Qualcomm Snapdragon Platform of Expanded Reality XR series

2019: Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2

On December 5, 2019 the company Qualcomm provided Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 — the platform of expanded reality (extended reality, XR) with support 5G. Qualcomm Technologies integrated in it the innovations in areas 5G -communications and artificial intelligence (AI) with the XR technology. This platform represents specialized functions which cover augmented reality (augmented reality AR), virtual reality (virtual reality VR) and the mixed reality (mixed reality MR).

According to the company, the Snapdragon XR2 platform is significantly finished in comparison with XR1 platform. Twice performance of CPU and GPU grew, video bandwidth four times extended, by 6 times resolution and in 11 — AI performance was increased. Snapdragon XR2 is the XR platform supporting seven cameras at the same time plus the specialized processor of computer vision. Besides, it is the first XR platform providing truly mixed reality thanks to the camera with a low delay in the transparency mode. It allows the user to create a hybrid of the virtual and real worlds with the VR headset, to see it and to interact with it. To meet requirements of really immersive mixed reality, on the platform also the audio-technologies using artificial intelligence and possibilities of a 5G communication are implemented specialized visual, interactive.

To increase realness of XR, it is necessary to erase visible borders between the real and virtual worlds. For this purpose the most modern display and high quality of graphics is required. The graphic processor on the Snapdragon XR2 platform perfectly draws graphics, supporting by one and a half times the high speed of processing of pixels and three times — teksely. Such specific XR functions as fovealny rendering with tracking of movements of eyes and the improved technology of shading with variable speed for smoother updating of the personnel accelerate rendering of heavy workloads, saving at the same time low power consumption. The display Snapdragon XR2 panel has permission 3x3K for each eye with a frequency of 90 frames per second. The photorealness of visual effects when streaming and local reproduction, is provided for the first time by the support of video in format 8K 360o implemented on the XR platform with a frequency of 60 frames per second. To reduce general-system delays and to maintain effect of AR immersion, the specialized chip is used to AR displays.

In the mixed reality the user can virtually teleport on other Wednesday. That in it it is full to be guided and to work surely, Snapdragon XR2 offers at the same time seven cameras plus the specialized processor of computer vision. Working at the same time, cameras precisely monitor the movements of the head, lips and eyes and also hands — on 26 points. The processor of computer vision is responsible for effective understanding and three-dimensional reconstruction of a scene. All this functionality allows the user to move to a situation where it will intuitively interact with the digital world.

In the complemented or virtual reality the sound plays the main role in each immersive event. The Snapdragon XR2 platform offers sound layers of the following level in bright 3-dimensional sound space and, deepening immersion, provides pure sounding of a voice. The specialized permanent energy efficient Qualcomm Hexagon processor supports at the hardware level such accelerated functions as voice activation and determination of a context, allowing to hear the real world, being in virtual.

Using AI many Snapdragon XR2 functions, including audio-and visual effects, and interactivity which help to submerge users in brighter reality were improved. Snapdragon XR2 is the XR platform with support of a 5G communication which opportunities open gateways to a flow of the innovation XR-applications requiring a low delay and very high speeds of data transmission. For example, a 5G technology, using separate data processing on the device and in a boundary cloud, allow to implement almost boundless XR environment with photorealistic representation without binding to these or those premises.