The WAY-GO torch is an intelligent flash light which can be used for navigation and search and rescue. To do this it uses a GPS, an AHRS and a modifies LCOS pico projector.
The WAY-GO Torch can be operated in
Wander mode
Diagnostic mode
One can set the source and destination
Head lock stabilization mode
Dijkstra path mode
Flash light mode
The idea of using Dikstra with active weights. This torch lights can be used to show different paths during different times of the day.In the morning the path having more tree cover can be given a low weight such that the person walking gets greater protection from sun and in the night the shortest path without tree cover can be chosen. This can be achieved by knowing the GPS time.
By knowing the GPS time one can actively change weights of different paths. Say in the morning a longer path but with more tree cover can be chosen so that the user gets more protection from the sun where as in the night a shorter path with no or less tree cover can be given a smaller weight.
In wander mode one can rome around the campus and the torch light will show you new places as you pass by them .This is especially good if you are new to the campus and just want to explore a bit. You dont need a tour guide, the torch will just show information about the places. Right now it uses GPS and compares it to the previously stored check points of the campus in it.Here in IIIT 24.
Well the idea of video stabilization has been there for a some time now. You can see it in Iphone 4S where the optical flow from the input device your camera is used to stabilize the video feed. One can also use inertial sensors to stabilize the photo taken. But here the stabilization has been implemented on the output device the projector itself. The IMU roll and pitch data is used to move the 2Degree of freedom servo setup to stabilize the projector. We call it the head lock stable projection mode.
For calculating a short path using Dijkstra about 25 GPS waypoints in the campus were noted and stored as a map. An atmega 128 parses the GPS and IMU data and calculates the path real time.
Narration Inspired by Dr.Michio Kaku’s Narration in Big Think Series. Also this was possible because I was encouraged by my primary school teacher right from my 1st class to model and build new systems. He was the one who helped drive the research attitude in me. Thanks to T. Ravindernath my childhood teacher who defined my research life today.
References:
iLamps: Geometrically aware and self configuring projectors , Camera culture group, MIT media lab
Navi Beam : Indoor assistance and Navigation for shopping malls through projector phones
2) Open source flash light- HexBright
3)The robotic lamp from the MIT media lab (fluid interfaces group)
5)Microsoft future productivity vision (Aug23rd,2009)
6)Path-Light from Haifa University
8)Bike Laser from Emily brighton
9)Path-Light paper in Museums and Web Conf 2011
10)Projecting necessary meta data ,”Sixth sense talk” ,Dr.Pattie Maes
This project would not have been possible with out the
1)Initial sponsor of LEDs from CREE.
2)Also thank you TI for your free samples.
Media:
1)Uses a custom modified PAL /NTSC video lib for Arduino platform.
2)Sparkfun’s Razor IMU firmware custom modified for 2DOF servo stabilization
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