Big in Korea

21/01/2020
, , Blog, Use Cases

Location-based Virtual Reality for Automotive Design

Figure 1 – Using LPVR-CAD large room-scale tracking, 3D design content is visualized on VIVE Pro HMDs

In cooperation with Korean automotive design solutions provider AP-Solutions, we created a large location based virtual reality installation at the Hyundai research and development center close to Seoul, Korea. The system is used to showcase, amend and modify prototype and production-ready automobile designs (Figure 1).

LPVR Large Room Scale Tracking Engine

Figure 2 – Each VIVE Pro HMD is equipped with optical tracking markers and an LPMS-CU2 IMU. The IMUs are covered with black tape to avoid reflections of infrared light.

The system uses optical tracking together with LP-Research’s LPVR solution to track up to 20 users wearing Vive Pro Head-mounted Displays (HMD). Each user carries a VIVE hand controller for a total of 40 tracked objects in a space close to 400sqm.

Responsiveness is achieved by using LPVR (Figure 2) to combine LPMS IMU data and a software package to achieve optimum performance. The optical system uses 36 infrared cameras to track the 160 markers attached to the HMDs and hand controllers. The position and orientation data of each user’s HMD is combined using LP-Research’s algorithm.

The content of the virtual space is rendered using a CAD software package running on backpack PCs worn by each of the 20 users. The PCs communicate and coordinate via a central server.

Korean News Coverage

Images courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group Newsroom.

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.

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