Microsoft has very ambitious plans with its HoloLens. The company announced that it plans to bring its mixed reality headset to cars, but it’s not alone in its goal. To achieve this, those from Redmond have joined forces with Volkswagen, one of the largest and most important automotive firms in the world, and it seems that the first tests have already begun.
As they comment they collect in TheVergethe enhancement for HoloLens 2 has been developed in collaboration with Volkswagen. Microsoft’s mixed reality glasses began to be used as a kind of information screen inside vehicles. To do this, both companies have had to develop different techniques for the helmet’s motion sensor.
One of the main problems that both companies faced was the “dizziness” that the HoloLens suffered. Apparently, the movement of the vehicle could cause the goggle sensors to conflict. What happens is this: the technology of the device is made to track the movement of the head in relation to a static scenario. In a car, however, there are fixed elements (the structure of the vehicle) and others that move around it.
A new technology on wheels
Volkswagen was investigating the use of augmented reality headsets when it discovered the problem mentioned above. As the aforementioned medium comments, this research was intended to “teach drivers to drive faster on a racing circuit.” In mid-2018 the collaboration between both companies beganwho got down to work to solve the problems that affected the sensors of the HoloLens.
Some time later, they managed to connect the HoloLens to the cars, which opened a new world of possibilities. The vehicle can display real-time information about driving and its surroundings.
The system works by displaying virtual objects inside and outside the vehicle. So too can project a virtual map of the area on the board, with navigation arrows typical of a racing video game. It is also capable of alerting drivers to an upcoming zebra crossing using virtual pedestrians.
Volkswagen has been showing interest in augmented reality for driving for some time now. In fact, recently they launched their ID electric vehicles, which come with an AR screen capable of projecting data vehicle. Among these, we find navigation instructions and the current speed at which you are driving. This makes driving easier for users, since they don’t have to take their eyes off the road to get the information they need.
The technology that powers the augmented reality screen is installed inside the dashboard. It generates rays that are transmitted from an LCD screen to two mirrors located on the windshield.
In order for the information to be displayed at the correct distance, one of the car’s two central computers calculates the precise location of each piece of data. Finally, the augmented reality renderings are stabilized and adjusted to provide a full view of every symbol and text.
volkswagen
We could soon see HoloLens in large-scale vehicles
At the moment, it seems that There are no plans to bring HoloLens 2 to the global market.. Microsoft is focusing on offering its AR technology to businesses for the not-cheap price of $3,500.
Also, the company you’ve been putting your HoloLens 2 to other uses. Among them we have maritime companies, an area that Microsoft believes could benefit greatly due to the ability to connect workers and mechanical experts to diagnose problems using their augmented reality glasses. In addition, Microsoft plans to revolutionize military technology with them.
Despite rumors of the HoloLens 3 cancellation, Microsoft has repeatedly denied this news. However, the division of the HoloLens has suffered a loss of 70 employees over the last year, and 40 of them have gone over to Meta’s side in her project to develop the metaverse.