Remote Viewing
When we need to manipulate
something remotely, we use cameras to see, what goes on, and project images
from these cameras on the screens.
However, to gain desirable degree
of intuitive analysis of the scenery, we need a special sensory device.
First, to imitate walking around
the object, we will use a few identical viewing devices providing different
views. We will switch between these devices, as needed.
Each such viewing device should
support a number of capabilities.
Second, to gain stereo viewing, we will
use a pair of cameras looking at the same object, and we will use a type of
“gaggles”, where images from different cameras of the pair are presented to
different eyes. The distance between centers of the lens of these cameras
should be close to the distance between pupils of a person.
Third, to imitate moving of the
head to gain better understanding of the scene, we will allow some movement of
this pair of cameras relative to the “base” where they are mounted.
Forth, to focus a camera on an
object, we will move its lens back-and-force. We will focus both cameras of the
assembly simultaneously and we will tilt cameras accordingly to focus both on
the same point in space. We will do it in synchrony to avoid causing unpleasant
feelings.
Hence, we need an assembly of two
cameras placed at a fixed distance. Each camera could be tilted and its lens
could be moved to focus on a point in space. This focusing should be done in
synchrony for both cameras of the assembly, the way eyes operate. A few such
assemblies should be used, that an operator could switch between them to get
better view of the area of operations. Images should be passed from an active
assembly to “gaggles” providing different views to different eyes.
This assembly should be mounted on
a base in the way that it is possible to move its center in all three
dimensions and it is possible to turn its “line of view” in both possible
dimensions.
We need convenient and intuitive
way to control this system, leaving both hands free to do some work.
One mechanism would require placing
of radio transmitters on the “gaggles” and radio receivers somewhere in the space,
where the operator sits. This mechanism would allow detection of the direction,
in which the operator points his face and the place of his head. His “line of
view” could be used to set the “line of view” of the active assembly. The
position of his head in the space should be used to set position of the
two-camera assembly on its base.
In addition, an operator could use
feet to control viewing system. With his feet, an operator would move pedals.
Some pedals would have springs and thus requiring perpetual application of
pressure, as in the case of car’s accelerator, others operating as switches,
through discrete kicks on them.
We have three types of operations:
-
switching from one assembly to another,
-
orienting the line of view of the assembly to point in
proper direction,
-
focusing the
cameras of the assembly at a particular point on the line of view (moving the
lens and tilting the cameras).
We should enumerate all two-camera
assemblies in some intuitive way and use a kick by a foot to a lever in both
directions to switch assemblies according to this enumeration.
Orienting the line of view requires
setting of two parameters; placing focus of view on a particular point on this
line of view requires setting of the third parameter.
Ideally, it would be nice to have a
few different ways of control of viewing for an operator to choose from.
Alexander Liss 4/30/2020