The Value Question: Near Eye Display

NEAR EYE DISPLAY

The Value of MicroVision to it's share holders is going to be a portion of the total value it provides to people.... what will that be?

The Value of Use.. 

"I read a study that measured the efficiency of locomotion for various species on the planet. The condor used the least energy to move a kilometer. Humans came in with a rather unimpressive showing about a third of the way down the list....That didn't look so good, but then someone at Scientific American had the insight to test the efficiency of locomotion for a man on a bicycle and a man on a bicycle blew the condor away. That's what a computer is to me: the computer is the most remarkable tool that we've ever come up with. It's the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds."
                                                                                 --- Steve Jobs

The Near Eye display will allow us to use that bicycle for our minds everywhere we go, everywhere we are, and with everything we do. Increasing efficiency, improving productivity. Allowing creativity to be harnessed much more easily, errors to be found and corrected earlier.

The benefits of a PC will no longer limited to a desktop, laptop, or something we have to sit down and focus on. It could be there all the while we are doing.

Kipman wasn't lying when he said they built that new game-changing device around the display that they... er... (MICROVISION) invented... While I think they're scoundrels for claiming credit for the display it is a testament to how amazing it is.

Taqtile's motto is "Everyone is an expert."  That illustrates the value very well.

Taqtile

My visit to Taqtile:
making people who don't know act as though they know. Giving them a knowledge advantage immediately. (You can walk into a facility and perform processes recorded by an expert. You don't have to be the expert to do it.)
Particularly important is Knowledge Capture

The results of this go directly to the bottom line and the efficiency improvements companies have recorded with Hololens are stunning. (a reliable 10% improvement is the stuff of wet dreams. They're getting 90% improvement.) Efficiency improvement

WHO IS WORKING WITH HOLOLENS?

King County Wastewater Treatment


Will it GAME?
Do not forget Pokemon Go. Games are HUGE, and I think the effort to come up with games for this will be huge... do not forget that there was a special introduction of a gaming company at one of the Hololens presentations.





Gaming? Microsoft bought Minecraft, has it for Hololens... and it's really popular.

Minecraft Second Most Popular Game Ever


How many companies to make AR devices using MicroVision's display?

Well, we know Microsoft, Apple, Google, Magic Leap, Facebook, and probably the big computer makers (Dell, Lenovo, Sony, Acer, etc.) will all want in on Augmented Reality.

(Remember, Kipman said "anyone can make their own hololens" and Trimble IS making their own Hololens.)

Apple is doing it --- there are enough patents and leaks to show this. Some of what they are doing is in the open with their "AR Kit." 

Google Had "Glass"

Magic Leap is AR (associated with Google)

I'm nearly certain that Hololens1 and Magic Leap used the same display.

Facebook has AR/VR  -- And also has a substantial facility right up the road from MicroVision HQ. It is unmarked and apparently. secret. (There is nothing on the outside that says "Facebook," nothing on any vehicle that brags about Facebook, no people wearing anything labeled with it can be seen outside. -- I took a picture of the front door a couple of years ago, and my phone did ask me if I wanted to tag the picture I took at Oculus.

Behind it is another facility that is part of Microsoft, and there is a shuttle running between the two campuses.

They will all need the best near-eye display they can get.
There is nothing better yet on the horizon that looks like it will be serviceable. When that appears, it may still be years before it's usable and possible to manufacture in quantity.

A side-note here. We may look at a device and think that it looks simple -- the good things are. MicroVision's core tech, which is essentially a vibrating mirror, looks really simple. Getting it to work as it has to -- and then also assembling the components is anything but simple. Making the sub-components-- the mirror, the magnets, etc., to the precision required is not a simple process. Developing a reliable way to do this in quantity had to be extraordinarily difficult and time consuming. This has made it difficult in the past for holders of MicroVision -- because we were waiting, and it seemed like nothing was happening. This is now a hurdle that MicroVision has cleared. Any potential competing technology has yet to clear this hurdle, and it's a significant one. The distance between prototype and released product is huge.

What are the "killer" applications?

An important question with any new technology. (If you have the first fax machine -- it's cool but useless... there has to be something to DO with it.)

This should not be a problem with AR.

Personal computers were around prior to the early 1980's. They were basically toys, things to tinker with, until the killer app, arrived.

In marketing terminology, a killer application (commonly shortened to killer app) is any computer program or software that is so necessary or desirable that it proves the core value of some larger technology, such as computer hardware, a video game console, software, a programming language, a software platform, or an operating system.^[1] In other words, consumers would buy the (usually expensive) hardware just to run that application. A killer app can substantially increase sales of the platform on which it runs.^[2][3]

For the PC the killer application was the spreadsheet. It took what could be an astonishingly tedious task (prone to errors) and made it happen in a twinkle. (No time to explain it in detail here, but trust me and check here: Visicalc BBC)

After the arrival of the spreadsheet, the PC went crazy.

The killer app for Hololens?

There are several already. Trimble has one - Overlay of design in the physical world.  This increases efficiency in construction hugely and doesn't take a lot of imagination to see how it would. It will save a lot of time and therefore a lot of money. Problems will become apparent more quickly, be solved sooner, and best -- they'll be solved while they're potential problems instead of real ones.


"Benefits every industry that deals with 3D spatial data." Nearly everything we deal with is "3D." -- so the appeal is broad.



Knowledge Capture. This can be used already, and it's huge. You don't need to "train" someone for a job, you have your smartest person do it.... and those who come after can copy. (Everyone's an expert.)

What I am looking forward to most, is being able to learn languages.

An endlessly patient teacher that scans the environment and labels everything in the target language? Sign me up.

How big will the use of Augmented Reality Be?

Microsoft itself said that Hololens would be bigger than the PC.

Microsoft's Stock was worth about $0.09 in 1986; 10 years later in 1996 it was worth $9.00 (A 9,900% Gain.) If we consider Microsoft until the introduction of the X-Box (2001) You get about $30/share (A 33,000% Gain) -- That's perspective on "how big can augmented reality be."

The PC is huge, because it's nearly ubiquitous. It's everywhere. Hololens will be more everywhere, because it can be 'more everywhere' -- not anchored to a desk, table or lap. If you want to use a PC you have to look away from whatever else might be around and focus on the PC... not so with hololens.

In 1976 the number of PCS being used in the US was effectively zero, Apple showed up then and sold some. Then Radio Shack hat the TSR-80 --- by the year 2000 PCs were literally everywhere. They continue to get better.

How much will they earn? 

(and how much will someone pay for those earnings?)

Any answer to this question is guesswork. The value will be significant, because the value it brings to the user will be significant.

There is no good way to come up with this number... {I readily admit that this is guesswork. You are reading guesses. Don't make your decisions based on my guesswork, base your decisions on your own guesswork. If you have a solid critique or method of guessing that you think is better than mine, I'd be happy to read, consider and possibly post it too.... if we get enough people working on it, we might actually arrive at a good guess.

 To do this, I'm going to plop some possibly numbers into the Personal Computer "killer application" and see where the numbers lead.

I like to come up with a couple of frameworks of thinking (always willing to throw an unworkable framework out) and sort of come up with a range. (And after wrestling with this for quite some time, have decided to rely on the fairly basic model below. --- it could be wildly off... I admit that, but it involves the least guessing.)

Method 1 (I claim no accuracy, this is a framework.)

• $70 Billion Euros for the next four years --- my SWAG then is $100 billion in the next FIVE years, which is my preferred time horizon. (since a euro is 1.1 USD I'll consider them equivalent.)
• Assume that a display would account for about 10% of the price of the computer. ($900 computer, $900 software + $200 for a monitor) 
• Use 10% of the total AR market for display
• Use 1/2 of the 10% as the MicroVision share. 

 $100 Billion * .1 =$10 Billion *.5 = $5Billion.

Using this method my SWAG(scientific wild-ass guess) is $5Billion (Divide into the 140 million shares = $35/share (To be conservative, cut it in half again) = $17/share (This vertical)

After spending some time thinking about it, that's the only guess I'm willing to make here... it's taking an "accepted number" and extrapolating. Trying to anticipate the market with all its variables is a daunting task, and probably not worth the effort, because EACH stage is guess work. I could be off by miles already -- but I think the guess is reasonable and the theory sound.

Some of the basis I'm using came from the video below. (It says $70 Billion in the next four years)

Errors happen all the time with data... they happen even more with speculative future-anticipating  (I know this) Read this for some background: I'm skeptical of Data

 

Quick Summary so far:

Interactive Display SWAG = $14
Near Eye Display SWAG   = $17-35
LiDAR............................... = ?
Display only.......................= ?
                                            = $31-49

Apple Laser Scanning Sensor

This has been on the radar for a while. It's interesting to me how this story has been fairly persistent, which gives it more credibility than some idle rumor.

Sony has some laser-scanning tech from MVIS.

I've never fully written SONY off, and expect that they will be back selling Microvision's tech, as soon as they figured a way to use it where they can't lose. 


Bloomberg

Apple’s new system uses a laser scanner, rather than the existing dot-projection technology which doesn’t work as well over longer distances, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing unreleased features. That’s just one of many new features -- including a third, more advanced camera, enhanced photo-capture tools and a more powerful chip -- that Apple plans to include in coming generations of iPhones, the people said.

The laser-powered 3-D camera would enhance augmented reality on the iPhone, allowing for more accurate depth perception and placement of virtual objects. It could also help the handset take photos that can better capture depth, the people said. Apple has been in talks with Sony Corp.about testing sensors for the new system, one of the people said.

ASM Very interesting

No details until I digest a little.... 

Familiar products, and how we could be incorporated into them.

10 Million contract more restricted than I originally thought.... meaning much more opening for growth and expansion....

Some emphasis from Mulligan on Machine Learning at the sensor... which I think is huge for at least a couple of reasons.

Based on conversations and our detective work. Joe and I are pretty confident that the 10 million contract is with Sharp/Foxconn. (Sharp is making tons of green lasers.... among other reasons.)

MicroVision, Inc. Announces New License Agreement with a Leading Technology Company

So, a Leading global technology company: The most likely candidates I would consider are those that already have a working relationship with MicroVision:

Foxconn / Sharp 
ST Microelectronics (I think this is the most likely.)
SONY
Goertek?

***************************

REDMOND, Wash., May 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MicroVision, Inc. (MVIS), a leader in innovative ultra-miniature projection display and sensing technology, today announced that it has entered into a license agreement with a leading global technology company to allow the licensee to use MicroVision’s display technology to manufacture and sell display-only engines based on MicroVision reference designs.  The agreement grants a world wide, exclusive, five-year license to display-only technology.  In order to maintain exclusivity, the licensee is required to purchase  minimum quantities of MEMS and ASICs from MicroVision.  

“We are excited to announce this agreement with a recognized world leader in the manufacturing and sale of electronic products and components,” said Perry Mulligan, MicroVision’s Chief Executive Officer.  “This license agreement for display-only products validates our product roadmap and Go-To-Market strategy of targeting five key vertical markets. We believe our licensee's manufacturing prowess and use of our Laser Beam Scanning technology will assist MicroVision in lowering product costs and securing new customers in the other verticals that we serve.”

The licensee has agreed to pay MicroVision a license fee of $10 million in 2018.  An initial payment of $5 million is scheduled to be paid this quarter and a second payment of $5 million is scheduled to be paid in October.  As part of the agreement, MicroVision expects to receive additional payments for non-recurring engineering expenses and services associated with process and product transfer and qualification milestones.   

The agreement does not include a license to MicroVision technology related to interactive displays, LiDAR and 3D sensing, or near-eye applications, such as augmented or virtual reality, which remain key vertical markets for MicroVision.

Sony Teaser...

So, I'm trying to get some chili in the slow-cooker this morning, when my phone blew up with a couple of people asking what I think of the SONY teaser.

Hit google with SONY and "Teaser"

Just got done with the cooking and sit down to look. Digging in a few places.

to start with, there's WAY more that I don't know than what I do know.

The headlines on you tube:

"Hints at big changes."
"Curved phones"
"Looks to steal Samsung's limelight with curved phones"



Apparently the consensus is "curved." My impression from looking at the video? Could mean almost anything. SONY has had notoriously boxy phones in the past, who knows. maybe they're going to round off the corners. In the current market for smartphones (until PicoP arrives) that will be considered a HUGE innovation.

However.....

* I've always thought Qualper was a smokescreen, and I have no reason to change that opinion.

* I think that from the positive reviews of Ragentek's Phone that a "fast follower" would be on deck.

* I'm reasonably sure SONY has the ability to do a limited release of a PicoP powered phone without even telling Microvision about it.

* I did have an interesting traffic spike in the last few days... mostly curious because the hits to the site came from specific internet searches. (yeah, sometimes I watch that stuff for clues.) I even did a post about that Notable Traffic Spike.

* And Walt reminded me of this SONY FIRST NEW Phone factory in 20 years

Concluding this little chapter....

There isn't enough to draw any conclusions, or even speculate much based on a SONY teaser. Something could happen there at any time however, as could happen from a number of other directions.

I suspect MWC will be interesting though.

Review of Sony Xperia Touch

While we aren't in this particular device, this device has significant limitations - limited screen size, limited portability and a significant price among them.

This review is largely about the utility of the touch interactivity of the projection.

While this is getting great reviews in the tech world it is still largely unknown outside that world. This is the kind of thing that once word gets out will bring some significant good attention to Microvision.

Put the new touch-interactive engine in the PicoBit, and you have one of these that fits in your shirt pocket, has a larger screen, and never needs to be focused.

FactsChronicle

LG Projector Review

Makes me think that LG and Celluon may have a more significant relationship - but I don't know.



Thanks Fuzzie


SisaWeek

LG Uplus has been bringing in the domestic Korean venture company's beam project overseas. It is an evaluation that it has begun to expand the market of ultra-small beam project with the advantage of lowering the price compared to specifications by collaboration.

LG Uplus announced on November 11 that it will launch portable mini projector 'U + pocket beam'. Pocket Beam was launched by Celluon, a venture company. It was sold overseas several months ago and it supports HD (1920X720, external output) resolution with Sony's optical engine.

The eye-catching point is that domestic sales prices are more than 100,000 won cheaper than overseas. The same product was sold for $ 429 (480,000 won) on the Celluon official homepage or in the US Amazon.

LG U + has been able to lower prices by taking charge of UI development and marketing of domestic products.

LG Pico Projector

Thanks Joe, you're always on top of things.
Thanks Also Tomsvision

This appears to be the SONY engine, cranked up to 63 lumens... best guess so far.



LG Pico Projector Offering

U + Pocket Beam ▲ Brightness of the 16: 9 Wide HD (1920X720) resolution, which is specialized for image viewing ▲ Brightness of 63 laser ANSI lumens based on Sony's optical engine ▲ Autofocus and keystone for automatic adjustment of focus and tilt of beam image ) Function and so on. 

With an astonishing contrast ratio of 80,000 to 1, it is possible to express color accurately and abundantly. It can realize a display screen of up to 120 inches at a distance of about 3 to 4 meters from the screen. With a large capacity battery of 3500mAh, you can enjoy a movie for about 2 hours without connecting a wired adapter power source. 

It has a palm-sized size (6.65 x 13.8 cm) similar to a 5.9-inch cell phone, a thin 1.5 cm and weighs only 230 g. The sales price including VAT is 349,800 won, and it can be purchased by LGU Plus website and main stores nationwide from 12th, regardless of the communication company. 

Mems Journal Article

A good article in Mems Journal, featuring Microvision's Hokanen.

The best summary of why PicoP is superior is in the highlighted paragraph.

Thanks for the heads-up, Joe.

Mems Journal -- there is a lot more at the source.

Jari Honkanen: Our HUD technology architecture consists of red, green, and blue laser diodes, each with a lens near the laser output that collects the light from the laser. The light from the three lasers is combined with basics optics into a single beam. The intensity of each laser light source is varied to create a complete palette of colors and shades. The beam is then relayed onto a biaxial MEMS scanning mirror that scans the beam in a raster pattern. The projected image is created by modulating the three lasers synchronously with the position of the scanned beam. In the HUD application, specialized relay optics direct the beam of light from the scanning engine, making a virtual image viewable within the driver’s forward-looking field of view.

The main differences between MEMS laser beam scanning HUD, and HUDs based on panel displays: are 1) laser light sources produce brilliant colors and a wide color gamut, which helps the HUD see-through information stand out from background scenes, 2) MEMS LBS HUDs are high-contrast, meaning the lasers are completely off for pixels in the off state. This produces the best see-through display with no background glow, 3) the lasers are directly modulated pixel-by-pixel so light is only produced when needed. For panel-based displays, light sources are always on, even for black pixels, which makes them less power efficient, 4) panel based displays require more complex optical designs, which increases size and can reduce reliability, and 5) laser light, due to its coherence and polarization, is collected and relayed through the optical system with lower losses.

****

Competing LIDAR technologies are mechanical scanning LIDAR, non-scanning flash LIDAR, and phase array LIDAR.

When it comes to performance, we believe that our MEMS Scanning LIDAR offers significant benefits, including small size (a thin scanning engine at 6mm width enables new class of form factors), high resolution (we have prototypes that are capturing 5.5M points per second), dynamic (MEMS scanning allows programmable resolution and frame rate. The same sensor can perform either very fast lower resolution scan or slower high resolution scan, depending on the application and driving situation), and low persistence (scanned laser system enables blur-free capture of moving objects).

Sanbot getting attention

We don't have an *official* announcement, but I'll call this Sony's customer for PicoP engine. (I'm also strongly suspicious of Ford -- See "Testing") That this robot is getting more exposure, and growing beyond China is a sign to me that this customer is active. 

Sanbot is getting attention lately in the US. 

IF you're in a real hurry Fast forward to 3:25 

PC Magazine

The Video suggests a LOT of projected displays, and shows it directly used in a classroom.



If you're like many Americans, chances are you've never encountered a Sanbot robot, but there are already more than 60,000 of the diminutive humanoid servants in restaurants, hospitals, shopping malls, and schools across China. Now they're about to invade the US.

Sanbot's maker, the Shenzen-based Qihan Technology Company, is currently in talks with several US companies who are interested in purchasing the robot. It won't say which ones just yet, but based on the trails that other humanoid service robots like Pepper have blazed, you can expect Sanbot to show up in places such as shopping malls and airports. Don't plan on buying one yourself any time soon, though: Qihan doesn't sell robots directly to consumers, not even in China.

Qihan brought Sanbot to San Francisco this week to show off its capabilities. Sorry, her capabilities—like Pepper, this bot is a female. The first thing you notice about Sanbot, which sells for about $10,000, is her impeccable pedigree of components. Sony manufactured the forward-sensing cameras, Sharp supplied the large touchscreen that adorns her torso, IBM Watson powers her artificial intelligence capabilities, and Nuance provides the voice recognition.

Sanbot official website

The marker of the Sony PicoP module

MPCL1A - Gulf Times Big Screen movies on the go

Gulf Times  - More at Source

When it comes to mobile projectors, there aren’t many good options to choose from. Many projectors tend to be from little-known companies that rely on limited feature sets and VGA resolutions and the compromises generally made to make these projectors portable and affordable (for a projector) make them hard to recommend.

Not many known manufacturers have had a go at this market. And the options are even more limited when it comes to Qatar. Enter the Sony MP-CL1A, the follow-up to the last year’s well-reviewed MP-CL1.

The MP-CL1A looks virtually indistinguishable from the outgoing model. Beneath the familiar exterior, is a familiar interior – this generation of the Sony pico projector has been all about refinements. And these refinements make the projector that much better.

The MP-CL1A comes in a simple box with the picture of the projector on it and an overview of its functions and features. Inside is another black box that opens up like a book – kind of like what Sony does with its high-end earbuds. Opening this box will reveal the first change that Sony has made over the outgoing model – the device sits inside a nice looking leatherette carrying pouch. The previous version did not come with a carrying pouch out of the box and it is nice to see Sony include one. The projector is, after all, designed to be portable.

Theatre projection mapping

No idea if it's meaningful, but there it is. 

Not easy to project well onto non-flat surfaces without PicoP.



Hollywood Reporter

During Sony Pictures' CinemaCon preview of its upcoming movies on Monday night, attendees may have noticed that at some points of the presentation, part of the images (primarily the graphics) expanded beyond the screen onto the front wall and side walls of Caesars Palace’s Colosseum, where the screening took place.

The reason is that the studio is experimenting with projection mapping — the use of projectors to display images on non-flat, non-screen surfaces — which could be a way to further differentiate the theater-going experience, and this was a way to preview the results before the exhibition community.

Sony did not immediately respond to questions about the technical details involved.

Sony Projector Tech -- Looks like Future

This is pretty cool. Whether or not Microvision's tech is in this specific thing -- Microvision will enable this kind of functionality to go mobile.


The Verge

One theme Sony hit upon at last year’s show and brought back in full force this go-around is projector-based touchscreen technology. The company has essentially taken its expertise in display projection and married it with some truly unique user interface design. The result is a pair of prototype products that can turn any flat surface into a screen that you can not only interact with using your hands, but that can also take real-world objects and turn them into a kind of augmented reality version of themselves.

Imagine placing a copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on the table and then being able to drag a character off the page, or running your finger along a plain wooden surface and turning it into a responsive piano made of light. One demo even takes angular blocks of white-painted wood and transforms the table into a scale model of a home — using only light from the projector.

Sony Interactive Table Top

A friend sent this over recently.

There's a focus thing as the cards are raised and lowered and everything stays in focus.

There's also a feature that looks very similar to something another tech giant is doing...





The Suface "dial"

Ming-Chi Kuo, and an interesting relationship and number

The Sony PicoP engine resolution is 720 * 1920 = 1,382,400. 

1.4MP if you do any rounding.

It's interesting -- although I'm still very dubious about it being what they claim it is.



PhoneArena.com

Sensors used in the new camera will be able to perform depth of field calculations using a dedicated Infrared transmitter and receiver. According to Mr. Ming, the camera will be produced by Sony with Foxconn's Sharp supplying the infrared receivers. IR signals are sent out from the phone, and then are bounced off objects and are detected using the 1.4MP IR receiver. The report adds that Apple will add 3D sensing rear-facing cameras in 2018 models and beyond. This would allow Apple to get rid of the large dual-camera system found on the Apple iPhone 7 Plus. With Apple well ahead of Android in 3D camera algorithms, according to the KGI analyst, the new technology could be unique to the iPhone for some time.

Sony Eyeing Second VR?

Gamers are an interesting bunch. If you put them on the hunt for something and provide little rewards for it -- if you can turn your complex problem into a game, they'll do your work for free.

The same goes for promotion -- The public didn't care about or know about augmented reality until Pokemon go...  [ Gamers solve aids puzzle ]

What they have here sounds a lot like Microvision's Lidar.


Hard Core Gamer

Sony is currently attempting to patent some new technology that is VR related according to CGM. The current PlayStation VR, while not necessarily cheap and hard to find, is considered “entry level” in terms of virtual reality equipment. While the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive have better technology and performance, the two setups are more demanding on hardware. Sony, however, has filed a patent to closer mimic this technology. This patent would not be something that could be “updated” on the current PSVR. The patent is for a lighthouse tracking system. This is something the current PSVR does not use and would be a better improvement for tracking.

“A method for determining an orientation of a photosensor of a controller with respect to a projector is described. The method includes generating, by a beam generator of the projector, a beam. The method further includes modifying a direction of travel of the beam using a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror that moves in a pattern, deflecting the beam, calculating a time at which the beam is detected and determining based on the pattern and the time an orientation of the beam to determine the orientation of the photosensor.”

PanArmenian

Sony Module in Qualper Phone

The STM / Microvision Module at 6 cubic centimeters is about 1/3 this size.

TaoBao 

Macworld review of MPCL1A

MPCL1A got some attention from Macworld. Positive attention is good.

Macworld -- much more at source.

In my opinion, the best personal technology to travel with has a lot in common with a mullet—business in front, party out back. Take my iPad Pro, for example. Its portability and long battery life allow me to crank out articles, plan upcoming projects, talk to my editors, and invoice for my work while I’m on the road. But I can also use it to goof off when I’ve got free time…and sometimes even when I don’t.

After spending a month using it for work and play, I feel that Sony’s MP-CL1A Mobile Projector is just as deep into mullet country as my tablet is. It’s a short-throw pico projector that’s equally adept at pitching presentations in a boardroom as it as at throwing episodes of Better Call Saul up on your cottage wall to watch with friends.
Portable design

...the MP-CL1A put on a pleasurable show in the dim light of a hotel room during the day with the curtains drawn, and in my living room before bed. And, on a particularly dark night in countryside near Victoria, British Columbia, I was able to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the side of a friend’s house with it.

MPCL1A Ad in Korea.

Sony Store Korea





Thanks Joe Spaz! 

Qihan Robot -- Likely to feature Sony Module (1920*720)

1920*720 Resolution is the Sony Lezab laser projector module signature, and this cites that. Call this a Microvision installation. 

The more of these prototype installations the better. These won't be installations of ten million units in a popular portable consumer electronics product. But we will get there.


QIHAN

About 3:20 for projecton

Sanbot is stocked with sensors, and is big enough to accommodate any new ones Qihan might want to add down the road. That could include sensors to pick up temperature, altitude, or air pressure. It’ll definitely include cameras and sonar, which will be used for object recognition — mainly so Sanbot doesn’t crash into those objects (it’d work similar to how a Roomba or Neato Botvac works). But, Qihan says that with the help of machine learning and microphones, Sanbot will also be able to interact intelligently with people. That would involve listening to and responding to natural language, but Qihan says they’re also working on getting Sanbot to recognize and adapt to human facial expressions and the emotions they convey. Sanbot will also have Wi-Fi and ZigBee connectivity, so it could be an Alexa-like smart home hub, too — a must for any potential robot butler.

Sanbot’s face shows up on a 10.1″ 1080p touch display, which can become a regular, tablet-like interface when needed. Qihan also went full R2-D2 and added a 1920 x 720 projector, too. Meanwhile, a massive 20 Ah battery would allow Sanbot to go for four hours before needing to head back for a recharge.

Read more at http://www.chipchick.com/2016/09/qihan-sanbot-become-robot-butler.html#tDYpy0gHZYkO0qS0.99