The AR Helmet for Work Environment

It does not matter in which field we work in, we all understand that in order to make right decision for any given situation, we rely upon the most updated information that we possess at the moment. But the Earth is not perfectly round. At times we just could not get enough information in time and this really messes up everything.

And this is exactly what Daqri's Smart Helmet (DSH) aims to prevent.. 

Daqri, the company whom acquired the open source augmented reality development tools called the ARToolKit, recently has revealed its ingenious smart helmet design at CES 2016 and looking like it came straight out of a sci-fi film. 

Oh look! They fix the part where the Judge's nose can't fit in the helmet! 

Here are some of the specifications that we managed to gather:

Processor: Intel's Core M7 Dual Core 1.2GHz (mid-range embedded processor with Skylake micro-architecture, released in 1st of September 2015)

Camera: 

• 13 Megapixel high definition camera (captures normal images)
• Forward Looking InfraRed (FLIR) camera (captures heat signatures)
• Intel RealSense R200 (captures three dimensional space)
• low resolution Viz Nav camera (captures motion)

All these cameras are input devices work together by capturing different types of images. After crunching these images through some complex image processing algorithm, information is produced. These information are then served to the user via its display system or to be used to warned the user about immediate danger.

Infrared image

Intel RealSense R200 scanning capture objects into 3D models

Display: photonic display system + company patented optical module (displays computer generated images that overlaps with the user's vision)

The word "photonic" suggested that the display system uses light projection method to create to overlay images. This method is common in AR devices such as the Google Glass which projects the image to a beam splitter prism to reflect the image into the user's eye. 

But, Daqri does not use any prism. Instead they patented an optical module. the optical module consists of a set of lens designed in such a way that computer generated images can be projected directly onto the lens while maintaining the user's vision. This creates an illusion of a floating image in the real world. 

Daqri's patented optical module showing a projector (1205) and an eye (1215). System 2 is the mentioned optical lens

Additional: 

• two USB 2.0 ports (for additional sensors or modules such as gas detector)
• retractable face shield
• charger dock
• noise cancellation microphone

DSH offers great possibility and convenience in the industrial work place. Think about it, a helmet with all the sensors to complement with our five sense of perception, working together as one system. The device is due to be launched this year some where at the end of March. Until then, lets watch a demo video from Daqri.