Mechanical Fireflies Could Create 3D Displays In The Air

If we have 3D displays in our movies and our TVs, why not the air?

MIT is working on creating 3D displays in the air. Flyfire would create large three dimensional objects in space using miniature helicopters with an attached light. The mini helicopters would function as a pixel, creating a larger display. Right now, it’s mainly theoretical but the ideal state would be a cloud of “smart dust” where the pixels would be tiny and self contained.

But there are a couple of roadblocks in the way. For one, it’s hard to get an object to stay constant in one space for any moment of time. To create the illusion of three dimensions, the hovering pixels can’t float everywhere.

As well, it’s difficult to control thousands of these pixels. Flyfire can control a few pixels but to achieve the face of Mona Lisa, it’s going to take some more computing horsepower.

[via GadgetLab]