The castAR Kickstarter is live!

[OmniAtlas]

The triangulation show was very informative - 60 mins in jeri talks about the application in flight sim!

Reserving my copy now!

[Perik]

Nice OmniAtlas.

I’ve opted for two glasses myself a couple of weeks ago and I really look forward to test the devices.
Not as soon as Gene though, but more like September next year.

I have a few questions still “in the air”…
One will be about extending the FOV which initially seems to end up around 65 degrees.

Anyway I think this will be a great technology for our hobby.

[geneb]

castAR will certainly make DIY cockpits not only more realistic, but a lot easier to do great visual systems with.

My next from-scratch cockpit is likely going to be a Grob 115. With castAR, the visual system for a bubble canopy is just as simple as it is for something like a Cessna 172.

I know there's a Cessna 172 builder on this forum that's using a real cockpit for his project - castAR would be a perfect fit for him.

g.

[OmniAtlas]

Yes, perhaps the fov could be extended with multiple projectors? Let's say 4 on the glasses?

[geneb]

It's really not necessary.

g.

[OmniAtlas]

Don't you still need/ want peripheral cues? e.g. FOV > 120 degrees.

BTW, this pico cam they have setup has got me thinking -- if they have it down to such a lost cost, can't I just buy 6 to 10 of these, mount them on a cockpit shell and edge blend?

[geneb]

I don't know how much peripheral vision is available, if there's any at all. However, I think that even if there isn't any, it brings so much to the table that it's not much of a loss.

A friend of mine has built a wonderful 737 cockpit shell. He's space-constrained, so doing a "great" visual system just isn't possible. With castAR, he doesn't need the space. He can just put retro-reflective "windows" into the existing window frames and he's done. With the tracking target located in the center, the display he sees will automatically be offset to the correct position[*]. Someone sitting in the FO seat will have a similar offset, but to the other side.

It's my understanding that the current generation of castAR will deliver a 2560x720 (800?) display and if they're short throw projectors you could get a pretty big image in a small space.

Contribute the Kickstarter and get a pair. You'll like it.

* This is assuming that someone writes an interface for FSX or other sims to deal with the castAR. Since TrackIR has developed a "generic" method of doing this, I see zero issue in doing the same with castAR.

g.

[OmniAtlas]

I have invested in the 2nd tier glasses with the VR and real AR shades included.

Its going to be a long wait!

[iwik]

Hi All,
Yes I too am tempted and will go for the Pro kit.
Gene: Have you had a go with system yourself. If so whats your gut feeling compared to say the Oculus product.
Thanks for keeping us in the loop.

Les

[geneb]

I haven't had the opportunity to check it out in person.

I've avoided the Rift due to the low resolution and the limited tracking. That and not being able to see the cockpit I'm in basically means I'm flying with a joypad, which would just suck.

That being said, I think the castAR is going to be the superior product.

1. The head tracking is sub-millimeter and uses IR leds instead of gyros. This gives you a full 6-DOF.
2. The IR tracking module design will be released. It's electronically very simple and inexpensive (5 IR LEDs and a .70c uController)
3. at 2560x720, you'll get a good experience if you use it for normal computer work. You wouldn't need multiple monitors, just enough RR fabric to cover the space you want to use.
4. They've got a VR clip on that will give you a similar effect as the Rift provides...

g.