Xenia, Ohio, and it reflects Barco’s commitment to develop and deliver totally integrated visualization solutions to the virtual and augmented reality market. Barco's virtual reality systems are used for a wide range of applications, such as medical training, scientific research, virtual prototyping, auto design, manufacturing (robotics), oil and gas exploration, and architecture.
About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, provides visualization and display solutions for professional markets. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco is active worldwide and has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barco is quoted on Euronext Brussels and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company (Euronext: BAR; Reuters: BARBt.BR; Bloomberg: BAR BB). For more information, visit www.barco.com.
About A.R.T.
Advanced Realtime Tracking GmbH, established in 1999 and located in southern Germany, is an independent company specializing in optical tracking systems for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). For further information, see http://www.ar-tracking.de
About Indiana University
Indiana University (www.indiana.edu) is one of the oldest state universities in the Midwest, and also one of the largest universities in the United States, with more than 110,000 students, faculty and staff on eight campuses. Indiana University has a growing national and international reputation in the areas of information technology (IT) and advanced networking. IU's extensive IT environment is comprised of high performance computing resources, facilities for massive data storage, and advanced visualization laboratories that enable leading scientists to visualize, analyze and store vast amounts of data and information.
Barco is the worldwide exclusive distributor of A.R.T. tracking systems for the VR and AR market. MoVE is a trademark of Barco. ARTtrack and DTrack are trademarks of A.R.T.
