In Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and Mixed Reality News
May 23, 2020 – NVIDIA has recently announced its NVIDIA CloudXR 1.0 software development kit, something that the company states will bring “major advancements” to the streaming of augmented reality, mixed reality and virtual reality content (AR/VR/MR) — collectively known as XR — over 5G, Wi-Fi and other high-performance networks.
With the NVIDIA CloudXR platform, any end device, including head-mounted displays (HMDs) and connected Windows and Android devices, “can become a high-fidelity XR display capable of showcasing professional-quality graphics”, according to the company.
The CloudXR platform is built on NVIDIA RTX GPUs and the CloudXR SDK to allow for streaming of immersive AR, VR or MR experiences from anywhere, whether from a data center, cloud or at the edge. Plus, with NVIDIA’s GPU virtualization software, CloudXR is able to accommodate multiple users to securely share GPU resources.
As 5G networks roll out around the world, NVIDIA states that its CloudXR will help to bring innovation to a range of industries, from architecture to retail. By streaming XR experiences from GPU-powered edge servers, companies can expand mobile access to graphics-intensive applications and content, enabling immersive, responsive XR experiences that can be enjoyed on a remote client.
Whether through an HMD, smartphone or tablet, NVIDIA CloudXR helps to accelerate professional XR experiences to power design reviews, speed up the collaboration process and help heighten creative productivity.
The NVIDIA CloudXR SDK is created for telecommunications platforms, enterprise data centers, consumer platforms and next-generation display devices to deliver graphics-rich XR content. The SDK consists of powerful tools and APIs packaged in three core components:
- CloudXR Server Driver – Server-side binaries and libraries;
- CloudXR Client App – Operating system-specific sample application;
- CloudXR Client SDK – OS-specific binaries and libraries.
NVIDIA is also collaborating with Qualcomm Technologies and Ericsson to bring a 5G VR solution to market. Qualcomm Technologies’ latest reference design HMD is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Platform, the company’s 5G-enabled XR device that drives all on-device processing workloads. Furthermore, Ericsson’s 5G network connects the HMD to the edge by delivering high-speed, low-latency wireless connectivity.
NVIDIA stated that through the combination of: its RTX graphics with CloudXR and GPU virtualization; Qualcomm Technologies’ Boundless XR client optimizations; and Ericsson’s network, it has yielded “an unparalleled ability to deliver boundless XR over 5G.”
Current NVIDIA CloudXR early access partners, including ZeroLight, VMware, The GRID Factory, Theia Interactive, Luxion KeyVR, ESI Group, PresenZ and PiXYZ, have tested CloudXR with a suite of apps, granting their customers access to high quality visuals, all from a lightweight mobile XR device.
The CloudXR solution is available now, and the company is offering additional information to telecommunications providers and developers who register for access to the CloudXR 1.0 SDK.
Image credit: NVIDIA
About the author
Sam Sprigg
Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.
