VR Hardware

VR Full-Motion Helicopter Flight Simulators Have Arrived

April 4, 2023 From vrscout

Can immersive technology help address the rising global pilot shortage?

Loft Dynamics, previously referred to as VRM Switzerland, has unveiled what the company claims is the “world’s first” VR full-motion helicopter flight simulator qualified for use by an official national aviation regulator. Put simply, this device can be used as a legitimate tool for pilot training while reducing training costs and improving pilot safety.

The full-motion rig features a high-resolution VR system and full-scale replica cockpit mounted on a 6DoF (six degrees of freedom) motion platform. In the headset, trainees see panoramic views of various locations and hear authentic sound emitting from their virtual aircraft. Meanwhile, the motion rig delivers realistic force feedback and motion.

Credit: Loft Dynamics

According to the company, the entire package is 10x smaller than conventional full-motion simulators and roughly 20x cheaper to own and operate. Despite being able to fit comfortably in the loft of a hangar (hence the name Loft Dynamics), the system can supposedly cut air time training by a whopping 60%.

“It’s hard to overstate how monumental this is for aviation,” said Sky Dayton, Loft Dynamics’ main investor and board member, in an official release. “You don’t have to travel to train anymore, away from work and family and be gone for weeks or months. These new simulators will be integrated into all bases of operation, and pilots will be able to train all the time — not just for required regulatory checks, but to regularly hone and add to their skills.”

Dayton, a jet pilot, elaborated on his time in the Loft Dynamics simulator, claiming he could feel the texture of the asphalt beneath the virtual helicopter as he landed. The full-motion rig moved in sync with the virtual aircraft, simulating the feeling of flying through the air at high speeds. According to Dayton, he was able to practice emergency manuevers that can be dangerous to perform in a real helicopter.

With a global pilot shortage expected to continue through the next decade, this cost-effective flight simulator could be invaluable moving forward. In addition to its rebrand to Loft Dynamics, the company has raised an impressive $20 million in additional financing from Craft Ventures, Sky Dayton and UP.Partners.

“Our rebranding is critical to reflect the current global nature of our steady growth,” added Loft Dynamics CEO and founder Fabi Riesen. “We chose the word ‘loft’ carefully as it reflects an upward movement in the air, but it also refers to the fact that our full-motion VR simulator is so small that it can fit in the loft of a hangar or other small spaces, such as a trailer. Our growing team is proud of the new name and to be expanding the training of pilots with our highly efficient, exceptionally realistic, and dramatically less expensive simulator.”

Moving forward, Loft Dynamics is working with Airbus Helicopters to develop a simulator for the Airbus H145, a model of helicopter often used in emergency medical services. The company will also be expanding its portfolio to include fixed-wing sumlators in an attempt to target the eVTOL market.

For more information visit here.

Feature Image Credit: Loft Dynamics

VIVE Reveals Its First Self-Tracking VR Tracker

March 20, 2023 From vrscout

Full-body VR tracking just got a whole lot easier.

HTC VIVE today unveiled the latest addition to its growing lineup of VR tracking devices, a yet-to-be-named self-tracking tracker. The device features two high field-of-view cameras, an onboard processor, and the same high-precision positional tracking algorithm used in the HTC VIVE Focus 3 and HTC VIVE XR Elite, meaning no additional base stations are required in order to operate.

According to HTC, the device weighs under 100 grams and is approximately 50% smaller in size compared to the VIVE Tracker 3.0. There’s also a new quick-release mechanism that allows you to swap the device within seconds. That said the device can still be mounted to conventional speaker and camera peripherals. The company has even released 3D CAD files so you can print your own mounts.

While the tracker is designed for VIVE Focus 3 and XR Elite, it can be used with non-VIVE headsets thanks to compatibility with OpenXR. Standalone use is also supported for those not interested in R functionality. Details regarding these features will be released soon, according to the company.

Credit: HTC VIVE

“The new tracker is able to perfectly track its location rather than rely on external sensors or the headset cameras. Just like our headsets, it’ll be able to track large scale play spaces as well,” said Shen Ye, global head of product at HTC VIVE. “It’s not just for object tracking; you can use it combined with controllers to get full-body tracking. You can connect up to five trackers at a time to our upcoming USBC dongle, so you can track your entire body, including elbows, legs and feet.”

VIVE’s self-tracking tracker is scheduled to launch later this year. Those interested in learning more can contact the company here. The company states that VIVE Tracking 3.0 is still recommended to Lighthouse users.

Feature Image Credit: HTC VIVE

Samsung Partners with Google & Qualcomm to Release Android-powered XR Device

February 6, 2023 From roadtovr

Samsung’s 2023 Unpacked event was all about the company’s Galaxy S23 hardware, although at the end of its hour-long presentation the South Korean tech giant announced it was working with Qualcomm and Google to develop an XR device.

TM Roh, Samsung’s president and head of mobile experiences, didn’t reveal any more than what was said on stage, namely the existence of the partnership itself, however speaking to The Washington Post he announced the companies are “getting there,” and that the XR device was “not too far away.”

It’s not clear what sort of device it will be, since ‘XR’ essentially covers the entire gamut of immersive headsets, including augmented reality (e.g. HoloLens), virtual reality (e.g. Meta Quest 2), and mixed reality (e.g. Meta Quest Pro). Our best bet though is on a standalone MR headset, which uses passthrough cameras to layer computer-generated visuals on top of the user’s physical space, essentially replicating the experience you might have on a see-through AR display, albeit on a VR device.

MR headsets include Meta Quest Pro, HTC Vive XR Elite, and Apple’s rumored headset which is reportedly set to arrive sometime early this year at around $3,000.

As you’d imagine, Qualcomm is tasked with building the XR device’s chipset, while Samsung will manufacture the headset’s hardware. Software will be provided by Google; WaPo reports it will be running on “the unannounced version of the Android operating system meant specifically to power devices such as wearable displays.”

With the exception of Qualcomm, which not only produces XR-specific chipsets but also regularly shows of its own XR headset references, both Samsung and Google’s commitment to the project are kind of a long-awaited homecoming.

Samsung was one of the first truly massive tech companies to develop VR hardware. Starting in 2014, the company partnered with Meta (then Oculus) on the Samsung Gear VR platform, which paired the Galaxy Note 4 phone with a headset shell sporting an optimized intertidal Measurment unit (IMU). Samsung Gear VR was essentially the first high-quality 3DOF mobile VR experience offered to consumers, marking a stark departure from the sort VR experiences you could find on Google’s more open, but decidedly lower-quality Cardboard platform.

Notably, Samsung hasn’t released a VR product since the launch of the PC VR headset Odyssey+. Like seemingly all big tech firms these days, it appears to be working on AR glasses.

Smasung Odyssey+ | Image courtesy Samsung

Google, although reportedly also working on AR device, similarly shelved its VR ambitions when it discontinued its standalone Daydream platform in 2019, something which at the time was essentially the nail in the company’s Android VR coffin. Google previously worked with Lenovo in 2018 to produce its first and only standalone Daydream VR headset, the Lenovo Mirage Solo, which offered 6DOF room-scale tracking while providing only a single 3DOF clicker-style controller.

Since then, Google has only really been vocal about its experimental system for immersive video chatting, Project Starline, which lets people engage in face-to-face video chats without needing an AR or VR headset.

Typically, we’d say Mobile World Congress 2023 would be the next logical place to share more info about the XR hardware partnership. Samsung, Qualcomm and Google will all be present, so we may just learn more there when the week-long event kicks off in Barcelona, Spain on February 27th.

This Futuristic VR Facemask Tracks Your Expressions

January 3, 2023 From vrscout

The low-cost device will be available for purchase in the US and Japan later this year.

Say hello to X Mask, a new device described by the manufacturer as a “mask type sensing gadget.” Developed by Japanese startup Dolami, X Mask is capable of tracking your facial expressions in detail thanks to a series of incorporated sensors placed strategically across your face. These sensors are internal; they do not affect your facial skin.

According to Dolami, the device can transmit your expressions to a VR avatar with “over 95% accuracy.” X Mask features a delay speed of 200 milliseconds and takes less than five seconds to pair with a VR headset. The device will cost $90 USD, making it an affordable as well as a convenient option for those looking to enhance their virtual interactions without breaking the bank.

“Your facial expressions are available in VR on your avatar,” says the official website. “You can communicate your emotions, passions, and silent opinions to others just as you would in reality.”

“[X Mask] can be used in any case where communication is needed in the VR world. Business meetings, business negotiations, presentations, enterprise events, talking with friends, communicating with loved ones who live far away, etc.”

Last month the company announced that it had raised around 100 million yen ($730,000 USD) in funding to begin production of the device. According to an official press release, X Mask will be available for purchase in the US and Japan later this year.

It’ll be interesting to see how consumers respond to such a unique approach to facial tracking. For more information visit xmaskproject.com.

Image Credit: Dolami

HTC Vive Offering Black Friday Discounts Up To $100

November 25, 2022 From vrscout

Pick up the HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Strap at its lowest price ever.

This year HTC is celebrating the holidays with $100 off on select Vive VR hardware over on the Vive website, along with other HTC Vive distributors such as Amazon, Micro Center, Dell, Lenovo, and Adorama.

Looking for suggestions on what to buy? HTC’s Vive Flow is a lightweight VR headset perfect for friends and family members interested in physical and mental wellness.

“Meditation, gentle stretches, brain training, streaming our favorite shows, or even meeting friends or coworkers in VR with VIVE Sync can all be enhanced by a device light and compact enough to fit in our pocket,” said Cher Wang, chairwoman and CEO of HTC, adding, “VIVE Flow represents the next evolution of technology, as we take a more holistic view of how we can make life better.”

Credit: HTC

Or maybe you need something with a little more power for gaming or work? If that’s the case, you should check out HTC’s Cosmos Elite Full System. Not only do you get an awesome PC VR headset with a sweet flip-up design and awesome visuals, but you’ll also get two months of Viveport Infinity for free!

You can also take advantage of HTC’s Black Friday sale to pick up the Vive Deluxe Audio Strap at its lowest price ever. Check out a full list of HTC’s Black Friday discounts below.

HTC Vive Pro 2 Full System – $1,299 ($100 in savings plus 12 months VIVEPORT Infinity).
HTC Vive Pro 2 headset – $724 ($75 in savings)
HTC Vive Cosmos Elite headset – $399 ($50 in savings)
HTC Vive Cosmos Elite Full System – $649 ($100 in savings)
HTC Vive Deluxe Audio Strap – $59.99 ($20 in savings)
HTC Vive Flow – $449.99 ($50 in savings)

All deals are valid now until November 28th at 11:59 pm PT.

Image Credit: HTC

HTC’s Next VR Headset May Have Just Leaked

November 15, 2022 From vrscout

A new report states that the device could feature a unique modular design.

XR hardware analyst Brad Lynch has released a new video revealing what he claims to be HTC’s next VR headset. The information, according to Lynch, comes from “many industry sources,” most of which from the supply chain. Lynch once again partnered with product designer Marcus Kane to provide realistic 3D renders of the product based on black-and-white photos shared by his sources.

According to the report, HTC is working on a standalone VR device similar in design to the HTC Vive Flow, HTC’s smartphone-powered VR glasses that were released last year. Referred to by Lynch as the “HTC Vive Flocus,” the device supposedly features four black-and-white tracking cameras as well as one RGB passthrough camera, similar to the Pico 4.

Lynch says that the device features separated 1920×1920 per eye LCDs running up to 120hz. The company is using pancake lenses to reduce the overall size of the device. Lynch was unable to confirm exactly which chipset is being used, though his sources have claimed that the device will feature a “much faster” chip than the XR2 Gen 1, the same one used in the Meta Quest 2.

Unlike the HTC Vive Flow, which uses your smartphone as a controller, the HTC Vive Flocus will be compatible with the HTC Vive Focus 3 motion controllers. Other neat features include a physical IPD adjustor, a removable face pad, and a USC-C port located inside the facial gasket area. Lynch speculates that this port could be used for eye-tracking accessories seeing as the device supposedly lacks any form of built-in eye-tracking technology.

Most interesting, however, is the HTC Vive Flocus’ modular design. According to Lynch, you can actually disconnect the back half of the headset, aka “cradle,” to enter what he refers to as “glasses mode. You can then connect to other power sources, such as a PC. With the cradle removed, you’ll actually be able to fold the arms of the device for easy storage.

According to Lynch, HTC is aiming to release the headset sometime in early 2023. No word yet on an official price, though Lynch says we can expect the device to cost under $1,000.

HTC has been teasing its new VR headset for the past few weeks on social media, but the company has yet to provide any details. Hopefully, we’ll learn more next year during CES 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Image Credit: Brad Lynch

PlayStation VR2 Release Date & Price Revealed

November 2, 2022 From vrscout

Sony’s next-gen VR headset arrives in Q1 2023.

After long last Sony has revealed the price and release date of the PlayStation VR2, its latest and greatest VR headset for PlayStation 5 consoles. The next-gen device was first announced in February 2021. Since then the company has shared a number of details, including the official specs as well as several confirmed titles.

Today we learned that the highly-anticipated console VR headset will be available for purchase on February 22, 2023, starting at $549.99. Every purchase includes a PlayStation VR2 headset, a pair of new-and-improved PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers, and stereo headphones.

Sony is also offering a second bundle for $599.99 that comes with all of the aforementioned goodies as well as a PlayStation Store voucher code for Horizon Call of the Mountain, an original VR experience set in the Horizon Zero Dawn universe.

As previously mentioned, every PlayStation VR2 headset comes with a pair of Sense controllers with rechargeable batteries. As such the company will be offering a PlayStation VR2 Sense controller charging station for an additional $49.99. The device will allow you to charge your Touch controllers without having to connect to your PS5 console, freeing up the USB ports for other uses.

The PlayStation VR2 will be available to pre-order on November 15th starting in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg via PlayStation’s online store. You can register for an invite to pre-order PS VR2 starting today here.

Image Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment

China Wants To Ship 25 Million VR Headsets By 2026

November 1, 2022 From vrscout

The country appears to be going all-in on immersive technology.

According to Reuters, China plans on shipping over 25 million VR headsets by 2026 as part of a five-year plan to strengthen the country’s digital economy. The ambitious action plan was published by five Chinese government ministries led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and includes augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality technologies.

Credit: Bloomberg

The research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) reports that China shipped roughly half-a-million VR headsets in the first half of 2022. This new plan aims to increase the value of the country’s VR industry to over 350 billion yuan ($48 billion) by the year 2026.

That number includes both hardware and software sales. The government also intends on extending support to 100 core companies as well as establishing 10 public service platforms as part of the expansion.

Reuters cites a report by The China Academy of Information and Communications which states that China’s VR action plan could be the result of the United States and South Korea’s continued investment in their respective immersive technology industries.

For more information check out the full action plan here.

Feature Image Credit: HTC Vive, Alvin Wang

VR Wine Tasting Experiment Lets Users Guess Aromas

October 27, 2022 From vrscout

Scent-based VR technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace.

A team of psychologists based out of Stockholm University has developed a piece of technology that allows players to smell the virtual world. According to a paper published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, the Nosewise Handheld Olfactometer (NHO) can discretely house a variety of liquid scents that can be triggered at certain moments during a VR experience.

Credit: Simon Niedenthal, William Fredborg, PeterLundén, MarieEhrndal, Jonas K.Olofsson

“Our olfactometer allows for concealed (i.e., unknown to the user) combinations of odors with virtual objects and contexts, making it well suited to applications involving active sniffing and interrogation of objects in virtual space for recreational, scientific, or therapeutic functions,” says the team in the paper.

Unlike other scent-based VR devices that attach to the headset itself, the NHO is designed to attach to the HTC Vive’s motion controller to “output scent at the hand, linking physical smells to a synthetic VR environment.”

In order to demonstrate the technology, the team developed a VR wine-tasting experience that tasked test subjects with guessing different wines based on eight unique aromas. Participants released the smells by pressing the trigger on their HTC Vive controllers, after which they could submit their answers via four virtual circles floating above the table.

Before each session, developers vented clean air through the device for 10 minutes in order to avoid any potential odor cross-contamination. The wine-tasting experience featured four difficulty levels in total; the higher the difficulty the more complex the odor mixture. Participants were exposed to eight unique scents in total: clove, blackcurrant, raspberry, chocolate, pineapple, almond, grapefruit, and pear.

**Credit: Simon Niedenthal, William Fredborg, PeterLundén, MarieEhrndal, Jonas K.Olofsson**

“By developing new technologies that enable enactive smelling, and simultaneously articulating the potentials of smell training for recreational, scientific, or therapeutic uses, we hope to sketch new, more natural interactions that can enhance human olfactory experience,” added the team.

For more information check out the full paper in the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies.

Image Credit: Jens Lasthein / Simon Niedenthal, William Fredborg, PeterLundén, MarieEhrndal, Jonas K.Olofsson

HaptX’s Latest Haptic Gloves Are Smaller and Cheaper, But Still Bulky and Expensive

October 25, 2022 From roadtovr

HaptX, the company known for its haptic gloves, today announced it’s launching pre-orders for HaptX Gloves G1, a cheaper and more refined haptic glove device that’s squarely targeted at businesses.

The company says the new device includes a number of improvements over its HaptX Gloves DK2, which it launched in early 2021 for enterprise. It’s said to include improved ergonomics, multiple glove sizes, wireless mobility, and improved haptic functionality.

Above all though, the company has improved the device’s price point, with pre-orders launching today for as low as $4,500 with the purchase of multiple units.

And that’s a far sight better than DK2. Although prices for DK2 weren’t public information, we learned it initially sold for tens of thousands of dollars per unit back at launch in 2021. Whatever the case, the company says its selling G1 at “a fraction of the cost” of the HaptX Gloves DK2.

How do HaptX Gloves G1 work?

To replicate the sense of touch, G1 does two fundamental tasks. It includes hundreds of microfluidic actuators that individually balloon out to displace your skin, which creates a sense of touch that goes beyond the sort of experience provided by buzzing haptic actuators found in VR controllers. It also provides force feedback so hand-held virtual objects have a sense of solidity, which is done by physically stopping your finger when it reaches the boundary of a virtual object.

In our 2018 hands-on with the company’s device, we called it capable of creating “brief moments where you really feel like you’re touching something that isn’t actually there.”

Here’s an excerpt from Road to VR’s Ben Lang describing his experience with HaptX gloves:

For one, I know when my virtual hand is coming in contact with the virtual object beyond simple visual verification because I can feel it pushing against my finger tips. This means it’s clear to me that the object is responding to me and able to be gripped.

But it’s the force feedback which ultimately seals the deal, because by stopping my fingers at roughly the correct points in space means I can then rely on entirely natural physical manipulations, like subtly rotating the cube with two fingers (the way that you might twist a knob). Without the force feedback, I’d need to make a mock grabbing gesture in order to keep my fingers in the right place (which feels very unnatural), or rely on an unnatural abstracted gesture to make the system understand that I wanted to grip, but then I’d need to figure out new means of manipulating the object with that gesture instead of interacting with the object as if was truly there.

Since the gloves require compressed air to inflate those microfluidic actuators, the gloves come along with what the company calls an ‘Airpack’, a wireless backpack that can either be worn for room-scale interactions or placed on a desk for seated and standing. The company says Airpack can work up to three hours on a single charge without connection to external air or power.

In comparison to the company’s earlier DKs, HaptX Gloves G1 is certainly sleeker, although there’s simply no getting around the bulk of wearing an air compressor it seems. Here’s a look at DK2 for comparison:

Like DK2, the G1 Airpack doesn’t include onboard computing—you’ll either need to bring your own computer and tethered PC VR headset or wireless solution.

Pre-order Pricing & Delivery

Starting today, HaptX is letting businesses reserve an individual pair of HaptX Gloves G1 for $5,495 or a bundle of all four sizes for only $4,500 per pair, which includes small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes. Each HaptX Subscription includes an Airpack, the HaptX SDK, and enterprise-focused service and maintenance plan. The HaptX subscription starts at $495 per month.

HaptX is targeting a Q3 2023 launch, and is taking deposits now which will determine a shipment priority date, as well as lock-in what the company calls “discounted pre-order pricing.” There’s no word on what the unit will cost after pre-orders are done.

In the meantime, check out the launch video below:

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