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Autonomous Racing League Will Feature VR & AR Tech

From vrscout

Abu Dhabi wants to be “the world capital for extreme autonomous racing.”

Abu Dhabi is launching the Autonomous Racing League, a futuristic car racing series featuring artificial intelligence (AI) powered supercars. According to an official release, spectators will have access to live updates complete with augmented reality (AR) and VR infographics and real-time displays.

Credit: ASPIRE

The first race is scheduled to take place at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates in Q2 2024 and will feature Dallara-built Super Formula cars provided by Japan Race Promotion, Inc. (JRP). These Super Formula cars are the fastest in the world (not including Formula One) and will be outfitted with autonomous technology, removing the need for a human driver.

The league was established by ASPIRE, the program development arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), in an effort to advance R&D in autonomous vehicle technology.

As previously mentioned, the inaugural race will take place next year in Abu Dhabi. The competition will feature a generous prize pool of $2.25 million. The league is open to past autonomous racing teams, teams from universities, and public and private research institutes.

Credit: ASPIRE

“Autonomous racing is continuing to gather steam, given its significant potential to disrupt the future of transportation and mobility,” said Faisal Al Bannai, secretary general of the Advanced Technology Research Council. “We are proud to announce the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, where we will set new benchmarks for autonomous vehicles and help them pre-empt and prepare for unknown challenges as they become more mainstream.”

“In addition to creating a community platform for motorsports fans, the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League will feature an open development model, supporting faster progress, faster testing, and greater innovation,” he added.

For more information visit a2rl.io.

Feature Image Credit: ASPIRE

How Snap Is Helping Businesses Embrace AR Shopping

From vrscout

The new Shopping Suite offers a variety of useful enterprise features.

Snap Inc., the company behind Snapchat and Snap Spectacles, this week announced a new enterprise solution that allows businesses of various sizes to incorporate Snap’s augmented reality (AR) technology into their respective channels.

According to an official release, AR Enterprise Services (ARES) offers a number of advanced tools designed to enhance the customer’s shopping experience. ARES’ first offering, the new Shopping Suite, makes use of a number of powerful technologies, from 3D Viewer and AR Try-On to Fit Finder. These features can be directly embedded inside a retailer’s app and website, streamlining the AR shopping experience.

Credit: Snap Inc.

Here are some additional details about the new Shopping Suite (as provided by Snap Inc.):

  • “Dedicated services and support: Businesses can leverage dedicated services for AR asset creation and robust technical implementation support. The Shopping Suite’s AR asset creation services help businesses create digital versions of their apparel, footwear, and eyewear products using proprietary photogrammetry hardware and machine learning creation pipelines to deliver high-fidelity assets optimized for end-user performance.
  • Enterprise tools to manage assets and integrations: Businesses can manage and optimize their AR assets and integrations, measuring performance analytics, and receive dedicated Shopping Suite support.
  • Experience delivery: Businesses can integrate our AR Try-On, Fit Finder, and interactive 3D Viewer technology into their own apps and websites, offering shoppers the ability to receive accurate fit and sizing recommendations, try on or view products in augmented reality, and interact with products in 3D.”
Credit: Snap Inc.

ARES’ first group of participating businesses include Gobi Cashmere, Goodr, and Princess Polly. The service will be available to accessory, apparel, and footwear providers in Q2 of 2023.

“Over the last decade, we’ve been hard at work bringing fun and personal AR experiences to Snapchatters,” said Jill Popelka, head of AR enterprise services of Snap Inc, in an official release.

“In the next decade, we’re excited to take our world-class AR technology to businesses’ websites, apps, and even into their physical locations. We look forward to making the shopping experience more delightful for consumers and transforming businesses around the world with AR Enterprise Services.”

For more information visit ares.snap.com.

Feature Image Credit: Snap Inc.

This Basketball App Uses AR To Improve Your Ball Skills

From vrscout

All you need is a smart device and an ordinary basketball.

You may have seen a video floating around the web recently of a skilled basketball player practicing their dribbling skills using a unique interactive experience. What you’re looking at is HomeCourt, a personal basketball trainer powered by augmented reality (AR) technology.

The app gamifies your practice sessions, immersing you in a series of interactive drills led by professional NBA and WNBA players. Each challenge is designed to improve your ball skills, from shooting to dribbling, without the need for additional hardware. You simply aim your smartphone or tablet at yourself and let the app record your performance.

Credit: Nex Team Inc.

Some drills will require you to tap virtual targets with your hands while you dribble while others track your shooting performance over a set period of time and award you points for each successful swish. As you play, the app calculates various performance metrics in real time, from your accuracy and dribble speed to your release time, shooting percentage, and vertical jump.

In addition to solo training, you can also compete against other players virtually via the asymmetrical “Battle Mode.” Winning multiplayer matchups earns you various badges, coins, and trophies.



HomeCourt is available to download free on smart devices. You can access over 100 drills and activities as well as unlimited shot tracking 100% free of charge.

For an additional monthly fee, you can access HomeCourt Plus, a premium subscription service that unlocks additional features such as access to the members-only training club, the ability to request feedback from HomeCourt pro trainers, and access to the HomeCourt Global Camp.

For more information visit homecourt.ai.

Feature Image Credit: Nex Team Inc.

Motorcycle AR Display Lets Riders See Behind Them

From vrscout

This nifty add-on gives motorcyclists eyes on the back of their heads.

It’s no secret that riding a motorcycle can be a dangerous activity. Motorcyclists are 28x more likely to die in a crash (per vehicle mile traveled) when compared to those traveling in conventional passenger vehicles, according to data gathered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Credit: CREACT Technology Inc.

Motorcycle safety is constantly evolving, with new technologies making it easier for riders to maintain proper situational awareness while out on the road. This includes CREACT’s Vision 180, a motorcycle helmet dashcam kit that offers a number of nifty features, from real-time navigation and rear camera view to a driving recorder.

“The Sony CMOS sensors remedied the challenges of dimming nighttime lighting and hazy vision brought on by rainy weather,” said the company in an official release. “The front and rear wide-angle lenses have 120 degrees of view capacity. Vision 180 can better grasp the overall road situation with its 120-degree view capacity lens, and tilted 15 degrees rear lens.”

Credit: CREACT Technology Inc.

According to CREACT, the unique device can be installed in a number of full or 3/4 hood motorcycle helmets via a snap holder or GoPro accessories (no additional wires or significant modifications required). Once you’ve adjusted the system to your personal riding habits, you can cycle between the three main functions described above.

Vision 180 features built-in WiFi and Bluetooth that connects to your smartphone device so you can listen to music and answer calls while you ride. The device lasts roughly 3.5 hours on a single charge, so you shouldn’t have to worry about the battery dying in the middle of a ride.

For more information visit here.

Feature Image Credit: CREACT Technology Inc.

This AR Art App Helps You Paint Giant Murals

From vrscout

You can even design art alongside fellow painters via Multiplayer mode.

Da Vinci Eye, an augmented reality (AR) app that functions as a digital art projector, today announced a new update that allows artists of all skill levels to collaborate on giant murals.

Mural Maker 2.0 is a digital tracing tool that makes use of AR tracking to lock an image in place in the real world. According to the team, this offers a more effective tracing system compared to the conventional art projectors and grids popular among muralists. This is because the system can scale the proportions of an image on any surface. You can even use it in broad daylight.

Credit: Da Vinci Eye

The app features a unique two-device system that offers multiple features. One device is used to record a live AR video feed that layers your image over the real world, while the other is held by the artist so they can trace outlines and compare colors.

The system remembers where you placed your image in the real world, allowing you to work on projects over time. There’s even a Multiplayer mode, so you can stream the image to multiple devices and collaborate with other artists on the same murals in real time.



Mural Maker 2.0 is available now on iOS devices. While the app itself is free, you will need to pay a subscription to unlock all of the features. Don’t worry, only one subscription is required for multiplayer painting.

For more information visit davincieyeapp.com.

Feature Image Credit: Da Vinci Eye LLC.

Samsung Files Patent For Galaxy Ring And AR Glasses

From vrscout

New filings point towards new XR hardware on the way.

It’s been rumored that Samsung is working on a smart ring that can be used in tandem with a pair of custom augmented reality (AR) glasses, and based on a recently uncovered trademark filing by Samsung registering the names “Galaxy Ring” and “Galaxy Glasses,” it appears as though the gossip could be true.

In October, a rumor emerged claiming that Samsung was working on a smart ring that uses multiple sensors to give you important health data throughout the day, much like a modern smartwatch. This was related to a patent for a device that was reportedly equipped with such sensors.

Based on said filings, the rumored Galaxy Ring tracks various activities and health metrics and is capable of taking blood pressure readings, similar to the capabilities of the Galaxy Watch 5 and 5 Pro.

Credit: KIPRIS

This isn’t Samsung’s first attempt at a smart ring. Back in 2015, Samsung filed a different patent for a smart ring that never came to be.

The trademark for the Galaxy Ring was granted by KIPRIS, which describes the wearable as a “smart device for measuring health indicators and/or sleep in the form of a ring.” The application for the trademark doesn’t provide much information about the rumored Galaxy Ring. It’s also possible that the South Korean company will unveil other wearable devices in 2023.

Aside from the Galaxy Ring, the company also filed a patent for Galaxy Glasses, an AR device capable of projecting virtual data over the real world. It’s possible that the project is getting closer to reality after the company unveiled its XR platform during its Unpacked event on February 1st, 2023.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Samsung is partnering with Google to develop new XR technology. Google SVP of Android, Hiroshi Lockheimer, talked about the future of XR technology, calling it, “An exciting space where Google has been investing in for a long time across both experiences and technology is AR and VR. These technologies are integral to the new phase of computing as it can change the way we interact with people and information to get things done in the real world.”

Credit: KIPRIS

Unlike the rumored Apple AR headset, which has seen its fair share of concept art, rumors, and “insider information,” floating around the internet, Samsung has managed to remain tight-lipped regarding its future XR plans. Other than the uncovered trademark, there’s been a lack of news about Samsung’s possible AR goals. This doesn’t indicate that Samsung isn’t taking AR seriously; it could just mean that the company is taking a slower approach in order to get the technology right.

According to the KIPRIS application, the trademark indicates that the Galaxy Glasses will be used for various applications, such as VR and AR. It also states that the devices trademarked by Samsung are tagged under “headset for virtual reality experience,” “headset for augmented reality experience”, “smart glasses”, “smartphone”, and “headphone.”

How the Galaxy Ring and the Galaxy Glass work together is still a mystery. That said, it’s easy to imagine how the devices could work in tandem. For example, instead of pulling out your Samsung smartphone and opening an app to access health records, you could simply look at your ring while wearing the AR glasses to access data instantaneously in AR. The ring could also be used to access menus or interact with your smartphone without the device having to leave your pocket.

It’s not clear when, or if, either of these products will see the light of day. That said, I could see myself jumping ship over to Samsung if the aforementioned products become available.

You can find additional details about the patent filing on the KIPRIS website by clicking here.

Feature Image Credit: Samsung

This VR App Lets You “Step Inside” Your Memories

From vrscout

Those interested can join the waitlist now.

Imagine being able to physically step inside your favorite memories at the exact locations in which they occurred. That’s the idea behind Wist, an upcoming mobile app from the California-based VR startup Wist Labs that turns 2D video into 3D scenes you can watch in augmented reality (AR) or VR.

According to the official website, Wist utilizes sensors available on the latest mobile devices to capture 3D data, allowing you to move around and inspect the virtual scene from different angles. You’ll have the ability to “replay” these memories in AR using a compatible iOS device or in VR using a Quest headset.

Wist Labs is conducting a closed beta for a select group of users at the moment. Those interested can join the waitlist here. No word yet on an official release date for either the VR or mobile app.

Moving forward, the company plans on introducing additional features such as real-time multiplayer and various other processing and artificial intelligence (AI) improvements. The latest update, v0.4.2, introduced experimental support for Quest Pro with passthrough.

Credit: Wist Labs

Needless to say, this sort of technology could prove useful in a number of different scenarios. Wist Labs provides a small collection of examples on its official website. This includes everything from an intimate birthday celebration with friends to an adorable capture of a sleeping pup. There’s even a 3D scene depicting a real-life sonogram session.

For more information visit the company’s official website or Twitter.

Feature Image Credit: Wist Labs

Qualcomm Partners with 7 Major Telecoms to Advance Smartphone-tethered AR Glasses

From roadtovr

Qualcomm announced at Mobile World Congress (MWC) today it’s partnering with seven global telecommunication companies in preparation for the next generation of AR glasses which are set to work directly with the user’s smartphone.

Partners include CMCC, Deutsche Telekom, KDDI Corporation, NTT QONOQ, T-Mobile, Telefonica, and Vodafone, which are said to currently be working with Qualcomm on new XR devices, experiences, and developer initiatives, including Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces XR developer platform.

Qualcomm announced Snapdragon Spaces in late 2021, a software tool kit which focuses on performance and low power devices which allows developers to create head-worn AR experiences from the ground-up or by adding head-worn AR to existing smartphone apps.

Qualcomm and Japan’s KDDI Corporation also announced a multi-year collaboration which it says will focus on the expansion of XR use cases and creation of a developer program in Japan.

Meanwhile, Qualcomm says OEMs are designing “a new wave of devices for operators and beyond” such as the newly unveiled Xiaomi Wireless AR Glass Discovery Edition, OPPO’s new Mixed Reality device and OnePlus 11 5G smartphone.

At least in Xiaomi’s case, its Wireless AR Glass headset streams data from compatible smartphones. Effectively offloading computation to the smartphone, the company’s 126g headset boasts a wireless latency of as low as 3ms between the smartphone device to the glasses, and a wireless connection with full link latency as low as 50ms which is comparable to wired solution.

Snapchat’s AR Lenses Are About To Get Even Better

From vrscout

It’s getting even harder to distinguish AR from reality.

This week Snap Inc. introduced Ray Tracing support for its Lens Studio app, allowing developers to craft more realistic augmented reality (AR) Lenses. Ray Tracing is a rendering technique used to reflect light on digital objects. The result is more immersive AR experiences powered by the Snapchat app.

The first brand to make use of the new technology is Tiffany & Co., a luxury design house based out of Manhattan, New York. The new Tiffany Lock Lens allows you to try on various Tiffany Lock bracelets anywhere using your smartphone. All you need to do is scan the QR code below using a compatible iOS or Android device and aim the camera at your wrist. You can even purchase jewelry straight from the app.

“Snapchatters love using augmented reality to try on products from beloved fashion brands, making the shopping experience personal, accessible, and fun,” said the company in an official release.

Credit: Snap Inc.`

Snap Inc. has been going all in on AR technology lately. For example, during its Lens Fest 2022 developer conference this past December, the company announced that it will begin allowing select developers to sell premium upgrades for their AR Lenses. This includes digital goods, effects, and tools.

For more information about Snapchat’s new Ray Tracing technology check out the official release here.

Feature Image Credit: Snap Inc.

Audi’s EV Concept Features Support For AR Glasses

From vrscout

The futuristic SUV features a digital console that can only be seen using AR technology.

German automotive manufacturer Audi recently unveiled a new concept SUV that can turn into a pickup truck on-demand. The “Actisphere” vehicle features a range of over 600 km, 800-volt charging technology, and no local emissions. Not only that, but the futuristic crossover features support for augmented reality (AR) technology.

According to an official release, the next-gen vehicle works in tandem with AR glasses to display interactive 3D content over the real world. In addition to providing critical driving status and navigation, the Audi actisphere concept does away with conventional control panels in favor of digital interfaces viewable using the aforementioned AR glasses.



According to the company, AR content will be “individually configurable for drivers and passengers.” Drivers, for example, can access navigational information while passengers browse the web, adjust the interior temperature, or control the music.

“The sphere concept vehicles show our vision for the premium mobility of the future. We are experiencing a paradigm shift, especially in the interior of our future Audi models,” said Oliver Hoffmann, member of the board of management for technical development.

“The interior becomes a place where the passengers feel at home and can connect to the world outside at the same time. The most important technical innovation in the Audi activesphere is our adaptation of augmented reality for mobility. Audi dimensions creates the perfect synthesis between the surroundings and digital reality.”

Credit: Audi

The vehicles feature a total of four AR headsets, one for the driver and each passenger. According to the official press release, the system can tell when an occupant is focused on a specific part of the console and provide more detailed information. Once a specific part of the console has been activated, passengers can then use hand gestures to interact with the controls.

Unlike a conventional console, controls for each function are located in front of their respective elements. For example, the AC controls are overlayed over the air vents while the sound controls are located over the speakers. AR technology can even layer high-resolution 3D topography graphics over the real world while in off-road mode as well as various traffic information.

Credit: Audi

“Conversely, the activesphere passenger can take his or her headset out of the car and onto the ski slope to help navigate the bike trail or to find the ideal descent when skiing downhill,” said the company in the official release. “Information about the car itself, the battery range, and the nearest charging stations can also be accessed inside and outside the vehicle. And when needed, there are also advance warnings such as of low tire pressure as well as a weather forecast function as a criterion for selecting a route.”

Other noteable features include an autonomous driving mode during which the dashboard, steering wheel, and pedals disappear, a next-gen dashboard that serves as an xlarge soundbar, and an on-board bar (heated or cooled). Above the center console you’ll find find an additional console containing four AR headsets powered by the vehicles mixed reality system.

For more information check out the official release here.

Image Credit: Audi