SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
- Notice Date
- 12/2/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541330
— Engineering Services
- Contracting Office
- RDECOM Contracting Center - Aberdeen (RDECOM-CC), ATTN: AMSSB-ACC-A, 4118 Susquehanna Avenue, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005-3013
- ZIP Code
- 21005-3013
- Solicitation Number
- W91CRB-11-R-0RFI
- Response Due
- 1/7/2011
- Archive Date
- 3/8/2011
- Point of Contact
- Richard Boast, 407-208-3290
- E-Mail Address
-
RDECOM Contracting Center - Aberdeen (RDECOM-CC)
(richard.boast1@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- REQUEST FOR INFORMATION Three Dimensional and Holographic Display Systems Technology Roadmap and Current Market Survey Medical Simulation Applications Purpose for the Request for Information (RFI): This is not a solicitation for contract. The purpose of this request for information (RFI) is to survey Industry, Academia and Other Government Agencies (OGA) in order to collect information and data that would be useful for an assessment of the current technological level present in the display market as well as the development of a comprehensive technology roadmap for the development of holographic and 3-D display capabilities with specific application to medical simulation domain. Companies, universities and agencies interested in pursuing future research and development opportunities with the U.S. Army are invited to respond to this RFI. [NOTE: If travelling to Orlando, in the near future, capability briefings and technical interchange meetings with the Government are possible, with sufficient advanced notice. The Government is not responsible for any cost incurred]. The Roadmap will be a planning tool that addresses research, development, technology insertion, production, fielding, and effective use of 3-d and holographic display systems for medical simulation and training. Upon completion, the Roadmap will be a living document that will support: * Identification of R&D trends within private industry, academia and other government agencies, in the field of augmented reality and related technologies. * US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) requirements writers in the assessment of current and future army training requirements and identification of technology gaps and shortfalls. * US Army Medical Command, AMEDD Center and School, and other government medical instructional organizations in supplementing curriculum with current display technologies * US Army Research, Development & Engineering Command (RDECOM) Science & Technology (S&T) managers in developing suitable and effective display solutions that address identified technology shortfalls. * US Army's planning, funding and future implementation of Army Technology Objectives (ATOs), Science and Technology Objectives (STOs), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, Technology Demonstrations (TDs), etc. in this technology area. * Open dialogue for the leveraging of internal research and development (IR&D) efforts of industry, academia and other government agencies, towards current and future Army Force Operating Capabilities and Technology Shortfalls. This survey covers a seven year planning, programming, budgeting, and execution period including FY10 (Current Year), FY11 (Next Year) and period FY12 through FY17 (Future Years Defense Plan). Research Vision: Current holographic and 3-d technology is hindered in the reliance on the use of glasses to achieve a 3-d effect, or having large 'stage-like' displays using mirrors to create a hologram. The Army is interested in 3-d and/or holographic displays which are unencumbered by glasses or bulky display configurations. The vision of the research is to an autostereoscopic, fully parallax system with sufficient resolution and refresh rate in order to properly display high-fidelity medical images, both dynamic and stationary, to supplement current medical curriculum. Background: The 3-D and holographic displays currently being developed will place a new capability into the hands of the Soldier, with uses including mission planning, debriefing, or simulation and training. Currently, static holograms, or Tactical Digital Holograms (TDH), have been developed which allow Soldiers to visualize 3-D environments. The additional capabilities of a dynamic display, entitled the Urban Photonic Sandtable Display (UPSD), will allow for moving objects and the manipulation of virtual objects by the user. Both the static and dynamic image projections are viewable in three-dimensions without the use of glasses or other viewing device. Additionally, the image projections are fully parallax, meaning the perceived image changes as the viewing position changes. Both the static holograms and the dynamic 3-D display (D3D) have potential uses within a variety of domains including the medical domain. Incorporating medical imaging data and anatomical models will support the training of Combat Doctors, Combat Medics, and Combat Lifesavers. Current research focuses upon a) development of next generation devices for the intuitive and team based understanding of complex datasets and b) the display of high-fidelity medical content in order to supplement the curriculum of current medical personnel. In the future, interaction with the D3D display, including positional and haptic feedback, will be developed. The research being done will build upon earlier research done by DARPA, which initiated the topic of research and developed the initial proof of concept under the 5 year Urban Photonic Sandtable Display (UPSD) program. The research currently being conducted will further explore the use of holographic displays within the medical domain. Program Objective: The Army seeks to explore methods of displaying 3D virtual objects (including medical imaging data, anatomical models, artist representations of human anatomy and physiology, etc...) to augment medical curriculum in the classroom. The capability to rapidly incorporate a variety of medical images (CT, MRI, openGL based models, etc...) into the display modality is ideal. Dynamic displays that can display motion of tissues and/or medical instruments are sought as well as static displays. Further, the capability to interact with the hologram / 3-d image is sought, utilizing existing or developing positional and haptics technology. The resulting technology roadmap will support RDECOM's overall medical simulation objective, which is to improve the technology used during medical training at all levels, ranging from Combat Life Saver through Medical Doctors. Transitioning of targeted system and subsystem components to other military technology and acquisition programs is also an important objective. Notional R&D Capability Objectives and Timeline: Threshold (1 - 2 Years): 3-d / holographic display prototype with the ability to display medical content Objective (3 - 5 Years): 3-d / holographic display with the ability to display numerous different medical image formats, combined with positional feedback and limited haptic interaction capabilities Long Range End-State Objective (5+ Years): 3-d / holographic display with the ability to display any medical content with full haptic and positional interaction In the near future, these concepts and technologies would potentially allow for the training of anatomy and physiology. With further research, the capability to train medical procedures, including haptic feedback, using these technologies could be developed. Planned CORE R&D Topics: Based on past research efforts, the Army has identified several broad research topics that will be beneficial in incorporating 3-d and holographic displays into medical training: * 3-D / Holographic Displays Investigate technologies allowing for display of 3-d / holographic medical content. The displays can be table-top, wall mounted, hand held, or other form factor. These displays should ideally be fully parallax and auto-stereoscopic. The displays should have a high resolution and rapid refresh rate, capable of displaying accurate anatomical models. The displays should be intuitive in use and operation should be achievable for most users without significant training. * Incorporation of Medical Content into 3-D / Holographic Displays Investigate middleware solutions which will allow rapid integration of a variety of medical imaging formats to be visualized using advanced 3-d / holographic displays. Variants include CT, MRI, fMRI, ultrasound, DOT, and others. Anatomical models based in openGL or other graphics platform should be displayable without changes to the existing models software. * Human Performance and Training Effectiveness. Investigate techniques and programs of experimentation on human perception resultant from 3-d and holographic information presentation. Issues may include research on design of the human system interface; prevalence of simulator sickness or other side effects, especially as a function of system characteristics or conditions of use; strategies for using 3-d / holographic technologies in medical simulation and training, and their effectiveness in both skill acquisition and transfer; fidelity requirements for effective training and transfer, etc. * Haptic Feedback and Positional Sensor Fusion with Holographic Displays Haptic feedback technology is able to give a user tactile feedback from a virtual object. Incorporating haptic feedback technology with positional sensors will allow a user to interact with a hologram, manipulating the object with instruments or their hands. The fusion of haptics, positional sensors, and holographic displays would be very beneficial for simulation and training applications, including advanced surgical simulations. Industry, Academia and OGA Response Guidelines: The following are suggested guidelines for the type of information that would be most useful in the development of the U.S. Army's Market Survey and 3-D / Holographic Technology Roadmap: 1. Provide information that describes your company or organization's background, capabilities, and areas of expertise. 2. Describe your company or organization's recent research, developments, existing prototypes and systems fielded to the military or sold in the commercial market. What specific military training application would be best supported by your R&D, prototypes and systems? Provide brochures, spec sheets, pictures and video clips of the system in use. 3. Describe your expertise in each or any of the Army's "Planned CORE Research Topic" areas. Describe where your internal research and development (IR&D) is headed over the next 7 years (FY '11 - FY '17). Identify the level of research by its level of maturity (technology readiness level) and/or research category, e.g. Basic Research (6.1), Applied Research (6.2); Advanced Research (6.3) and beyond. 4. Reference and/or provide recently published papers that address aspects of AR research that would be important for the Army to review. Response Deadline - January 7, 2011 Submissions via email should be sent to: Michelle.kalphat@us.army.mil Submissions via the USPS or other service should be sent to: Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) Simulation & Training Technology Center (STTC) ATTN: Ms. Michelle Kalphat, 12423 Research Parkway Orlando, FL 32826-3274 For security reasons, please DO NOT submit material on memory devices that interface to USB ports, e.g. thumb drives, etc. Submit information on compact disks (CD) and/or Digital Video Disks (DVD) in a PDF, Microsoft Word 2003 or Microsoft Word 2007 format. This is not a solicitation for a contract. Development and publication of a technology roadmap does not constitute Army / RDECOM/STTC direction to start any contractual efforts. However, industry, academia and other government agencies are encouraged to participate in this survey and to provide any type and amount of information deemed appropriate. The Government representative will provide feedback to all submissions. Government POC for this action is Ms. Michelle Kalphat, S&T Manager, 407-384-3862 Key Word Search: Holograms, holographic displays, holography, 3-d displays, table-top display, autostereoscopic, parallax, medical imaging, anatomical models, anatomy models, virtual reality, virtual human anatomy, human performance, training effectiveness, simulation sickness, haptics, haptic feedback, positional sensors
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/notices/3c8707e2c17d3ee4a5b84bfd70a2f311)
- Place of Performance
- Address: RDECOM Contracting Center - STTC (RDECOM-CCRD-AP-BC) ATTN: CCRD-AP-BC, 12423 Research Parkway Orlando FL
- Zip Code: 32826-3274
- Zip Code: 32826-3274
- Record
- SN02337705-W 20101204/101202234534-3c8707e2c17d3ee4a5b84bfd70a2f311 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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