A Novel 3D Volumetric Display Device Based on NI Single-Board RIO

Bookmark and Share

"The NI Single-Board RIO platform provides the ideal driver for our LEDs
because of its inherent integration with the LabVIEW programming
environment empowered with its dataflow approach, which undoubtedly
helps us quickly implement the different control algorithms, DSP add-ons,
and acquisition entries."
- Youness Lahdili, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Explore the NI Developer

Community

Discover and collaborate on the latest

example code and tutorials with a
worldwide community of engineers and
scientists.
Check out the NI Community

Who is National Instruments?

National Instruments provides a
graphical system design platform for
test, control, and embedded design
applications that is transforming the
way engineers and scientists design,
prototype, and deploy systems.
Learn more about NI

The Challenge:
Developing a display system that can play 3D images,and does not require viewers to wear typical 3D glasses or visual aids.

The Solution:
Building a rotary plate of red, green, blue (RGB) LEDs that is driven by the NI Single-Board RIO embedded control and acquisition
device, and that judiciously commands the color of the LEDs so the images can appear as a solid-colored shape when the plate is
on the move.
Author(s):
Youness Lahdili - Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
The real world is 3D, so consumers are increasingly fascinated by the recent 3D experiences engineered by electronic
companies, but there is still more room for improvement. In line with that, we propose a unique way of displaying true in-motion
3D images based on the human eyes persistence of vision. The 3D image is formed by illuminating a rapidly moving display
plate surface.
This is sometimes referred to as a swept volume display. Persistence of vision is the phenomenon by which an afterimage is
thought to persist for approximately 1/25 of a second on the eye retina. This gives us an idea of the envisioned speed of the
rotating motor used which is around 2000 rpm or the usual speed of a typical PC fan motor.
The 3D solids can be assimilated by the human eye as a seamless color cloud hanging amid translucent free space and visible
to the whole field of viewers without visual aid of any sort, which makes our device an autostereoscopic display.

Overview of Our Techniques

The core of our display device is the laterally rotating rectangular plate that sweeps a cylindrical volume at each revolution. The
desired vertical rotation is at an angular speed that tricks the human eye into perceiving a transparent hollow cylindrical volume.
The plate consists of an array of RGB LEDs along the surface of the plate that are addressable and independently driven by the
NI Single-Board RIO device. When the device is off, the LED appears to be transparent. When it is on, the LED is opaque or
luminous. When the plate is rotating, the LEDs are controlled in a timely manner to re-create a continuous pattern of colored
light within the display space. We can then simulate an infinite constellation of tiny luminous dots by using only a handful of
RGB LEDs.
What really sets this project apart from other volumetric displays is that the plate spinning is continuously monitored and
actuated to leave no chance for the LEDs to be offset from their predicted coordinates. An accurate concurrence of points is
imperative; therefore, we measure real-time velocity and correct the compensate speed of the plate. This feedback control loop
intelligently eliminate image jitter and flicker effects.
Another feature of our project is the use of the fuzzy logic concept. Rather than operating the LEDs in only two states, on or off,
we suggest tuning the LED luminosity in intermediate states that are subtly toned at sub-millimete distances. As a result, each
LED appears to have multiple tiny pitch LEDs within it. This technique reduces the required LED number, and, more importantly,
it gives our 3D images an unrivalled realism and dynamism with crisp pictures. Additionally, we use a series of unprecedented
techniques to render the 3D graphics generated in a more veridical fashion by supplanting a further light- colored layer on top of
the master layer. This helps us purposely vary the spinning speed to adjust the refresh rate, measure the ambient light, and act
accordingly on LED contrasts to prevent eye strain and to enhance visual clarity.
In all, we are not treating the LEDs as a single volumetric pixel (voxel) but as an infinitesimal source of colored light pinned to a
space that synthesizes into nature-like 3D sceneries with perfect integrity and elegant visual effects that are, backed by the
extensive library of IPs and frameworks in NI LabVIEW system design software.

Feasibility of the Display Device With NI Single-Board RIO

The NI Single-Board RIO platform provides the ideal driver for our LEDs because of its inherent integration with the LabVIEW
programming environment empowered with its dataflow approach, which undoubtedly helps us quickly implement the different
control algorithms, DSP add-ons, and acquisition entries. This project can take advantage of the NI Single-Board RIO
capabilities such as real-time processing and deterministic control, which are both crucial factors for the viability and precision of
our project. The embedded FPGA is configured with the LabVIEW FPGA Module to target the vital elements of the display

1/6

www.ni.com

our project. The embedded FPGA is configured with the LabVIEW FPGA Module to target the vital elements of the display
device such as the rotating motor and, the optical sensor of the angular speed, and to orchestrate the illumination of the LEDs.
The fast data processing guaranteed by the NI Single-Board RIO device allows the collection of multicolored LEDs to be
integrated into a high-definition 3D scene, and the abundant I/O line channels offer ample possibilities to acquire or dispatch
data pertaining to the device.
Other top features of our display device include the following:
1. Offer either stand-alone operation or integration in digital networks with NI Single-Board RIO networking features.
2. Platform independence, which helps us achieve cross-compatibility with all computer types and OSs through the RS232 serial
port link if we need to interface to the NI Single-Board RIO device through a PC, .
3. Stable, reliable, 24/7 operation because of the rugged attributes of NI Single-Board RIO and the RGB LEDs chosen which are
also maintenance-free and extremely long-lasting.
4. Minimal power consumption at a constantly high level of illumination.
5. Modular assembly of the display device is possible, and the extension of LEDs panel plates expands the volume covered
while the aspect ratio and motor drive power.
6. An optional integrated audio system with built-in loudspeakers can be devised since we still have vacant ports on the NI
Single-Board RIO device, and generous memory and resource space can be saved for this purpose.
7. Easy operation for novice and un-savvy users is possible because of the intuitive configuration of the running application,
which makes it more user-friendly.
8. Adherence to safety measures, the spinning motor is not harmful. because it features low torque and can be hampered by a
finger; thus, a regular motherboard fan motor is suitable for rotating the plate.

Market Scope of This Project

Overall, this project reveals another side of the technical abilities of NI Single-Board RIO and LabVIEW. This 3D display device
is a value-add for 3D display platforms among electronic and multimedia entertainment consumers but its originality resides in
the new see-through visual experience that it offers at a modest cost while maintaining the quality of the images. The thrilling
360-degrees holographic effects in videos, presentations, and commercial signage messages that seem to hover in the air
certainly draw maximum attention.
Author Information:
Youness Lahdili
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Skudai
81310
Malaysia
Tel: 60177163611
y.lahdili@gmail.com

2/6

www.ni.com

Figure 1. A 3D-Rendered Illustration of Our 3D Volumetric Display Device

3/6

www.ni.com

Figure 2a

4/6

www.ni.com

Figure 2b

5/6

www.ni.com

Figure 2c

Next Steps
Learn More About the NI Single-Board RIO Platform
Download LabVIEW
Legal
This case study (this "case study") was developed by a National Instruments ("NI") customer. THIS CASE STUDY IS PROVIDED "AS IS"
WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND AND SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AS MORE SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN
NI.COM'S TERMS OF USE (http://ni.com/legal/termsofuse/unitedstates/us/).

6/6

www.ni.com