Spatial Augmented Reality as a Visualization Support for Engineering Analysis

Projector-based Spatial Augmented Reality (P-SAR) is a technology that allows to alter the external appearance of a physical object by means of an almost infinite variety of computer-generated contents. Thanks to the adoption of colored lights, a projected image acquires coherent spatial properties with respect to the data it represents; this has been demonstrated to facilitate the users’ interpretation of complex information. The current paper presents the development of a P-SAR system aiming at supporting the real-time visualization and the inspection of engineering simulation results. Particular attention is paid on detailing the algorithms necessary for the generation of the color maps to be displayed on the prototype’s surface. These are interpolated starting from a discrete array of output data coming from a generic simulation to resemble the configuration of sensors commonly adopted in real experimental setups. An illustrative case study applied to CFD analysis is finally discussed to show the applicability of such immersive environments in engineering fields that require to perform testing activities with equipment like wind tunnels.