Haptic autonomous vortex cannon with real time human tracking

Abstract

The Haptic Autonomous Vortex Cannon project investigates the design and build of a vortex cannon that is capable of detecting humans, via computer based vision, and ring poloidal vortex rings towards them. This device will be used to demonstrate various areas of engineering and computer science such as fluid mechanics, control theory and human detection in an entertaining manner. Formation and propagation of vortex rings was thoroughly investigated through a series of experiments, simulations and mathematical models. The results of this investigation were used in the design and optimisation of the cannon geometry. Human detection was also investigated and implemented using both natural interaction and computer vision.