Objective
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are finally starting to emerge from the lab into applications for everyday life. Researchers agree that the industry is only beginning its global triumph and will grow significantly in the next years – global AR/VR revenues are forecasted to hit €144 billion by 2020.
The potential of AR/VR market cannot, however, be fully realised unless eyewear with an appearance of regular glasses become available. So far, it has been impossible to build proper AR/VR eyewear because of the large size and complexity of the required electronics. The biggest unsolved issue in the industry has been the imaging component which would generate excellent image quality and be small enough to enable production of AR/VR eyewear that consumers are willing to wear continuously.
Finnish SME Brighterwave has created a revolutionary laser light source that is 97% smaller than its closest competitor, enabling a mass-producible ultra-compact projector engine providing the best image quality in AR/VR eyewear. We have successfully completed SME Instrument Phase 1 project NOVLASE that confirmed the technological, practical and economic feasibility of our projector engine. The REALITY project will focus on miniaturisation and productisation of the existing technology. The specific objectives of the project are:
• Optimise and fabricate a laser light source and a projector engine for AR/VR eyewear;
• Demonstrate the projector engine in AR and VR applications in cooperation with customers (large consumer electronics manufacturers);
• Promote the technology to potential new clients to ensure commercial success.
Successful completion of the project will result in the world’s smallest projector engine that enables building the first consumer-friendly AR/VR eyewear, and make Brighterwave the preferred laser projector provider in the AR/VR market by 2020.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolors
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationsvirtual reality
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware applicationssimulation software
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2Coordinator
33500 Tampere
Finland
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.