LPVR Middleware a Full Solution for AR / VR

17/08/2019
, , Blog, Product

Introducing LPVR Middleware

Building on the technology we developed for our IMU sensors and large scale VR tracking systems, we have created a full motion tracking and rendering pipeline for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications.

The LPVR middleware is a full solution for AR / VR that enables headset manufacturers to easily create a state-of-the-art visualization pipeline customized to their product. Specifically our solution offers the following features:

    • Flexible zero-latency tracking adaptable to any combination of IMU and optical tracking
    • Rendering pipeline with motion prediction, late latching and asynchronous timewarp functionality
    • Calibration algorithms for optical parameters (lens distortion, optical see-through calibration)
    • Full integration in commonly used driver frameworks like OpenVR and OpenXR
    • Specific algorithms and tools to enable VR / AR in vehicles (car, plane etc.) or motion simulators
Overview of LPVR Middleware Functionality

Application of LPVR Middleware to In-Car VR / AR

The tracking backend of the LPVR middleware solution for VR and AR is especially advanced in the aspect that it allows the flexible combination of multiple optical systems and inertial measurement units (IMUs) for combined position and orientation tracking. Specifically it enables the de-coupling of the head motion of a user and the motion of a vehicle the user might be riding in, such as a car or airplane.

As shown in the illustration below, in this way the interior of a vehicle can be displayed as static relative to the user, while the scenery in the environment of the vehicle moves with vehicle motion.

Illustration of In-car VR Installation

For any application of augmented reality or virtual reality application in a moving vehicle, this functionality is essential to provide an immersive experience to the user. LP-Research is the industry leader for providing customized sensor fusion solutions for augmented and virtual reality.

If you have interest in this solution, please contact us to start discussing your applications case.

LPMS Operator’s Manual Update

14/08/2019
Blog, Product

It’s been a long time, but finally we have updated our reference manual to the latest generation of sensors.

The manual is accessible through our documentation & support page or directly from here.

Below is a list of the most important updates, some of which are fixes that customers have asked for for quite a while:

  • Removed hardware specific parts. These are now covered in the quick start manuals.
  • Corrected scaling factors for all non-floating-point data transmission modes.
  • Corrected error in description of reset modes.
  • Moved to-be-deprecated LpSensor detail description to appendix.
  • Added list with APIs for direct sensor programming. OpenZen is to replace LpSensor.

iOS Support for LPMS-B2

06/04/2018
Blog, Product

LPMS-B2, besides Bluetooth classic, also supports Bluetooth 4 / Bluetooth Low Energy. This allows us to connect the sensor to Apple mobile devices such as the iPad, iPhone or the Apple watch. We recently have created a library that enables development of applications supporting LPMS-B2 on these devices.

The library can be accessed via our open source repository.

The repository contains a skeleton application that shows usage of the most basic parts of the library. The library itself is contained in the following files:

LpmsB2.m
LpmsB2.h
LpmsBData.m
LpmsBData.h

A sensor object is initialized and connected using the follwoing code:

#import "LpmsB2.h"
#import "LpmsBData.h"
..
CBPeripheral *peripheral;
CBCentralManager *centralManager;
..
LpmsB2 *myLpmsB2;
myLpmsB2 = [[LpmsB2 alloc] init];
[myLpmsB2 connect:centralManager Address:peripheral];

More coming soon..

LPVR Manual & VIVE Pro Holder Prototype

02/04/2018
Blog, Product, Use Cases

LPVR Quick Start Guide

We have written a quick start guide for the LP VR system. The guide describes the assembly of the VIVE marker holder and the installation/usage of the LPVR SteamVR driver. The guide at the moment doesn’t contain information about the new VIVE Pro holder, but this will be added later.

Download the guide from here: LpvrGettingStarted20180402.pdf

VIVE Pro Sensor Holder

We have been working on the development of a optical marker/sensor holder for the VIVE Pro for a few weeks. It is not completely finished yet, but below is a photo of a prototype.

VIVE Pro with IMU and markers

Large-scale VR Application Case: the Holodeck Control Center

22/03/2018
, , , Product, Use Cases

The AUDI Holodeck

LPVR interaction

Our large-scale VR solution allows any SteamVR-based (e.g. Unity, Unreal, VRED) Virtual Reality software to seamlessly use the HTC VIVE headset together with most large-room tracking systems available on the market (OptiTrack, Vicon, ART). It enables easy configuration and fits into the SteamVR framework, minimizing the effort needed to port applications to large rooms.

One of our first users, Lightshape, have recently released a video showing what they built with our technology.  They call it the Holodeck Control Center, an application which creates multi-user collaborative VR spaces. In it users can communicate and see the same scene whether they are the same real room or in different locations. The installation showcased in the video is used by German car maker Audi to study cars that haven’t been built yet.

Our technology is essential in order to get the best VR experience possible on the 15m × 15m of the main VR surface, combining optical tracking data and IMU measurements to provide precise and responsive positioning of the headsets.  Please have a look at Lightshape’s video below.

Ready for the HTC Vive Pro

In the near future, this installation will be updated to the HTC Vive Pro which our software already supports. The increased pixel density of this successor of the HTC Vive will make the scenes look even more realistic. The resolution is high enough to actually read the various panels once you are in the drivers seat! Besides that, we are also busy studying applications of the front-facing cameras of the Vive Pro in order to improve multi-user interaction.

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