Visual Coherence for Augmented Reality

Abstract

Introduction. The 2020s were marked by the emergence of a new generation of computer simulators using augmented reality. One of the promising advantages of augmented reality technology is the ability to safely simulate hazardous situations real-world. A prerequisite for realizing this advantage is to provide the visual coherence of augmented reality scenes: virtual objects must be indistinguishable from real ones. All IT leaders consider augmented reality as a next “big wave”; thus, the visual coherence is becoming a key issue for IT in general. However, it is in aerospace applications that the visual coherence has already acquired practical significance. An example is Boeing's development of an augmented reality flight simulator, which began in 2022. Visual coherence is a complex problem, one of the aspects of which is to provide the correct overall coloration of virtual objects in an augmented reality scene. The objective of the research was to develop a new method of such tinting.Materials and Methods. The developed method (called spectral transplantation) uses two-dimensional spectral image transformations.Results. A spectral transplantation technology is proposed that provides direct transfer of color, brightness, and contrast characteristics from the real background to virtual objects. An algorithm for automatic selection of the optimal type of spectral transformation has been developed.Discussion and Conclusion. Being a fully automatic process without recording lighting conditions, spectral transplantation solves a number of complex problems of visual coherence. Spectral transplantation can be a valuable addition to other methods of providing visual coherence.