US-based wireless technology developer Qualcomm has launched an accelerator program for virtual reality (VR) hardware manufacturers that are creating untethered head-mounted display (HMD) sets.
The accelerator provides a lab for validating HMD performance standards, and aims to help manufacturers lower their engineering costs and cut production and shipping time by offering pre-optimised reference design materials.
Qualcomm Technologies, the company’s engineering and R&D services arm, will run the Qualcomm Technologies HMD Accelerator Program.
Participants will have access to a new reference design product, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 VR headset, along with pre-tested components, which they can use to create their own HMDs.
HMD makers also have the option of working with a trained original design manufacturer (ODM) to adapt the Snapdragon 835 headset for their own commercial use.
ODMs available to collaborate with accelerator participants include acoustic components company Goertek and internet of things technology provider Thundercomm, a joint venture between Qualcomm and Android tool developer ThunderSoft.
The accelerator is launching five months after Qualcomm announced a previous reference design product, Snapdragon 820 VR HMD. Since then, four ODMs have proposed commercial designs and five products have been released, Qualcomm said.
The Snapdragon 835 headset comes with pre-optimised VR tracking software, from companies like mobile VR technology provider Leap Motion and computer vision technology developer SensoMotoric Instruments (SMI), to speed up the development process.
Cristiano Amon, executive vice president of Qualcomm Technologies and president of the company’s semiconductor business QCT, said: “Qualcomm Technologies has laid the groundwork for consistent, successful and flexible product development so manufacturers can have a commercial product available within just a few months.”