University of Liverpool creates mixed reality projection system with Digital Projection

In order to see the content from three different perspectives, on an immersive floor-to-ceiling 3D screen, ST Engineering Antycip has provided the Digital Innovation facilities with an Insight Satellite MLS 4K HFR projector 360 of Digital Projection.

The facilities of Digital Innovation of the Liverpool University, a new center for emerging technologies such as autonomous systems, data analysis and artificial intelligence, have been equipped with the equipment 3D projection of Digital Projection supplied by ST Engineering Antycip.

Part of the Institute of Digital Engineering and Autonomous Systems (Ideas) from the University, the Digital Innovation facilities of 1.500 m², include several research laboratories, Immersive viewing and work-rest spaces for academic staff.

Target3D, specialists in motion capture who had already been in charge of building two of the Digital Innovation laboratories, They contacted the simulation solutions provider, analysis, modeling, visualization and virtual reality ST Engineering Antycip, to provide and configure a state-of-the-art projection system for the mixed reality laboratory. This contains the first active stereo projection equipment in the UK capable of showing multiple points of view with a single track.

Robert Jeffries, Target3D commercial director, explains that the integrator decided to collaborate with ST Engineering Antycip on the project “because of its knowledge in complex projection and Cave installations (immersive virtual reality environment)”.

In order to obtain a result that would allow users to see their own content, from three different perspectives, on an immersive floor-to-ceiling 3D screen, ST Engineering Antycip supplied a projector Insight Satellite MLS 4K HFR 360, of the range of systems Satellite Modular Laser System (MLS) de Digital Projection, with technology MultiView.

El sistema Satellite MLS, explains John Mould, head of business development at ST Engineering Antycip, “brings an ability that virtual reality visualization solutions have been wanting since their birth: the ability to enable true collaboration within the virtual world. The possibility for three individuals to immerse themselves in the same 3D content and navigate freely, perceiving the corrected image for their own eyes, means that each user can focus on the exact same place in space and no longer have to share and follow the main user”.

For the mixed reality laboratory ST Engineering Antycip has supplied a solution that includes haptic gloves, virtual reality headsets and a space sound stadium. This has been built with two Satellite MLS modules of 10.000 rack lumens, three PC-based imagers with GPU Nvidia Quadro RTX 6000, a custom made 5" rear projection screen×2,63 meters and 30 pairs of 3D glasses Wolfon high speed.

Matt Horwood from Digital Projection explains that the exclusive design of the Insight Satellite MLS 4K HFR 360, with a very compact size, low noise and great flexibility, solved the logistical challenges of digital innovation facilities, with limited space in the rear projection room.

John Mold comments that the Satellite MLS projector represents an opportunity to operate a native, high lumen 4K laser projector, without the requirement of single-phase power supply 32 amp to operate the projection system.

“This has been made possible by the non-traditional approach of decoupling the laser light source from the projector chassis so that the two can be powered separately.”, “making standard power supplies power the projection head and laser light modules separated and managed within the equipment frame.”.

In addition, discusses how the advantage of this approach is that it reduces the operational noise resulting from the projection system while eliminating much of the expelled heat, that must be managed. This configuration allows the dimensions of the projection head unit to be more compact, addressing different mounting approaches with complete orientation flexibility.

In addition to working with a small space, The fact that it was located on the first floor also posed a challenge for the ST Engineering Antycip team..

“The installation had to be carried out within a space that was not at ground level, being therefore less accessible for the discharge of solid materials”, continues Mold. “The final location of the room forced us to propose a flexible screen surface that could be transported to that level. The client decided that the rear projection space should be physically separate from the main viewing space, a decision that was made after the contract was awarded to integrate the screen more effectively. Collaborating with all parties, we managed to find a solution by expanding the mechanical structures and substrates to achieve that partition”.

Horwood assures that the success of the University of Liverpool project is the inheritance of the versatility of the Satellite MLS system, which is ideal for installations where space is a problem, as well as for multi-sided Cave installations.

“I can see a multitude of projects benefiting from Digital Projection's Satellite MLS system, especially three or four CAVE installations with four sides (MultiView or standard stereo). The RGB laser source also improves the user experience through better color saturation and greater uniformity”.

In the same way, Mold assures that “the same installation could be used for multiple different applications.”, increasing productivity; or to allow new experiences, how to create three prototypes or virtual designs that could be exchanged as easily as the time it takes to change glasses between engineers.

“For leisure and training”, duck, “virtual walks could be created through an existing location but generating three different sets of data, each separated in time, and the public could opt for the glasses to instantly see the past, the present or access a possible future, and all these experiences would show up on the surface simultaneously.

Par Ashley Keeler, Technical Director of Target3D, What the new Digital Innovation facilities at the University of Liverpool offer “is something pioneering in terms of technology.”, as well as his ability to bring collaborative research to Liverpool”.