On January 15, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) released its 3D Glasses request for information (RFI). Responses are due by 12:00 p.m. Eastern on February 5.
NGA, in support of stereo 3D data production, is seeking information on state-of-the-market capabilities and solutions for NSG analysts using stereo techniques as part of their workflows. The GEOCOM established the Active 3D Goggle Replacement Tiger Team (3DGTT) for NSG members impacted by the impending obsolescence of the NVIDIA 3DVision stereo glasses and R418 graphics drivers. The 3DGTT serves as the forum to select and recommend adequate replacement for these stereo glasses. This RFI is part of the market research activities by the 3DGTT.
The current Image Exploitation Capabilities (IEC) baseline uses NVIDIA 3DVision2 wireless active 3D stereo glasses and companion IR emitter. This technology is end-of-life and will no longer be available on the market. NGA has been unsuccessful in identifying a commercial glasses alternative to the NVIDIA 3D stereo glasses that meet the equivalent functionality and performance while also satisfying the required criterion of a secure supply chain ensuring availability. NVIDIA also announced they will cease development of the 3DVision software drivers. The NVIDIA R418 graphics driver is the last driver to contain the 3DVision driver package. The 3DVision Universal Serial Bus (USB) driver has been decoupled from the graphics driver. Reference Attachment 1 for a use case example of the driver and glasses with a description of the most common configuration in use today.
Use cases for 3D stereo processing with active 3D stereo glasses range from employing active stereo for High Resolution Terrain Elevation (HRTE) data generation to 3D extraction capabilities for Vertical Obstructions data to performing stereo extraction and triangulation for creating precise target coordinates using Digital Point Positioning Data Base (DPPDB) stereo and other precise imagery in support of deliberate and dynamic targeting (contingency/operational planning and current operations).
NGA is interested in both hardware and software capabilities that may address the range of current stereo use cases. These could be hardware-only solutions, including active stereo glasses or passive 3D stereo monitors, or software-only solutions for extracting 3D object data or hardware-software hybrid solutions supporting targeting requirements.
Full information is available here.
Source: SAM
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