DAQRI Smart Glasses
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| DAQRI Smart Glasses | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality |
| Type | Smart Glasses |
| Subtype | Enterprise AR |
| Platform | DAQRI Visual Operating System (VOS), DAQRI Worksense |
| Creator | DAQRI |
| Developer | DAQRI |
| Manufacturer | DAQRI |
| Announcement Date | January 2017 (CES 2017) |
| Release Date | 7 November 2017 (shipping to customers) |
| Price | US$4,995 (price at shipping launch, November 2017) |
| Website | https://daqri.com/ (discontinued) |
| Requires | DAQRI Compute Pack (included) |
| System | |
| Operating System | DAQRI Visual Operating System (VOS) |
| Chipset | 6th generation Intel Core m7 (in Compute Pack); dedicated vision processing unit for 6DoF tracking |
| CPU | 6th generation Intel Core m7, up to 3.10 GHz |
| GPU | Intel HD Graphics |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 64 GB solid state drive |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual LCoS optical see-through displays |
| Resolution | 1360 x 768 |
| Refresh Rate | 90 fps (frame rate) |
| Image | |
| Field of View | 44 degrees diagonal |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Optical see-through |
| Ocularity | Binocular |
| IPD Range | Adjustable |
| Adjustable Diopter | Yes (prescription compatible) |
| Passthrough | Native see-through (optical AR) |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF (SLAM with wide-angle tracking camera and dedicated vision processing unit) |
| Eye Tracking | No |
| Hand Tracking | No |
| Audio | |
| Audio | 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Microphone | 2 microphones with active noise cancellation |
| Camera | RGB 1080p HD color camera (30 fps); depth sensor 640 x 480 (30, 60, 90 fps); AR tracking camera with 166 degree diagonal fisheye lens, 640 x 480, 30 fps |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Ports | 2 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2.4/5 GHz |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Power | Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery |
| Battery Capacity | 5800 mAh |
| Device | |
| Weight | Smart Glasses: 335 g; Compute Pack: 496 g |
| Material | Plastic, polycarbonate |
| Color | Black |
| Sensors | Wide-angle tracking camera, Intel RealSense LR200 depth sensor, HD color camera, IMU |
| Input | Hands-free user interface; biometric fingerprint sensor for login (early 2017 description) |
The DAQRI Smart Glasses are discontinued enterprise augmented reality smart glasses developed by DAQRI, a Los Angeles-based AR company. The system has two parts: a lightweight set of glasses with optical see-through displays and a body-worn Compute Pack with a 6th generation Intel Core m7 processor.[1] DAQRI's specification sheet lists a 44 degree diagonal field of view, a 1360 x 768 resolution and a depth sensor, and rates the glasses to the ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 and EN166 eye-protection standards.[2]
DAQRI announced the glasses at CES 2017 and took orders for a developer kit at that time.[3] The product began shipping to customers on 7 November 2017 at US$4,995, aimed at manufacturing, field services, maintenance and repair, inspections and construction.[4] DAQRI began winding down its business in September 2019 and retired the Smart Glasses and its Worksense cloud services at the end of that month.[5]
History and development
DAQRI background
Before the glasses, DAQRI sold the DAQRI Smart Helmet, an industrial AR helmet that also offered thermal imaging.[1] Geo Week News described the Smart Glasses at their announcement as bringing the helmet's technology to people who do not need rugged head protection, such as designers, office workers, engineers and light-industrial workers.[3]
CES 2017 announcement
DAQRI showed the Smart Glasses at CES in January 2017. At that point the company was taking orders for a developer kit priced at US$5,000, and Geo Week News reported that there was no word yet on the final release date or price. The announcement described an Intel RealSense camera for tracking, an Intel Core m7 processor, a Bluetooth keyboard in the kit, and compatibility with CAD software, Unity, Windows and Linux.[3] DAQRI's product page from the same month invited companies to reserve the glasses through an Early Adopter Program.[6]
2017 launch
DAQRI began shipping the Smart Glasses to customers worldwide on 7 November 2017. They were sold for US$4,995 on DAQRI's website and through selected distributors and resellers. At the launch, DAQRI announced a partnership with Flex that it said would provide global reach, Dell as a distribution partner through the Dell VR/AR Technology Partner Program, and integrations with enterprise software from Autodesk, IBM, Oracle, Siemens and Emerson.[4] VentureBeat reported the processor as an Intel Core m7 at 3.1 GHz and noted that Roy Ashok had recently replaced founder Brian Mullins as CEO.[7] The shipping package included the glasses, a Compute Pack with DAQRI Vos installed, the Vos Extension for Unity developer tools, over-the-air updates and enterprise device management.[1]
Worksense and subscription sales
On 7 March 2018, DAQRI announced DAQRI Worksense, a suite of AR productivity apps, along with a Worksense Pro Subscription that bundled the software and the Smart Glasses on 12 or 24 month terms. The press release gave a list price of US$549 (EUR 469) for a 24 month subscription and a launch promotion, available through 31 May 2018, of US$389 (EUR 329) per month on a 24 month subscription.[8] VentureBeat reported that customers who bought the glasses before 31 May 2018 would receive a six-month trial of Worksense Pro.[9] In May 2018 DAQRI's product page still offered the glasses for direct purchase with a "Buy Now" option.[10] By April 2019 the page said the glasses came with the purchase of a DAQRI Worksense subscription through the sales team.[11]
Company closure
In September 2019 DAQRI announced by email that it was taking part in an asset acquisition that would "put an end to [Daqri's] industrial wearables business and begin the wind down of the company". According to the email, the Smart Glasses and the Worksense cloud solutions were to be retired at the end of September. Road to VR reported that the company, founded in 2010, had raised US$275 million in total, including US$260 million in 2017.[5] Citing former employees and people close to the company, TechCrunch reported that DAQRI had shuttered its headquarters, laid off many employees and was selling off assets; a source told TechCrunch that the head-worn AR division had failed to gain momentum after prolonged setbacks in adoption of the smart glasses, including difficulty training workers to use the hardware.[12] Road to VR noted that other AR startups had also run into trouble, including Meta, maker of the Meta 2, and Osterhout Design Group.[5]
Design and hardware
Two-part system
The weight is split between the glasses and a separate Compute Pack worn on the body, which DAQRI said was meant for comfort and flexibility.[4] The data sheet gives the weight of the Smart Glasses as 335 g and the Compute Pack as 496 g.[2] The box contained the glasses, the Compute Pack, a USB Type-C cable and power supply, and a carrying case with shoulder strap, among other items.[2]
Display system
The glasses use dual LCoS optical displays with a 44 degree diagonal field of view, a resolution of 1360 x 768 and a frame rate of 90 fps.[2] DAQRI described the displays as bright, transparent and stereoscopic, for use both indoors and outdoors.[4] Its early 2017 product page said the see-through display had been ruggedized for industrial environments.[6]
Processor and storage
The Compute Pack runs a 6th generation Intel Core m7 processor at up to 3.10 GHz and has a 64 GB solid state drive. A separate vision processing unit handles six degrees of freedom tracking.[2]
Sensors and tracking
The glasses have three cameras: a wide-angle AR tracking camera, a depth-sensing camera, and an HD color camera for photos and video.[4] DAQRI's early product page identified the depth sensor as the Intel RealSense LR200 and said the tracking camera had its own AR-optimized processor.[6] DAQRI said the tracking combined hardware-accelerated simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) with sparse mapping, so a model pinned to a point in space stayed in place across large areas such as a factory or construction site.[4]
| Sensor | Specification (per DAQRI data sheet) |
|---|---|
| Depth sensor | Range 0.4 m to 4 m; 640 x 480; 30, 60 or 90 fps |
| Color camera | RGB 1080p HD, 30 fps |
| AR tracking camera | 166 degree diagonal wide-angle fisheye lens; 640 x 480; 30 fps |
Source: DAQRI data sheet.[2]
Audio, battery and connectivity
The system has two microphones with active noise cancellation, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and two USB 3.1 Type-C ports. Power comes from a built-in rechargeable 5800 mAh lithium-ion battery. Wireless connectivity is Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac on 2.4 and 5 GHz, plus Bluetooth.[2]
Login
DAQRI's January 2017 product page described a biometric fingerprint sensor that let a user log in with one touch instead of entering a username and password.[6]
Safety certifications
| Area | Certification or rating |
|---|---|
| Eye protection | ANSI/ISEA Z87.1 (Eye and Face Protection); EN166 1S (Highest Optical Class, Increased Robustness Eye Protection) |
| Safety | IEC 60950-1 |
| Agency certifications | United States (FCC), Canada (IC), European Economic Area (CE), Australia (RCM), New Zealand (R-NZ) |
| Operating range | 0 to 37 degrees C; designed for indoor and outdoor use |
Source: DAQRI data sheet.[2]
Software and features
DAQRI Visual Operating System
DAQRI's AR software ran on its DAQRI Visual Operating System (VOS).[6] The Compute Pack shipped with Vos installed, and developers could build applications with the Vos Extension for Unity.[1]
DAQRI Worksense
DAQRI Worksense Standard, a suite of productivity apps for AR tasks, came with the Smart Glasses.[2] The March 2018 announcement listed five apps. DAQRI Show was available immediately, and the rest were to be released through an Early Adopter Program over the following months.[8]
| App | Purpose (per DAQRI's announcement) |
|---|---|
| DAQRI Show | Video, voice and 3D collaboration so a remote expert can observe and annotate the wearer's view |
| DAQRI Tag | Attaches information and media to real-world spaces, facilities and assets |
| DAQRI Scan | Captures photorealistic, shareable 3D models of environments |
| DAQRI Model: BIM Edition | Full-scale walkthroughs of design models |
| DAQRI Guide | Instructions and reference media in the AR view |
Sources: DAQRI press release and VentureBeat.[8][9]
VentureBeat reported that Scan creates 3D digital models of environments and that Model integrates Autodesk 3D objects.[9] Worksense Pro added enterprise features such as team collaboration and analytics.[8]
Applications
DAQRI marketed the glasses for data visualization, guided work instructions and remote expert assistance.[6] In the November 2017 shipping announcement, Frank Vossnacker, a senior R&D project leader at Siemens, said that in one project using DAQRI's platform, "gas burners, which typically take two hours to build and a day to train, were assembled with 100% accuracy in under an hour by complete novices". The same announcement named Royal BAM Group, which planned to start with Zaans Medical Centre in the Netherlands, along with Parker Hannifin, Aprilia and Mortenson Construction as companies working with DAQRI.[4]
Reception
Road to VR pointed out that the Smart Glasses cost the same as the Microsoft HoloLens Commercial Suite and, like Microsoft's headset, were aimed at professionals rather than consumers.[1] VentureBeat named Osterhout Design Group as a competitor.[7] In its report on the shutdown, TechCrunch cited a source who said adoption of DAQRI's smart glasses had suffered prolonged setbacks, in part because workers were hard to train on the hardware.[12] TechCrunch also wrote that DAQRI faced competition from Magic Leap and Microsoft, which had larger financial resources.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Scott Hayden (2017-11-08). "Daqri is Now Shipping Its AR Smart Glasses to Professionals". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/daqri-now-shipping-ar-smart-glasses-professionals/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "DAQRI Smart Glasses - Professional Grade AR (data sheet DQDSGDS2)". DAQRI. DAQRI. https://assets.ctfassets.net/rf6r9wh4bnrh/1qqj875VQMGWWMqQ0IKiKi/7b312efce249e81e810299ca8adaa70f/DQDSGDS2_DSG_DataSheet_Letter.pdf. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "DAQRI's New Smart Glasses Take Mixed Reality to the Office". Geo Week News. 2017-01-10. https://www.geoweeknews.com/articles/daqris-new-smart-glasses-take-mixed-reality-office/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "DAQRI Smart Glasses Ship to Customers". DAQRI on Medium. DAQRI. 2017-11-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20220515083449/https://medium.com/@DAQRI/daqri-smart-glasses-ship-to-customers-cd7dc4ea281b. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Scott Hayden (2019-09-13). "Well-funded AR Headset Startup DAQRI is Shutting Down". Road to VR. https://roadtovr.com/daqri-ar-shutdown/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "Smart Glasses". DAQRI. DAQRI. 2017-01-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20170131004629/https://daqri.com/products/smart-glasses/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Dean Takahashi (2017-11-07). "Daqri ships augmented reality smart glasses for professionals". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/ai/daqri-ships-augmented-reality-smart-glasses-for-professionals. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Announcing DAQRI Worksense, the Productivity Suite for Augmented Reality". PRWeb. DAQRI. 2018-03-07. https://www.prweb.com/releases/announcing_daqri_worksense_the_productivity_suite_for_augmented_reality/prweb15288047.htm. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Dean Takahashi (2018-03-07). "Daqri Worksense lets workers tag and scan their environments in AR". VentureBeat. https://venturebeat.com/business/daqri-worksense-enables-new-ar-productivity-applications/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ "Smart Glasses". DAQRI. DAQRI. 2018-05-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509110913/https://www.daqri.com/products/smart-glasses/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ "Smart Glasses". DAQRI. DAQRI. 2019-04-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20190409002651/https://daqri.com/products/smart-glasses/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Lucas Matney (2019-09-12). "Another high-flying, heavily funded AR headset startup is shutting down". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/12/another-high-flying-heavily-funded-ar-headset-startup-is-shutting-down/. Retrieved 2026-09-27.