Holograms, robots and the blue corridor
Passing through the soothing blue glow of a giant neon tube sets the tone perfectly for outsourcer Satyam's R&D facility in Chennai, south-east India. This sci-fi-style entrance ushers visitors into a world of holographic projectors and robotic assistants, which Satyam's researchers believe will shape our lives in years to come.
About 40 per cent of the designs in the centre are aimed at the automotive and aerospace industries.
Photo credit: Satyam
Stepping out of the tube, visitors immediately find themselves standing on a giant image, a prototype for a projector that will eventually allow people to interact with 3D holograms, pictured here.
A grid of 64 sensors monitors the surface of the image, playing piano notes as a person moves across its surface.
The finished 3D version will pair a holographic projector with grids of sonar sensors that measure a person's movement and position within the virtual space.
Researchers hope that eventually the kit will allow people to step into a holographic image and interact with it, picking up virtual balls and opening virtual doors.
The holographic system will use multiple sensor grids to build a virtual 3D version of a person by firing sonar at them and measuring how long it takes to bounce off their body, allowing it to co-ordinate their actions with the holographic image.
A major military power is already considering using the system for a virtual battle simulator, and there is also interest from a large player in the aerospace industry, the company said.
Photo credit: Satyam
The screen shows schematics for Satyam's virtual car HeraFxV, named after the Greek goddess of marriage.
It is part of Satyam's virtual vehicle development platform, which it will use to sell components and car parts to manufacturers.
Every part of the high-end car will be fully tested in a virtual environment to ensure it will work as well as a physical prototype. Satyam expects parts of the car to find their way to market within two years.
The company is already in talks with a major car manufacturer about using some of its designs.
Satyam is also developing its own in-car networking and car domain system - dot auto - that promises social networking, mapping of nearby shops and services and the ability to pre-pay for goods such as food and petrol.
Photo credit: Satyam
This friendly face is a Dr Robot e-100 model that lives within a glass case at the R&D labs.
Various researchers and engineers work around the edge of the large atrium showcasing the labs' latest technologies.
Photo credit: Satyam