From 2018 to the present, Xvisio Technology has completed a series of product upgrades and strategic deployments, from plug-and-play VSLAM system-level modules to ARVR end-processing interaction hardware platforms compatible with major mainstream optical machines, and then to complete machine solutions including ARVR glasses system-level optimization and calibration.

"VSLAM stands for visual 'simultaneous localization and mapping.' As the core underlying technology for spatial perception and human-computer interaction, since 2016, companies including Microsoft, Google, and Facebook have been developing AR/VR product lines with VSLAM as the core interaction technology path. VSLAM technology is transitioning from algorithm to system-level products.

A comprehensive experience suite for AR perception and interaction

A true AR glasses has two core modules: one is the optical-mechanical module for near-eye display, and the other is the perception and interaction module with VSLAM as the core - it helps the audience interact with the environment in virtual scenes and the real world and gain a sense of immersion.

It is understood that before 2019, Xvisio Technology focused more on the research and development of underlying algorithms, the deployment and optimization of algorithms on end processing platforms, and the creation of underlying visual hardware technology units, including VSLAM sensor units, depth imaging sensor units, infrared imaging sensor units and 3D object recognition units.

This year, "Xvisio Technology" integrated previous underlying technology components into the Slim Edge XR platform—an XR interactive platform based on the Intel Myriad X high-performance VPU and AI-enabled edge processing chip. It integrates all the interactive functions required for XR glasses, such as spatial perception, depth processing, audio and video interaction, gesture recognition, object recognition, and eye tracking. It is adaptable to various display devices and is highly customizable. The system can be connected to mobile phones and computers via a Type-C interface, enabling easy cross-platform integration.

Lin Qiong, founder of "Xvisio Technology", said that at this stage, the AR industry is still in its early stages and "the challenge lies in the lack of technical reserves and the ability to integrate underlying technologies into products."

From a supplier's perspective, if core technology providers can only provide basic underlying technologies without rapid integration, the product launch cycle will be significantly prolonged. Therefore, following this Series A funding round, Xvisio Technology will continue to expand the system integration of VSLAM underlying technologies on mainstream chip platforms in the industry.

According to the plan, "Xvisio Technology" will launch a multi-platform AR system solution in 2021, including the combination of AR+AI, the combination of end and cloud, and the coexistence of split and integrated solutions.

A comprehensive experience suite for AR perception and interaction

"On XR devices, we will deeply combine AI technology with spatial perception interaction and human-computer interaction, and use 5G's high-bandwidth transmission to achieve low-latency push of cloud-based XR content to end devices, improve user experience, and help implement ARVR smart application scenarios. These are the two directions we will focus on next," said Lin Qiong.

Lin Qiong believes that the core competitiveness of "Xvisio Technology" comes from three aspects: first, the underlying VSLAM algorithm that is consistently implemented throughout; second, deployment on multiple mainstream mobile chip platforms; and third, the development of an SDK for AR applications. This trinity of capabilities, coupled with our system integration experience, provides our customers with a fast implementation experience. Our recently launched SlimEdge XR Starter Kit is driven by this principle. Our goal is to make interaction simpler and AR more accessible.

Xvisio Technology, headquartered in Shanghai, has R&D and production teams of over 40 people in the US, Europe, and China, including seven PhDs. It has received angel investment from Zhongke Chuangxing and a Pre-A round of funding from Junsheng Investment. Founder Lin Qiong has held senior technical positions at Fortune 500 semiconductor companies including Toshiba, Micron, and ON Semiconductor, and has numerous entrepreneurial experiences. In its first two years, Xvisio Technology achieved sales exceeding 20 million yuan and accumulated over 70 paying customers.

The concept of augmented reality (AR) was first proposed in the 1960s. It wasn't until 2016, after Facebook's substantial acquisition of Occulus, that VR/AR became a hot topic. The growing number of startups fueled a wave of investment, with data showing that related financing exceeded $1 billion in the first quarter of 2016 alone. However, due to factors such as the immaturity of the VR/AR hardware and content ecosystem, incomplete use cases, and the nascent stages of communication and cloud technologies, this investment boom cooled by the beginning of 2017.

In recent years, with the maturity of core underlying unit technologies and the introduction of 5G communication technology, the AR/VR industry has ushered in new growth opportunities. 5G's high bandwidth, low latency, and seamless integration with cloud computing address the pain points of VR and AR popularization, making VR and AR considered the killer applications of the 5G ecosystem.

Lin Qiong said that the maturity of new related technologies, such as various types of visual sensors, the processing power of mobile platforms, the edge computing capabilities of AI, and the realization of end-cloud integration, have given AR new room for imagination.

Compared to consumer applications, business-side needs are more vertical and the scenarios are simpler. Therefore, AR glasses have already found widespread application in some business-side scenarios, such as telemedicine, education, remote assistance, and training. These scenarios have a stronger demand for interaction. Lin Qiong stated that Xvisio Technology will focus on the business-side application market, leveraging its technological and product advantages to address the pain point of fragmented business-side applications.

The consumer-end applications of AR glasses have attracted widespread attention in the industry and are considered the next generation of personal computing devices, similar to smartphones. AR devices in the form of mobile phone accessories are considered to have a huge existing market.

Apple is expected to release its headset before 2022. Samsung, LG, Huawei, OPPO, and Vivo have also released corresponding products, and Qualcomm has also released its XR Viewer solution for mobile phones. Consumer applications still need to address the needs of "fun" and "convenience," and the industry, which has been keeping a low profile, seems to be waiting for Apple to make its move.

Data predicts that the scale of China's VR/AR market (including both consumer and business-end markets) will reach 54.45 billion yuan in 2021. The investment director of Shenzhen Capital Group stated that the company invested in Xvisio Technology from the perspective of industry chain development, focusing on its core technology and the team's execution capabilities, and expressed confidence in the future growth of the industry.

Source: 36Kr Original report link: https://36kr.com/p/842011199965190

Founded in Silicon Valley in 2016 and established in Shanghai after receiving angel investment in 2017, Xvisio Technology is a solutions provider specializing in spatial perception and interaction, providing underlying technologies and system integration for AR/VR headsets. Its core product, SlimEdge XR, is an integrated edge processing platform that integrates a VSLAM engine, a depth engine, an AI engine, an audio and video engine, and gesture and eye control, suitable for both standalone and standalone XR devices. The founding team, all from Fortune 500 companies and a series of entrepreneurial ventures, has accumulated years of industry-leading research results and currently has subsidiaries in the United States and Europe.