Visual positioning welcomes productization opportunities, and Xvisio Technology helps industrial applications land
2016 can be considered the first year for the AR/VR/MR industry. The industry's development has followed the Hype Cycle of new technologies, experiencing periods of boom, bubble, and trough, culminating in steady growth. With the maturation of 5G technology, the AR/VR industry is poised for prosperity in 2019. On January 24th, Intel's RealSense division released the new depth camera, the T265, providing 6DoF inside-out tracking for AR/VR headsets, robots, and drones. This release marks another step forward for RealSense in achieving full functionality from depth detection to vSLAM, signaling the maturation of the machine vision industry.
Shanghai Xvisio Sensing Technology Co., Ltd. (Xvisio Technology, hereinafter referred to as Xvisio Technology) is a computer vision startup specializing in vSLAM and AI edge processing computing platforms. It was selected as one of the first 12 innovative companies in Intel's "Intel AI Partner Innovation Incentive Program." The program aims to collaborate with innovative companies to identify practical AI pain points and implement unique solutions for diverse scenarios. Intel's multifaceted strategy may also signal the impending transition of vSLAM, a core underlying technology in spatial perception and human-computer interaction, from algorithm to product.
At the recently concluded CES 2019, Xvisio Technology received a CES 2019 Innovation Award. Its award-winning product, the eXLAM-80X, is an inside-out 6DOF tracking vSLAM module designed for XR, robotics, and drones. 36Kr took the opportunity to interview Xvisio Technology CEO Lin Qiong, who explained, "This multi-modal fusion visual edge computing platform, based on the Intel Movidius VPU processor, combines multiple sensors with high-speed binocular vSLAM. While maintaining a 100fps refresh rate, high resolution, and tracking accuracy, it achieves multi-functional edge fusion for positioning, mapping, obstacle avoidance, and other functions while ensuring excellent system robustness. This platform not only provides powerful edge computing capabilities but also offers the flexibility to select the appropriate sensor integration solution for specific applications. Furthermore, the feature-rich SDK enables advanced features such as depth detection, plane detection, spatial overlay, 3D reconstruction, gesture, and object recognition, making it suitable for fast and easy integration with VR/AR/MR devices and robotics, reducing development costs and accelerating time to market."
On an industry level, vSLAM has been a hot topic in recent years. Everything from HoloLens to Magic Leap relies on this technology, and its applications can be found in everything from autonomous driving to sweeping robots. The combination of vSLAM and AI is the only way to solve environmental perception and cognition problems. However, due to vSLAM's extremely demanding algorithm requirements, a long industry chain, and high R&D barriers, only a handful of industry giants possess the underlying core technology, leaving many small and medium-sized enterprises without independent vSLAM R&D capabilities locked out. Xvisio Technology is targeting this broad, long-tail market.
"We have accumulated over 50 man-years (one man-year represents one year's work experience) of industry-leading high-speed VSLAM algorithm development and hardware implementation experience, and are a strategic ecosystem partner of Intel Movidius. In early 2018, we launched a high-speed VSLAM module based on the Movidius VPU. Our primary goal is to address environmental perception and human-computer interaction challenges in AR/R, robotics, and drones, including high-precision inside-out 6DOF tracking, mapping, obstacle avoidance, and object recognition. We achieve a refresh rate of 100 frames per second, achieve millimeter-level accuracy, and minimize power consumption to under 1.5 watts. Numerous AR and home robot customers have already adopted our solution, addressing bottlenecks in platform computing power and rapid market adoption." Xvisio Technology In November 2018, it was also selected by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a breakthrough enterprise in key IoT sensing technologies. Lin Qiong added, "What we currently offer our customers is more than just a vSLAM edge computing platform. It also offers AI scalability and traditional CV capabilities, allowing users to further develop features. All of these functions and possibilities are integrated into a single, compact device. The mass production of the eXLAM-80X is the perfect implementation of our product strategy for a visual edge computing platform."
Xvisio Technology has partnered with numerous companies in the fields of XR, service robots, and robot vacuums. Using a standalone vSLAM sensor computing unit, Xvisio helps clients address insufficient system computing power. This centralizes solutions for positioning and interaction, which typically involve a lengthy industry chain, into a plug-and-play, modular device, enabling rapid market entry. For example, in the XR field, Xvisio's advantages are evident in addressing edge interaction issues in split-body XR headsets. In robotics, when vSLAM is combined with AI on the device, its uniquely differentiated value is realized, simultaneously empowering robots with perception and cognition capabilities. These innovative applications are also made possible by Xvisio Technology's customization capabilities. According to Lin Qiong, Xvisio has helped numerous clients implement AR technology in smart manufacturing, education, and other fields.
