LPVR Support for Varjo XR-4

01/12/2023
, , , , , Blog, Event, Media, Product

Varjo Releases Mixed Reality Headset XR-4

A leap forward in XR comes from our partners at Varjo, who have been pushing what is possible in VR and AR for the past few years.

Today, they announced their new flagship headset, the XR-4! We have worked with them to ensure that our LPVR software series is ready for it from the start.

The XR-4 features unmatched visual fidelity not only of VR content (expanded to a field-of-view of 120×105 deg), but also of mixed-reality video pass-through, reaching a pixel density of 51ppd in the central viewing area. Light sensors further improve the quality of immersion by adjusting the image display to external lighting conditions.

LPVR Support is Ready

All this is great, but what is a headset without a world to immerse in? What is a VR racetrack without feeling the real motions of the car? Varjo clearly understood and prepared, so they collaborated with us to get LPVR ready for the launch of the XR-4.

We have everything prepared for you!

  • Use your existing camera systems and props to augment the virtual world.
  • Use the industrial-grade precision of ART, OptiTrack, and Vicon tracking systems with the Varjo XR-4 and our custom marker holders.
  • Integrate the HMD with your race-car simulator or fighter jet platform.
  • Do all of this with the XR-4. LPVR-CAD, and LPVR-DUO will make sure that you are tracked perfectly.

 

*We offer full solutions of state-of-the-art tracking systems and content using the Varjo XR-4.
For specific supported HMD models, please contact us for detailed information.

LPVR-AIR Demo at SIGGRAPH 2023

28/08/2023
, , , , , Blog, Event

Ready – Steady – Go!

We had an exciting week at the Siggraph 2023 computer graphics conference in Los Angeles showcasing LPVR-AIR! Together with optical tracking systems maker Optitrack and content creator Meptik we developed a real-time racing experience using trikes. On these trikes exhibition attendees were able to race in a small concourse we set up at the exhibition site. Each trike rider we equipped with a Meta Quest virtual reality headset showing a Mario Kart-like track using our LPVR-AIR tracking and real-time streaming solution.

The twist: We attached an Optitrack active marker target to each HMD so we were able to have multiple players move in a globally referenced tracking volume. With LPVR-AIR we don’t render the 3D content on the HMDs themselves, but wirelessly transmit it from specialized rendering PCs. This allows us to display high polygon-count content on the HMDs without exceeding the limited computing power of the standalone headsets.

We are still working on a dedicated product page for LPVR-AIR, but already created a solid amount of documentation how to use the solution. Have a look at it here. The document also gives an insight into the specialities and limitations of the system.

Use-Cases Outside Gaming

LPVR series solutions are the industry standard for large-area VR and AR tracking. They enable consumer and professional headsets to work in conjunction with professional-grade tracking and motion capture systems, leveraging their power both in terms of precision and coverage of large areas. While in this demonstration, the trikes were tracked from the outside, we also enable headset tracking completely contained inside moving platforms such as simulators or cars. We are constantly developing and updating it according to our customers’ needs.

Thanks to everybody who stopped by and pedaled their way around the course. Great riding, well done!

LPVR-DUO Featured at Unity for Industry Japan Conference

20/12/2020
Blog, Event

Unity for Industry Conference – XRは次のステージへ

LPVR-DUO has been featured at the Unity for Industry online conference in Japan. TOYOTA project manager Koichi Kayano introduced LPVR-DUO with Varjo XR-1 and ART Smarttrack 3 for in-car augmented reality (see the slide above).

Besides explaining the fundamental functional principle of LPVR-DUO inside a moving vehicle – using a fusion of HMD IMU data, vehicle-fixed inertial measurements and outside-in optical tracking information – Mr. Kayano presented videos of content for a potential end-user application:

Based on a heads-up display-like visualization, TOYOTA’s implementation shows navigation and speed information to the driver. The images below show two driving situations with a virtual dashboard augmentation overlay.

AR Head-Mounted Display vs. Heads-Up Display

This use-case leads us to a discussions of the differences between an HMD-based visualization solution and a heads-up display (HUD) that is e.g. fixed stationary to the top of a car’s console. While putting on a head mounted display does require a minor additional effort by the driver, there are several advantages of using a wearable device in this scenario.

Content can be displayed at any location in the car, from projecting content onto the dashboard, the middle console, the side windows etc. A heads-up display works only in one specific spot.

As the HMD shows information separately to the left and right eye of the driver, we can display three-dimensional images. This allows for accurate placement of objects in 3D space. The correct positioning within the field of view of the driver is essential for safety relevant data. In case of a hazardous situation detected by a car’s sensor array the driver will know exactly where the danger is occurring from.

These are just two of many aspects that set HMD-based augmented reality apart from a heads-up display. The fact that large corporations like TOYOTA are starting to investigate this specific topic shows that the application of augmented reality in the car will be an important feature for the future of mobility.

NOTE: Image contents courtesy of TOYOTA Motor Corporation.

Meet Xikaku

14/07/2017
Blog, Event

We are proud to present our new partner company Xikaku. Xikaku is a US company located in Los Angeles, focusing on the development of technology related to the field of augmented reality (AR). Visit their website here.

Our VR Headset In The News

20/09/2016
, , Blog, Event, Media
Our booth caught TIA's eye.

Our booth caught TIA’s eye.

Tech in Asia Tokyo 2016 is over but we still get great responses from the fair. It was such an amazing day, thank you once more! Moreover TIA reported on us again, this time in their round-up of interesting booths. It was our new Virtual Reality headset that caught their eye because it made our booth “more attractive and interactive”. Indeed, many visitors were eager to get their hands on it.

If you would like to know more about how we use sensor fusion for VR headset tracking, watch our demo video over here. This is a just a preview, we will give you more updates in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, read the round-up coverage on the Tech in Asia blog over here.

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