Proposed System Model for Android Augmented Reality System in Malaysia Military Operations – Unit Positions

. An Android system or application will be as information devices to soldier unit in gathering or distributing their information between the allied units. Augmented reality interfaces other than provides a user friendly and intuitive; it will create awareness and better understanding when on certain military operations risk is at the high level.

At Proceedings of Interservice / Industry Training, Simulation & Education Conference (I/ITSEC)

2002, on December 2 to 5 at Orlando, Florida, Mark A. Livingston and teams has been present paper “An Augmented Reality System for Military Operations in Urban Terrain” [1], as proposed idea in developing augmented reality technology in military operational areas. Metzger (1993) also proposing a concept to develop augmented reality technology within improvising military equipments, so called as an earlier idea which has been discussed [2]. The idea explore in improving soldier’s helmet visor to display add-ons information in augmented and virtual format.

Over the years, there have several ideas been proposed in manipulating augmented and virtual reality within development of defenses technology. Improving in military areas always leading any form of research and development technology. Majority governments will prepare high budget to invest in establish proper defences technology to the country, in ensuring national’s security always at the optimum level.

In 2009, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) proposed Android as an operating system to be using as foundation in development military applications [3]. Advantages using Android for military use can be list as below:

1. Low cost: compared to devices that need to be custom designed and developed for military operations even rugged compare to Android devices.
2. Soldier familiarity: Android devices have been developed based on commercial use and significantly easy to familiar. It wills benefits in terms of training costs.
3. Relatively large storage space: Android devices equipped with quite large scale of spaces and expendables through external storage card.
4. Built-in rechargeable battery: Android devices come with rechargeable battery and easy to exchange with spare batteries.

Augmented Reality

Augmented reality system is a combination of real object with virtual object, enhancement of computer-generated content which is tied on specific locations, activities and objects. Milgram et al. (1994) proposed augmented reality as a part of component in Reality-Virtuality Continuum and grow wider in virtual reality research, since the concept evolved as an extension or variation from previous model.

Fig.1. Reality-Virtuality Continuum [Milgram et al. (1994)]

Henrysson et al. (2004) proposed definition for augmented reality is a combination between real contexts with relevance visual information generated by computer. Visual information could be variety of text, images, audios and videos as additional information to the main subject.

However, definition for augmented reality could be different from vary researchers. Every outcome will depend on their specific scope of the research as long sharing same elements and principles to practice. 

Nevertheless, Azuma et al. (1997), Kaufmann (2003) and Zhou et al. (2008) agreed that any implementation of augmented reality should meet the objectives as below:

1. Real-world context and virtual elements generated should be combined together.
2. Context should be in real time and interactive.
3. Visual display been registered in form of three dimensional (3D) perspective.

Hollerer et al. (2004) defines augmented reality is a combination of real environment and computer-generated information, within the real environment, real time where by virtual objects and physical objects were aligned together. Ludwig et al. (2005) in their papers has defined, augmented reality is a human and computer interaction (HCI) with virtual objects been added to real senses through camera within the real time. Zhou et al. (2008) agreed that augmented reality should rely on the theory where virtual imagery generated by computer exactly overlay physical objects within the real time.

Android

Android is an open source operating system which using Linux as a core. Android is a wholly owned brand by Google since taking over on 2005, mainly focus and designed for mobile devices such as smart phones, tablet computers and gadgets, either touch screen or keypad [13]. Gong et al. (2008) defined the Android platform were composed of the operating system, middleware, application’s software and user interface [14]. It also found that Android platform was first mobile operating system and software platform built for open source and complete mobile device. Android users represent 68.8% in 2012 market share where consist of 497.1 million units have been shipment around the world [15]. It has been a phenomenon since the first debut of Android which keeps increasing from quarter to quarter. Android come as an open source and user-friendly function make it most chosen either to developer or user, whereby as a key factor makes Android lead the mobile phone operating system market share. Regardless the hardware capability, Android operating system itself supports wide range functionality in terms of input and output devices, sensors, communication media, connectivity and keeps growing [16]. This will be as key factor application’s developer interested to venture in Android development.

Related Works

Development augmented reality technology in military areas has been explored widely for the past decades. However still minimal in exploring augmented reality on android platform whereby suitable been using in defence technology. Research and development on android augmented reality as a military equipment will promise lot of benefits to the governments and communities. As been discussed before, any development on android platform will not incur huge investment, system familiarity, expendable and come with backup resources for mobility. This development will explore certain aspects such as application for android platform with augmented reality technology and GIS structure in handling the data.

Proposed System Model

Core for this proposed system model is on GIS. All data will be stored in GIS, whereby a data center can be access through the android devices. This system model will show how the modules handle the data flow on the entire software environment.

GIS Module. GIS module for this purpose will be used Quantum GIS (QGIS) as an open source GIS that support to run for android. QGIS supports vary of format such as vector, raster and database formats.

Update Module. Latitude and longitude for specific instruction will be sent to store in GIS. Latitude and longitude will be defined specifically through the android devices. In Android Application Programming Interface (API), android.location package will be used to establish the location by activate through Global Positioning System (GPS).

There will be three (3) different items in update the location.

• Soldier unit location - To update own location, system will define current device location which been hold by the soldier through the GPS.
• Target location - Soldier will focus target location using the camera. From the camera, system will calculate target latitude and longitude with based on horizontal angle of view in degrees and also current latitude and longitude for the devices. Android API android.hardware package will be used for this purpose.
• Enemy location - Same with target location, rather than using camera to show target location it will show enemy location. It will bring same concept and calculation as target location.

Communicate Module. Every single soldier unit want to communicate in the between devices need to clarify the specific instruction in terms of to avoid any hassle. There have two (2) items to consider before initiate the communication.

• Request location - Each soldier unit can request location for specific unit on their current location.
• Order instruction - On certain level of authority, soldier unit has role to initiate an order to certain soldier unit.

Tracing Module. When application has been run on the android devices, soldier unit can view from camera to trace the parameter. From the devices will collect data from GIS to show information for any allied unit location, target location and enemy location.

On this module, augmented reality technology will be implementing as core function. Real context will be mixed together with visual object to show any information from the GIS.

Conclusion

Android Augmented Reality System applications are key features in military technologies and future studies are expected to emphasize and advance more application development on Android platform. This paper has been proposed system model in development of an Android platform, whereby it can be has a stepping stone into development military technologies on the Android platform. This application has been developed with meet certain aspects whereby development in an Android environment with augmented reality as the core function. The GIS will be as a main data handler and producing the result. The application will make data can be manage in a proper way and establish a better communication between the units. Even the application just a part of any military operation been taken, it will contribute in terms of make the operation smooth, execute in proper way with recorded data.

Reference

Shukran M. A. M., Kamaruzaman M., Sharif W. S. S., Fadhil M. S., Ariffin M. S., (2014)      “Proposed System Model for Android Augmented Reality System in Malaysia Military Operations – Unit Positions”. Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols 548-549 (2014) pp 1493-1497