The demand for immersive technology is increasing at an incredible rate.
As companies and consumers alike look for new ways to connect, communicate, and collaborate, XR is quickly emerging as a mainstay technology. The market is expected to reach a value of around $394.8 billion by 2030.
As interest in XR solutions continues to grow, innovators in the field are beginning to produce a range of exciting new headsets, to address a range of needs. One such brand, Vrgineers, focuses on the production of MR and VR pilot training solutions targeted at the military and business space.
The company’s flagship product is the XTAL, a virtual and mixed reality headset, which offers some of the best field-of-view and visuals in the landscape. The headset even won the Red Dot Product Design award in 2020. Plus, it was one of the finalists for the VR Awards 2021.
Let’s take a closer look at the XTAL 3.
Vrgineers XTAL 3: Features and Specs
The headsets produced by Vrgineers are uniquely designed to address the needs of pilots preparing to manage complex equipment. The company also offers a range of solutions with fully-functioning cockpit replicas, so users can enjoy a more immersive experience.
The XTAL 3 MR headset is currently one of the most advanced pilot-dedicated headsets available. It combines phenomenal fidelity, with 8k resolution, and a leading 180-degree field of view. The product has been designed in collaboration with a group of international Air Force pilots, to ensure it adheres to the needs of these professionals.
Features and technical specifications include:
- Up to 3864 x 2192 pixels per eye resolution
- 70-90Hz foveated refresh rate
- High fidelity, balance, and immersive lenses
- Virtual reality resolution of 3840 x 2160 per eye
- Two quick-switching 4K LCDs for mixed reality
- 700g weight (without a head strap)
- Gaze analyses and heat map visualization
- Inside-out/Optitrack/ART/Polhemus/Mosys/Vicon/Custom position tracking
- Automatic IPD (60-76 mm)
- VirtualLink cable, display port, or USB connectivity
- Microsoft Windows operating system
- Support for Steam VR and OpenXR drivers
- Full simulator support
Vrgineers XTAL 3: The Benefits
For some users, the unique features of the XTAL 3 are likely to seem like overkill. This is certainly one of the most advanced headsets on the market, but it’s also specifically suited to a certain use case. For those outside of the aviation industry, this device may even be too powerful.
However, for companies and military groups trying to train new pilots, there are few tools with more value out there. This product is perfect for delivering training experiences that facilitate new muscle memory, and the development of crucial skill sets in the aviation industry. Let’s look at some of the core benefits that make this solution stand out:
- 8K Resolution: When it comes to visual impact, few devices can compete with the fantastic resolution of the XTAL. In mixed reality mode, it can deliver a resolution of 3864 x 2192 pixels per eye at up to 90 Hz. In virtual reality mode, you can expect 3850 x 2160 pixels per eye, for a truly phenomenal 8k experience. Custom-made lenses create a wonderfully realistic view, with true-to-life imagery for any scenario.
- Field of view: One of the things that set XTAL apart from other competing products, is its market-leading field of view. The solution offers a combination of a 90-degree vertical field of view and a 180-degree horizontal field of view. This ensures amazing fidelity and a 1:1 immersive simulation experience. Users can feel like they’re stepping into a brand new environment, or interacting with holograms in person.
- Headset customization: The XTAL headset can adapt to suit the needs of the individual user. It has automatic IPD functionality, to improve the visual experience. Plus, Vrgineers is ready to produce a range of tailor-made solutions for clients with specific needs. Both the hardware and the software can be modified to fit specific use cases. Plus, they work with a range of different types of software systems and simulators.
- Comfort: It’s often difficult to find a headset that delivers both exceptional fidelity and comfort. While the Vrgineers headset isn’t quite as lightweight as some of the alternative options on the market, it is designed for comfort. It comes with carefully-designed face foam to help cushion your head while you’re wearing the system.
- Integrated tracking: The eye-tracking capabilities within the XTAL 3 are amazing. The system offers gaze analysis, heat map visualization, and more, running at a native 120HZ. This means supervisors and team leaders can also collect information from the headset and analyze it to improve future training sessions. Plus, the solution also enables foveated rendering, to determine how power and resolution are distributed.
Who Needs the XTAL 3 Headset?
As mentioned above, for most everyday users the XTAL headset might seem a little too complex or powerful. However, this headset wasn’t designed for the consumer space or even the everyday enterprise landscape for that matter. The solution is custom-made for the aviation industry, and it excels at adhering to its intended target audience.
It’s little surprise the XTAL is such an effective tool for pilots when we consider the fact that Vrgineers made the headset with support from aviation specialists. Every part of the solution is custom-made to deliver a more realistic and immersive training experience. For instance, the non-Fresnel VR lenses are designed with a custom optical engine, to minimize the risk of distortion.
There are even corrective lens options that allow pilots who normally wear glasses to train without any discomfort. Overall, for companies and military groups in search of solutions to make training pilots in VR and MR more effective, the XTAL is the go-to solution.
Just don’t expect to see this device in the average living room or workspace any time soon.
