<LARS>: Light Augmented Reality System
Overview
LARS (Light Augmented Reality System) is a standalone framework engineered to provide seamless interaction between physical collectives and virtual environments. As an end-to-end pipeline, it integrates high-speed detection, real-time tracking, and dynamic projection into a single, cohesive architecture. Built on a robust Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, the system enables researchers to bypass complex hardware setups and jump straight into experimentation. The core of LARS lies in its marker-free tracking engine.
Functional Summary
LARS (Light Augmented Reality System) is a cross-platform, open-source framework that leverages Extended Reality (XR) to seamlessly merge physical and virtual worlds. It projects dynamic visual objects—gradients, trails, and fields—directly into the environment to enable Stigmergy (indirect communication) between robots.
Closed-Loop Interaction: Robots Reacting to Virtual Pheromones
Marker-Free Tracking
Based on the ARK algorithm, LARS provides robust, real-time tracking for 100+ robots without tags or hardware modifications.
Virtual Stigmergy
Turns “invisible” collective dynamics into tangible experiences by projecting virtual pheromones that robots can sense and modify.
Key Capability
Enables Closed-Loop Interaction where physical robots react to projected virtual objects, and virtual agents react to physical obstacles, bridging the reality gap.
Why LARS?
Reproducibility
Standardizes experimental setups by replacing physical arenas with projected, controllable virtual environments.
Education
Makes abstract collective behaviors observable and interactive for students and public engagement.
Flexibility
Supports diverse platforms (Kilobots, Thymio, e-puck) with no hardware modifications required.
Example Scenarios
Collective Decision-Making
Visually tracking 100+ robots as they reach consensus in a noisy environment. LARS projects options and visualizes the group’s “choice” in real-time.
Interactive Swarm Demos
Allowing visitors to “steer” a swarm using hand gestures or projected cues, demonstrating complex systems concepts like self-organization and emergence.
MVC Architecture
LARS follows a classic Model-View-Controller pattern to ensure modularity and real-time performance.
Technical Stack & Skills