Moverio BT300 Developer Edition released for developing AR apps

Friday, January 6, 2017

Create AR apps, including DJI drone apps, with the Epson Moverio BT-300 developer edition smart eyewear kit.

Epson, providers of the Moverio augmented reality (AR) smart eyewear platform, has announced the immediate availability of its Moverio BT-300 Developer Edition. The new AR platform is designed for software developers creating new experiences in augmented reality. Additionally, the Moverio BT-300 Drone Edition glasses will be available to pilots later this month. Optimized for use with DJI hardware, the Drone Edition glasses will enhance the safety, productivity and capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The Developer Edition is a light Si-OLED (organic light emitting diode) digital display technology binocular, see-though augmented reality smart glasses available. Featuring Epson's silicon-based Si-OLED digital display technology, the glasses are powered by the Android 5.1 OS and run on a quad core Intel Atom X5 processor. This platform enables developers to create life-like 3D AR experiences, while being more than 70% lighter than Epson's first generation glasses.

A 5 mega pixel front-facing camera and on-board sensors allow the Moverio BT-300 to recognize objects in the real world. The Si-OLED projection system can then render 3D content in the real world, with no display background or edges in the field of view.

"Now in our sixth year in the Augmented Reality eyewear space, Epson's Moverio platform has driven interest and sales increases exponentially year after year. Our newest Moverio BT-300 will certainly drive our business to new highs," said Eric Mizufuka, product manager, New Ventures for Epson America. "We're especially excited to be partnered with DJI to make flying a safer and more productive experience. We believe that piloting UAVs is one of our killer applications."

With the Drone Edition, UAV pilots are able to experience crystal clear, transparent first person views (FPV) from the drone camera while simultaneously maintaining their line of sight with their aircraft. The FAA has maintained the rule that UAVs must remain within the visual line-of-sight (VLOS) of the remote pilot, reinforcing the relevance of the Drone Edition. More than 600,000 UAVs are expected to be in use in 2072.