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RealWear HMT-1

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RealWear HMT-1
Basic Info
VR/AR Assisted Reality
Type Head-Mounted Display
Subtype Enterprise AR
Platform Android 10 AOSP with WearHF
Developer RealWear
Manufacturer RealWear
Release Date 2018
Price ~$2,500 USD
Website https://www.realwear.com/
Successor RealWear Navigator 500
System
Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 626
Storage
Storage 32 GB Flash
Memory 3 GB RAM
Display
Display 854x480 LCD (24-bit)
Image
Field of View 20°
Optics
Tracking
Audio
Audio Noise-canceling microphones (95 dBA)
Camera 16 MP (optical image stabilization)
Connectivity
Connectivity Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth, GPS
Device
Weight 380g


The RealWear HMT-1 (Head-Mounted Tablet) is an industrial assisted reality head-mounted display developed by RealWear, released in 2018. The world's first hands-free Android tablet-class wearable computer for industrial workers, the HMT-1 features 100% voice-controlled operation that works in noise up to 95 dBA, a boom-mounted micro display appearing like a 7-inch tablet at arm's length, and rugged construction surviving 2-meter drops and IP66 water exposure. Supporting 17 languages with offline voice recognition, the HMT-1 became the market leader in industrial wearables for remote assistance, work instructions, and documentation in manufacturing, field service, and hazardous environments.

History and Development

RealWear launched the HMT-1 in 2018, pioneering the assisted reality category for industrial workers who need heads-up information without blocking their view of the real world. The HMT-1 quickly became the market leader in industrial wearables, with deployments across oil & gas, manufacturing, utilities, and other heavy industries. The device was succeeded by the RealWear Navigator 500 with improved specifications while maintaining the voice-first design philosophy.[1]

Design and Hardware

Display

Micro display below line of sight:

  • 854x480 resolution (24-bit LCD)
  • 20° field of view
  • 1-meter focal depth
  • Appears like 7-inch tablet at arm's length
  • Below line of sight (non-obstructive)
  • Industrial dashboard design
  • There when needed, out of way otherwise

Voice Control

100% hands-free operation:

  • Digital directional microphones
  • Noise cancellation up to 95 dBA
  • 17 languages supported
  • Offline voice recognition
  • No internet required
  • Applications controlled via voice
  • Natural command structure

Supported Languages

German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Japanese, Korean, Thai, Polish, Indonesian, Taiwanese, Dutch, Czech

Processing

Camera

  • 16 MP camera
  • Optical image stabilization
  • 1080p video @ 30fps
  • Photo capture
  • Barcode scanning

Ruggedness

Industrial-grade durability:

  • IP66 rated (water jets, dust)
  • 2-meter drop resistance onto concrete (any angle)
  • MIL-STD-810G compliant
  • Operating temperature: -20°C to +50°C
  • Heavy seas/powerful jets protection
  • Dust-tight

Battery

Extended runtime with hot-swap:

  • 8+ hours battery life
  • Removable battery
  • Hot-swappable (warm swap during operation)
  • No reboot required for battery change
  • Power manager integrated

Build

Adjustable boom arm design:

  • 380g weight
  • 6 degrees of freedom adjustment
  • Up/down, left/right, forward/back
  • Left or right eye dominant use
  • Compatible with:
    • Safety helmets
    • Safety caps
    • Safety goggles

Connectivity

  • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz)
  • Bluetooth (primary or secondary mode)
  • GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, A-GPS
  • 3-axis accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope

Enterprise Applications

Remote Assistance

  • Expert guidance
  • Video collaboration
  • Hands-free troubleshooting

Work Instructions

  • Step-by-step procedures
  • Visual overlays
  • Document access

Documentation

  • Photo/video capture
  • Voice notes
  • Hands-free recording

Inspection

  • Quality control
  • Asset inspection
  • Compliance documentation

Technical Specifications

Specification Details
Display 854x480 LCD
Field of View 20°
Processor Snapdragon 626
RAM/Storage 3 GB / 32 GB
Camera 16 MP (OIS)
Voice Languages 17
Noise Tolerance 95 dBA
IP Rating IP66
Drop Resistance 2m (MIL-STD-810G)
Battery 8+ hours (hot-swap)
Weight 380g
Price ~$2,500

Reception

Praise:

  • Market leader in industrial wearables
  • 100% voice-controlled operation
  • 95 dBA noise cancellation impressive
  • 17 languages with offline support
  • 8+ hour battery with hot-swap
  • IP66 + 2m drop truly rugged
  • Non-obstructive display position
  • Helmet/safety gear compatible
  • Hands-free documentation effective
  • Android ecosystem familiar

Criticism:

  • ~$2,500 enterprise pricing
  • 20° FOV very narrow
  • 854x480 low resolution
  • No AR overlays on real world
  • Monocular only
  • 380g weight noticeable
  • Boom arm can be cumbersome[2]

See Also

References