1.  Introduction

This is a portion of an application that can render 3D models of objects by tracking an image target. There can be multiple objects and the user can cycle through them. It is built to show users models of artefacts that may relate to ones in a museum.

2. Description of application

This application creates a 3D model of artefacts in a museum. It is designed to give the audience a view of previous generations of space suits using 3D models. Museums don’t always show all the iterations or previous builds of items on display such as space suits. This application will give the users an interactive experience through which they can learn about the previous iterations of space suits.

The application also provides additional information in the form of text to provide more details about the 3D models to the users. This is significant in terms of the scenario; sightseeing. While there could be guides or brochures that describe to the visitors why the artefacts in a museum are significant historic records, it would be more immersive and interesting for the users to scan certain images close to the artefacts that would not only let them interact with the artefacts but also provide more information on other artefacts that may be related to the one on display.

This kind of application could be built without the use of AR technology. It could simply be a mobile application that scans QR codes leading to a website that has more information about the artefact. However, this misses the aspect of interactivity for the application. Almost all museums have rules against touching the items on display but AR applications can allow the users to rotate the model of the artefact allowing the user to examine the artefact which does not interrupt the train of curiosity that viewers may have.

3. Interaction Design

The application has a design that the users can interact with. There is a button that toggles through the different models in the applications. These models also have descriptions and change when the model is changed. For the purposes of convenience when trying to demonstrate the application, the models have been made smaller. Actual production versions would have life-sized models and the image targets would be printed and displayed appropriately.

This interaction is important for the users to be able to toggle through different artefacts and get more information.

Future generations of this application could let the users rotate or trigger animations that may be useful in demonstrating how certain artefacts would have worked when they were being used.

Below is a storyboard displaying the use case of this application.

4. Technical Development

The application was built using unity 3D and Vuforia engine that allows for augmented reality on the camera and image tracking. It is a windows application that uses a webcam to track an image and project a 3D model relative to it.

Under each of the models, there is a button labelled “Next” which can be pressed to get to the next model. Above each model, there are descriptions of the space suits.

5. Description of 3D models

There are 3 models used for this application all sourced from Sketchfab. The thumbnails below give a glimpse of each of the models.

The first model is a futuristic suit used in the project to portray that the technology can be used to show models of future build of a space suit.

Source: (Duane's Mind, 2019).

The second model is a modern-day space suit that could be a generation older than ones astronauts may be using today.

Source: (Federico.Villani, 2022)

The third model is a simple model of a space suit that is used in the project to show an earlier model of a space suit.

Source: (IgorSholopov, 2020)

6. References

• Duane's Mind (2019). Armoured Space suit - Download Free 3D model by Duane’s Mind (@duanesmind). [online] sketchfab.com. Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/armoured-space-suit-35ebc12be60f47b38fb1061f3830... [Accessed 21 Aug. 2022].
• Federico.Villani (2022). Space astronaut - Space Suit - Download Free 3D model by Federico.Villani. [online] sketchfab.com. Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/space-astronaut-space-suit-abe1b40d002f4912a4441... [Accessed 21 Aug. 2022]. 
•  IgorSholopov (2020). Space suit - Download Free 3D model by IgorSholopov. [online] sketchfab.com. Available at: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/space-suit-bdc42075279746dab4c8b54784276a20 [Accessed 21 Aug. 2022].