Apple demonstrated its VR/AR headset, the Vision Pro. The gadget is powered by Apple’s own M2 chip, but in order to handle data from its wall of sensors in real-time, Apple had to create a completely new processor, which it calls the Apple R1 chip.
All the sensors that are included in the headset are combined by the Apple R1 chip to produce accurate head and hand tracking, as well as real-time 3D mapping and eye-tracking.
The unique microprocessor, which accepts the input from 12 cameras, 5 sensors (including a lidar sensor! ), and 6 microphones, was created especially for the difficult task of real-time sensor processing. Eight times quicker than the blink of an eye, the business claims it can interpret sensor data in 12 milliseconds, which would significantly lessen motion sickness that plagues many existing AR/VR systems.
Apple R1 chip: What is it?
A microprocessor known as the Apple R1 chip was developed by the company expressly for use in mixed reality headsets like the brand-new Vision Pro.
The R1 chip is not responsible for powering the headset on its own; rather, it works in combination with the M2 chip, which is the same CPU that is used in the MacBook Air.
The Apple M2 chip is in charge of conducting operations, which is what makes it possible for you to access programs through the headset. On the other hand, the R1 processor is in charge of processing information from the headset’s sensors.
There are a total of 12 cameras, 5 sensors, and 6 microphones integrated into these sensors. Apparently, this is accomplished by analyzing the data from these sensors in a lightning-fast 12 milliseconds, which is eight times quicker than the blink of an eye.
Apple R1 chip: Revolutionizing VR motion
It is of the utmost importance for Apple to make these procedures as fast as is humanly feasible since doing so will assist to lower the risk of experiencing motion sickness.
If the human eye is able to notice even the slightest amount of delay when the user is moving around with the headset on, they may begin to feel queasy and disoriented. The Apple R1 chip has the responsibility of preventing anything like this from occurring.
The fact that the headset has not one but two CPUs is not without its drawbacks, since this might hasten the rate at which the battery is depleted. Apple states that a single charge will only keep the headset’s battery alive for a total of two hours.
Those who own a Macbook Air may be taken aback by this information because the M2 processor is generally regarded as being very energy efficient; nevertheless, the addition of the R1 chip alongside the M2 would most certainly cause the battery to drain even more quickly than that of any MacBook.
It is possible that the price of the headset has also increased as a result of the addition of both processors. Apple has disclosed that the price of the headgear would be an astounding $3499. Although the fact that this headset has both the R1 and M2 CPUs is likely to be one of the primary contributors to its high price, the presence of other probable contributing factors cannot be ruled out.
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