WASHINGTON: NASA wants to use hologram technology to help explore Mars but this try is less science fiction and more science fact.
NASA has partnered with Microsoft to use its new HoloLens augmented reality visor system to develop a piece of software called OnSight, which will rely on data gathered by the Curiosity rover in order to create 3D simulations of the Red Planet. The US space agency has high hopes that the new system will allow virtual exploration of the surface of Mars by scientists across the globe from the comfort of their offices without having to risk the long, arduous trek to the distant planet.
There’s more than just a novel 3D virtual experience for scientists, though. NASA is designing the software to promote interactivity by allowing users to place virtual “flags” on the environment that could translate to actual markers for direct exploration. A physical rover on the surface of the planet could be connected to the OnSight system and receive commands through these flags placed by virtual researchers, instructing the rover to move to certain geographical areas or direct its soil collection efforts at a particular location.
In fact, NASA is angling to have the OnSight program loaded up and running for the Curiosity rover by the end of 2015, which would be roughly when Microsoft releases HoloLens as a commercial product alongside Windows 10, the newest iteration of its flagship operating system. HoloLens itself has integrated hardware within it running the operating system in order to provide the computing power needed to project realistic 3D holographic images through the lenses on its visor, which tricks the viewer’s brain into thinking it’s looking at three-dimensional objects and not just a 2D projection on a sheet of transparent plastic.
NASA has been working with Microsoft on this project for several years now in secret; it’s only with the Redmond, Washington based tech company revealing the existence of the holographic 3D visor that the US space agency has revealed its involvement with the initiative to the general public.
