Key Technologies for Enhancing Ultra-High-Quality Astronomical Images in Dome Projection Systems and Their Applications
Tam Kam Weng, Sio Hon Pan, Si Man Chon, Ting Sio Weng, Leong Iok Po
University of Macau, Macao Science Center Limited, Tomorrow Technology Company Limited
This project targets the planetarium industry, proposing four key technologies to enhance the ultra-high-quality astronomical images in dome projection systems. Innovations include: halving the number of projectors to reduce hardware energy consumption by about 65%; achieving 200 trillion FLOPS GPU servers for real-time visualization of ultra-high-quality astronomical data; reducing optical transmission nodes between servers by 75% to improve video synchronization; and enabling dome monitoring by a drone with the use of conformal RFID tags for indoor wireless positioning to reduce technical personnel costs by 60%. The technological level is at the forefront of the world and leading in China. The planetarium has received approximately 400,000 visitors, provided over 45,000 educational outreach sessions for educational and welfare institutions, exceeding ten million MOP income, contributing to Macao's economic diversification and enhancing the scientific literacy of local youth. The ultra-high-definition astronomical images have been affirmed by The China Manned Space Program delegation, and the project has cultivated multiple graduate and undergraduate students, winning international and national awards, playing a significant role in Macao's scientific, educational, and industrial development.
Fig 1 The Impact of Video Synchronization on the Dome Screen | a. Unsynchronized (~150ms); b. Synchronized
Fig 2 The Impact of Warping and Blending Zones on the Dome Screen | a. Suboptimal (~13cm); b. Ideal