BrightMarker: 3D Printed Fluorescent Markers for Object Tracking

In this tutorial, we show how to embed and detect BrightMarkers for interactive applications. BrightMarker was published at 2023 ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST). Learn more about the project here.

_{By Mustafa Doga Dogan*, Raul Garcia-Martin*†, Patrick William Haertel*, Jamison John O'Keefe*, Ahmad Taka*, Akarsh Aurora*, Raul Sanchez-Reillo†, and Stefanie Mueller*}

^{*MIT and †Universidad Carlos III de Madrid}

^{BrightMarkers are embedded into objects using a NIR-fluorescent filament. (a) When viewed with a NIR camera with the matching filter, the markers appear with high contrast, which allows them to be tracked even when the objects are in motion, e.g., on a conveyor belt. (b) BrightMarker can be used to fabricate custom wearables for tracking, or (c) for transforming physical controls into precise input methods in mixed reality environments.}

If you use BrightMarker as part of your research, you should cite it as follows:

^{Mustafa Doga Dogan, Raul Garcia-Martin, Patrick William Haertel, Jamison John O'Keefe, Ahmad Taka, Akarsh Aurora, Raul Sanchez-Reillo, and Stefanie Mueller. 2023. BrightMarker: 3D Printed Fluorescent Markers for Object Tracking. In Proceedings of the 36th Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST '23). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, Article 55, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1145/3586183.3606758}

#1 CAD: Adding BrightMarkers into objects using Blender plugin

BrightMarker Embedding Interface (BEI)

BEI is a Blender add-on that determines optimal locations/distributions on 3D models and embeds codes in them. Developed with Blender 3.4 Python API.

You may watch the following video tutorial and/or read the written instructions below (Mac users should read through the instructions as there are some differences in placing the "Arucos" folder).

Setup

1. Install BEI.

To install BEI, first download BEI.py. Next, open Blender, navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Add-ons and click "Install...". Select BEI.py in your files, and the add-on will be installed. Make sure it's enabled by checking the box to the left of its name.

2. Enable LoopTools.

BEI uses a Blender add-on called LoopTools. Navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Add-ons, search "Mesh: LoopTools" (make sure that "Enabled Add-ons Only" is not checked or LoopTools won't show up), and check the box next to its name to enable it.

3. Disable Auto Perspective.

Navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> Navigation and make sure that Auto -> Perspective is not checked.

4. Add ArUcos folder to Blender files

PC/Windows: copy the "Arucos" folder to your working directory. To check your working directory, open Blender, navigate to the Scripting tab, and run the following code:

import os
print(os.getcwd())

In Blender, click Window -> Toggle System Console. You should see a print statement with the directory in which you should place the "Arucos" folder. In most cases, this will be your Blender program files, which are located at "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender 3.4" on Windows.

Mac: you can put the "Arucos" folder anywhere. While using the plugin, if you choose to embed ArUcos rather than using your own imported file(s), you will see an option to "Use full path (Mac)". Check this box, and input the path to your "Arucos" folder. To easily determine this path, drag and drop your "Arucos" folder into a terminal. Copy and paste this path into the "Path to 'Arucos' folder" input box that shows up after you check the previous "Use full path (Mac)" box.

Usage

Import your model (any 3D file type) into Blender. If you would like to embed a custom code, import it (.svg) as well. Note that the code will import as a collection of curves. Ensure that Blender is in Object Mode, and select the model you would like to embed in. Note that setting the origin of your model to the center of its base can help with code alignment.

Navigate to Object -> BrightMarker Embedding Interface.

Now you should see a popup interface with four input categories to ensure your markers are embedded as desired.

1. Marker Locations

   • Use manually selected points: if you would like to use this setting, you must first enter Edit Mode, select individual faces on the model at which markers should be embedded, then re-enter Object Mode.
   • Use uniformly distributed points: this mode will find the best places on the model to uniformly distribute markers. You can choose to distribute on the whole object (with or without base or selected regions), or a selected region (select this region of faces on this model in Edit Mode, then re-enter Object Mode to run the BEI) based on a fixed total number of codes, or a fixed distance between codes.

2. Marker Content

   • Use fixed ArUco ID: this will embed a chosen ArUco ID for all of your markers.
   • Use sequential ArUco IDs: this will embed increasing ArUco IDs (starting from a chosen ID) for each marker.
   • Use custom marker: this will embed a custom code imported as a .svg into Blender for all of your markers.

3. Marker Specifications

   • Use suggested thicknesses for object color: this allows you to choose the color filament that your object will be printed with to automatically determine the optimal marker and shell thicknesses.
   • Use custom values: this allows you to choose your own shell thickness (how deep in the model the marker is embedded) and marker thickness (how thick the marker is).
   • Side length: this sets the side length of all of the markers to be embedded (e.g. a side length of 10 means your markers will be 10 x 10).

4. Marker Alignment

   • Align marker bottom edge: this aligns the bottom edge of each marker to a desired plane with an optional angle offset.

Once you're satisfied with your settings, click OK and see the results! If you wish to export STLs, you must export the model with the air gaps as one STL, and just the codes as another STL.

If you'd like to test BEI and create the objects used in the paper, see our example objects.

#2 3D Printing

IR-Fluorescent Filament by DIC

The marker should be printed using the IR-fluorescent filament by DIC. You can get this filament from DIC by contacting their Composite Material Products Division’s Composite Material Marketing Group at comm-marketing@ma.dic.co.jp and dic-fc-tokyo@ma.dic.co.jp.

Exporting from Blender to Cura

Once you have embedded your codes into an object with BEI, you can export them from Blender as STLs so that they can be prepared for 3D printing with a slicer such as Cura. To export the shell of your object (this is what will be printed in normal ABS/PLA filament), select your original model as well as all the Air Gaps generated by BEI.

Navigate to the export window by selecting: File -> Export -> Stl. Then, make sure you check Include: Selection Only as shown below. Name the file and export.

Repeat this process for the Code Pieces generated by BEI. (If you have more than one you can export them all at once.)

Once you have two STLs, one with the code pieces and the other with the air gaps, you are ready to import into Cura.

Setting up the model in Cura

Open the files in Cura. Select the model of the code, and choose "Print Selected Model with Extruder 2". This is how the code is printed using the fluorescent filament.

Once the proper extruder is selected, we need to merge the models. This is easy in Cura. Simply select both models, right click, and choose Merge Models as shown below.

Make sure Extruder 1 and Extruder 2 are setup corresponding to the filaments you are using. The extruder used for the fluorescent filament (we use extruder 2) should be set to Generic ABS.

If you would like to use the same Cura settings we used, download this Cura Profile. This profile uses dynamic layer heights so that the codes can be as detailed as possible, but the rest of the model can print at a decent speed. There are also many other parameters that have been fine-tuned for our use.

To add the profile to Cura go to Preferences -> Configure Cura -> Profiles -> Import. This profile is designed to be used with Generic ABS in Extruder 1, but you can fine-tune the profile to your needs. Once the settings are right for your printer, click Slice.

Now you can print the sliced file using your 3D printer!

#3 Image processing with OpenCV

• Coming soon!
• Once you have 3D printed your object embedding your QR or AurUco BrightMarker, you are ready to detect and read it.

Detecting and reading the codes

• You can use Terminal or PyCharm to run the decoder demos both for QR and ArUco.

• Have Python 3 and pip3 pre-installed on your system (version 3.10 or greater should work just fine).

• Run the following command in the Terminal, in case you do not have these packages available in your environment:

  pip install numpy opencv-contrib-python dbr

  or in PyCharm navigate to File > Settings > Project > Python Interpreter > Install packages (click the plus sign) and install the following packages:

  • numpy
  • opencv-contrib-python
  • dbr

Instructions

• Navigate to > .py
• Open the file in an editor
• Navigate to line 22 and confirm that CAMERA_STREAM is the same as the IR webcam ID
  • CAMERA_STREAM = 1 works, depending on the computer. On some computers, it can be 0, 1, or 2, etc. based on whether there is one or more internal webcams.
• You should see a window popup on your screen if everything went alright

#4 Mobile detection with OnePlus 8 Pro

• Coming soon!

#5 AR/VR detection module

Communicating detection results to an AR/VR application

We use the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to communicate BrightMarker(s) data to a Unity project.

You will need 3 things:

1. A Unity Project that is properly set up for your use case (AR, VR, Quest, Hololens, etc.).
2. A code detection script (which can run with an IR camera with the proper filter).
3. A data-receiving script (running in your Unity hierarchy).

Items 2 and 3 have been provided in this repository (see below).

First, drag UDPReceive.cs into an empty GameObject in your Unity scene. Note the two variables at the top of the script:

private bool USE_UNITY_PLAY_MODE = false;
private string IP_ADDRESS = "123.45.67.890";

If you intend to use Quest Link (for Meta Quest headsets) or holographic remoting (for Hololens headsets), set the first variable to 'true' and ignore the second. Quest Link and holographic remoting involve streaming Unity's play mode to a headset over Wi-Fi or via USB; in other words, you never build your application, only stream it to the headset. Note that you must run the detection script on the same computer that is running Unity for this method to work.

• Quest Link with Unity tutorial
• Hololens holographic remoting with Unity tutorial

If you would like to build your Unity application to the headset, set the first variable to false, and set the second to the IP address of the computer which will send the detection results to the stand-alone application (via Wi-Fi).

Two example code detection scripts can be found in this repository, one for position detection, and the other z-rotation detection.

At the top of both scripts, you will see two variables:

UDP_IP_ADDRESS = "127.0.0.2"
CAMERA_INPUT = 0

If you intend to use the Unity play mode (Quest Link, holographic remoting), leave the first variable as is. Otherwise, if you intend to use a standalone app, change the IP address to that of the headset you're building the app to.

Important: if you are going the standalone route, make sure that your headset and the computer running the detection script are on the same Wi-Fi network!

The second variable is the input number for your IR camera. If 0 doesn't work, try 1, 2, etc. until the script runs with the IR camera (instead of, for example, your integrated webcam).

It's useful to create a script that interprets the data being received by the UDPReceive.cs script. In Unity, create a new script, and add it to an empty GameObject (or any GameObject). Declare the following variable in the class constructor:

public UDPReceive udpReceive;

In the Unity component panel, assign the udpReceive variable to UDPReceive.cs. Now, in the Update() method of your script, write:

string data = udpReceive.data;
Debug.Log(data);

This script will now output your data into the console. You can remove this Debug.log() statement, it's only there so that you can see what your data looks like and then decide how you want to parse it. For example, if what you see printed on the console is this...

ArUco ID: 3, X-coord: 10, Y-coord: 20, Z-coord: 30

...then these might be the next lines you add to your Update() method:

string[] parts = data.Split(',');
int aruco_id = float.Parse(parts[0][10:]);
float x_position = float.Parse(data[1][10:]);
float y_position = float.Parse(data[2][10:]);
float z_position = float.Parse(data[3][10:]);

And now you can use these variables as you like in your project!

CAD for Meta Quest Attachment

Overview

The 3D printed assembly is designed to enhance your Meta Quest VR experience. Adding IR detection to VR!

Components

The assembly consists of the following 3D printed parts:

1. Bottom This part is the base holding the IR light PCB, 9V battery, Camera.

2. Top_Plate This part is the cover for bottom.

3. Strap This is the part that allows the attachment for the Oculus.

Files

The docs folder contains the 3D design files for each part in STL format, which is compatible with most 3D printers. Assembly

Assembly Instructions

1. 3D Printing: Print all parts using your 3D printer. We recommend a layer height of 0.2mm and a 20% infill. PLA filament was used for the prototypes, but other materials may also be suitable.

2. Preparation: Remove any support material from the 3D printed parts. You may also want to sand the parts for a smoother finish.

3. Assembly: Attach the Bottom Case to the Top plate using (screws). Next, attach the Strap to the assembly from step 1 using (glue).

4. Attachment: Attach the assembled unit to the Quest

IR Light PCB

Materials

Quantity	References	Footprint
1	LM317L_SO8	TO-220-3_Horizontal_TabDown
1	LM555xM	DIP-8_W7.62mm_LongPads
1	Pwr	Switch_SPDT_CnK_JS102011JCQN_9x3.6mm_P2.5mm
2	10uF	C_1206
2	10nF	C_1206
2	1N4148	D_1206_3216Metric_Pad1.42x1.75mm_HandSolder
1	LED	IR_LED
1	MOSFET_N-CH_30V_1.7A	SOT-23
1	IR_CAM	IR_CAM
1	12.5	R_1206
1	1K	R_1206
1	10K	Potentiometer_Bourns_3386P_Vertical
1	Power	TerminalBlock_4Ucon_1x02_P3.50mm_Horizontal

Board

Front

Back

How to Export KiCad PCB Files for PCBWay

Follow these steps to take your KiCad PCB design files and send them to PCBWay for manufacturing.

1. Download Board

Board Files

2. Generate Gerber Files

Gerber files are the industry-standard file format that PCB manufacturers use to manufacture your PCB.

• Open your project in KiCad's PCB layout editor (Pcbnew).
• Click on File > Plot to open the plot window.
• Select Gerber as the Plot format.
• Ensure that all relevant layers are selected (e.g., Front Copper, Back Copper, Front SilkS, Back SilkS, Front Mask, Back Mask, and Edge Cuts).
• Click Plot to generate the Gerber files.

3. Generate Drill Files

Drill files are used by the PCB manufacturer to know where to drill holes in the PCB.

• In the Plot window, go to the Drill Files tab.
• Select the appropriate options for your design (usually the default options are fine).
• Click Generate Drill File.
• Then click Close to close the Plot window.

4. Prepare for Upload

• Collect all the generated Gerber and drill files into one folder.
• Compress this folder into a .zip file for upload.

5. Upload to PCBWay

• Go to the PCBWay website and log into your account.
• Click PCB Instant Quote > Quick-order PCB.
• Click Add your Gerber file and select the .zip file you just created.
• Fill in the relevant details about your board (size, quantity, layers, color, etc.).
• Add the order to your cart and proceed to checkout.
• PCBWay will review the files and confirm if they can build it or ask for any necessary changes.
• After their confirmation, you can pay for your order.