ASTOR: an autostereoscopic optical see-through augmented reality system

We present a novel autostereoscopic optical see-through system for augmented reality (AR). It uses a transparent holographic optical element (HOE) to separate the views produced by two, or more, digital projectors. It is a minimally intrusive AR system that does not require the user to wear special glasses or any other equipment, since the user would see different images depending on the point of view. The HOE itself is a thin glass plate or plastic film that can easily be incorporated into other surfaces, such as a window. The technology offers great flexibility, allowing the projectors to be placed where they are the least intrusive. ASTOR's capability of sporadic AR visualization is currently ideal for smaller physical workspaces, such as our prototype setup in an industrial environment.