Meta Aria

Meta Aria Gen 2
Basic Info
VR/AR	Augmented Reality / Research Device
Type	Research Glasses
Subtype	AI Research Glasses, Egocentric Vision
Platform	Proprietary Research Platform
Creator	Meta (Reality Labs)
Developer	Meta Reality Labs
Manufacturer	Meta
Announcement Date	2024 (Gen 2)
Release Date	2024 (Aria Research Kit)
Price	Research partner program only
Website	https://www.projectaria.com/
Versions	Aria Gen 1, Aria Gen 2 (8 size variations)
Requires	Research partnership with Meta
Predecessor	Project Aria Gen 1
Successor	None announced (precursor to Meta Orion)
System
Operating System	Proprietary
Chipset	Custom processing
CPU	On-device processing
GPU	On-device
Storage
Storage	Internal storage
Memory	Internal RAM
SD Card Slot	No
Display
Display	No AR display (research sensors only)
Subpixel Layout	N/A
Peak Brightness	N/A
Resolution	N/A (sensor device)
Pixel Density	N/A
Refresh Rate	N/A
Persistence	N/A
Image
Field of View	~300° camera coverage
Horizontal FoV	~300° combined cameras
Vertical FoV	Wide coverage
Average Pixel Density	N/A
Peak Pixel Density	N/A
Foveated Rendering	N/A
Optics
Optics	N/A (sensor glasses)
Ocularity	N/A
IPD Range	N/A
Adjustable Diopter	N/A
Passthrough	N/A
Tracking
Tracking	6DoF VIO (Visual Inertial Odometry)
Tracking Frequency	High-speed
Base Stations	None required
Eye Tracking	Yes (per-eye gaze, vergence, blink detection)
Face Tracking	No
Hand Tracking	Yes (3D hand tracking)
Body Tracking	No
Rotational Tracking	Yes
Positional Tracking	Yes
Update Rate	Real-time
Tracking Volume	Indoor/outdoor
Play Space	Real-world environment
Latency	Low latency on-device processing
Audio
Audio	Force-canceling open-ear speakers
Microphone	Yes (spatial microphones + contact mic)
3.5mm Audio Jack	No
Camera	RGB + 4× CV cameras + IR eye tracking
Connectivity
Connectivity	Wireless data transfer
Ports	Proprietary
Wired Video	No
Wireless Video	Yes (data streaming)
WiFi	Yes
Bluetooth	Yes
Power	Internal battery
Battery Capacity	Internal
Battery Life	6-8 hours continuous use
Charge Time	N/A
Device
Dimensions	Standard eyewear with folding arms
Weight	74-76g
Material	Lightweight frame
Headstrap	None (temples)
Haptics	No
Color	Professional
Sensors	RGB camera (120dB HDR), 4× CV cameras, eye tracking cameras, IMU, barometer, magnetometer, GNSS, PPG (heart rate), contact microphone, UV sensor
Input	Sensor capture only
Compliance	Research use only

Property "VR/AR" (as page type) with input value "Augmented Reality]] / [[Research Device" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process. Property "Creator" (as page type) with input value "Meta]] (Reality Labs)" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process. Property "Predecessor" (as page type) with input value "Project Aria]] Gen 1" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process. Property "Successor" (as page type) with input value "None announced (precursor to Meta Orion)" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

Meta Aria Gen 2 (also known as Project Aria) is a research-focused wearable sensor device developed by Meta's Reality Labs, with Gen 2 introduced in 2024. Unlike consumer smart glasses, Aria does not feature an AR display—instead, it is an advanced sensor platform designed to capture egocentric (first-person) data for research in machine perception, contextual AI, robotics, and the development of future AR glasses like Meta Orion. Weighing just 74-76 grams depending on size (available in 8 variations for optimal fit), Aria Gen 2 features an extensive sensor suite including a high dynamic range RGB camera (120dB vs 70dB in Gen 1), four computer vision cameras providing approximately 300° field of view coverage, camera-based eye tracking with per-eye gaze, vergence point, blink detection, pupil diameter estimation, and 3D hand tracking capabilities. The glasses include spatial microphones and a novel contact microphone embedded in the nosepad to distinguish the wearer's voice from bystanders, along with a PPG sensor for heart rate measurement. With 6-8 hours of continuous battery life and force-canceling open-ear speakers for audio feedback, Aria Gen 2 performs real-time on-device processing rather than relying on cloud computing. Meta provides Aria to internal researchers and over 200 academic and corporate partners through the Aria Research Kit (ARK) program, which became available to broader research community applicants in 2024.

History and Development

Project Aria Origins

Research initiative:

Announced September 2020
Egocentric vision research
Future AR development
Reality Labs project

Gen 1 Development

First generation:

Internal research use
Partner program
Data collection
Technology development

Gen 2 Introduction

Current generation:

2024 announcement
Major sensor upgrades
Expanded partnerships
Research Kit program

Relationship to Orion

AR glasses connection:

Precursor technology
Research data collection
Algorithm development
Future AR foundation

Design Philosophy

Research-First Design

Purpose:

Not consumer product
Research data capture
Algorithm training
Technology development

Everyday Wearability

Form factor:

Standard eyewear size
Folding arms (Gen 2)
Comfortable weight
All-day use capability

Comprehensive Sensing

Sensor priority:

Maximum data capture
Multi-modal sensors
Environmental awareness
User state tracking

On-Device Processing

Privacy design:

Local processing
Reduced cloud dependency
Lower latency
Privacy enhancement

Physical Design

Weight

Lightweight form:

Weight: 74-76g (depending on size)
Standard eyewear weight
All-day comfortable
Extended wear ready

Size Variations

Fit options:

Sizes: 8 variations
Head breadth options
Nose bridge variations
Optimal fit for all users

Folding Arms

Portability:

Collapsible temples
Easy storage
Transport-friendly
Everyday practicality

Camera System

RGB Camera

Primary camera:

HDR Range: 120dB (Gen 2) vs 70dB (Gen 1)
Global shutter
Superior low-light
Diverse lighting handling

Computer Vision Cameras

Spatial awareness:

Count: 4 CV cameras
Coverage: ~300° field of view
Front, sides, and rear
3D depth mapping

Global Shutter

Image quality:

No rolling shutter artifacts
Motion clarity
Computer vision optimized
Blur elimination

Ambient Light Sensor

Exposure optimization:

UV sensor included
Indoor/outdoor detection
Automatic adjustment
Optimal capture conditions

Eye Tracking

Camera-Based System

Gaze detection:

Eye tracking cameras
Per-eye gaze tracking
High accuracy
Real-time update

Eye Tracking Data

Captured metrics:

Gaze per eye: Individual eye direction
Vergence point: Point of focus
Blink detection: Eye closure
Pupil center: Position estimation
Pupil diameter: Size measurement
Corneal center: Eye geometry

Spatial Tracking

6DoF VIO

Position tracking:

Visual Inertial Odometry
Six degrees of freedom
Spatial frame reference
No external markers

Environment Mapping

Spatial understanding:

Real-time mapping
Feature extraction
Location identification
Navigation capability

Hand Tracking

Gesture capture:

3D hand tracking
Spatial hand position
Interaction research
Natural input study

Audio System

Spatial Microphones

Audio capture:

Multiple microphones
Spatial audio recording
Environmental sound
Conversation capture

Contact Microphone

Novel sensor (Gen 2):

Nosepad embedded
Wearer voice isolation
Bystander distinction
Privacy enhancement

Force-Canceling Speakers

Audio output:

Open-ear design
Best-in-class quality
Audio feedback
System prototyping

Additional Sensors

IMU

Motion sensing:

Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Motion tracking
Orientation data

Environmental Sensors

Context awareness:

Barometer: Altitude/weather
Magnetometer: Compass/orientation
GNSS: GPS location
Environmental context

PPG Sensor

Health monitoring (Gen 2):

Nosepad embedded
Heart rate measurement
Physiological data
User state tracking

Battery

Battery Life

Power specifications:

Continuous use: 6-8 hours
All-day research
Extended capture
Practical duration

Research Applications

Machine Perception

Computer vision:

Egocentric vision training
Object recognition
Scene understanding
Activity detection

Contextual AI

AI development:

Environmental understanding
User intent prediction
Context awareness
Intelligent assistance

Robotics

Robot development:

Human-robot interaction
Navigation algorithms
Manipulation research
Embodied AI

Accessibility

Assistive technology:

Blind/low-vision research
Navigation assistance
Environmental description
Inclusive technology

Availability

Internal Research

Meta use:

Reality Labs research
Internal teams
Product development
Algorithm training

Partner Program

External access:

Partners: 200+ academic/corporate
Research collaboration
Data sharing
Joint development

Aria Research Kit (ARK)

Broader access (2024):

Research community applications
Expanded availability
Academic access
External researchers

Comparison with Research/Smart Glasses

Feature	Meta Aria Gen 2	Ray-Ban Meta	Snap Spectacles	Google Glass EE2
Type	Research sensors	Consumer smart	AR development	Enterprise
AR Display	No	No	Yes	Yes
Weight	74-76g	~50g	226g	51g
Eye Tracking	Yes	No	Yes	No
Hand Tracking	Yes	No	Yes	No
RGB Camera HDR	120dB	Standard	Standard	Standard
CV Cameras	4 (~300°)	1	Multiple	1
Battery Life	6-8 hours	4 hours	45 min	8 hours
Availability	Research only	Consumer	Developer	Enterprise
Price	Partner program	$299	$99/month	$999

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths

120dB high dynamic range RGB camera
~300° CV camera coverage (4 cameras)
Comprehensive eye tracking (gaze, vergence, blink, pupil)
3D hand tracking capability
74-76g lightweight design
8 size variations for optimal fit
6-8 hours battery life
On-device real-time processing
Contact microphone for voice isolation
PPG heart rate sensor
GNSS + barometer + magnetometer

Limitations

No AR display (sensor-only device)
Not available for consumer purchase
Research partnership required
Limited to approved programs
Not a commercial product
Specific research use cases
Data handling restrictions
Academic/corporate focus only

Technical Specifications Summary

Specification	Details
Type	Research sensor glasses
Weight	74-76g
Sizes	8 variations
RGB Camera	Global shutter, 120dB HDR
CV Cameras	4 (~300° coverage)
Eye Tracking	Per-eye gaze, vergence, blink, pupil
Hand Tracking	3D hand position
Spatial Tracking	6DoF VIO
Audio	Spatial mics + contact mic + speakers
Sensors	IMU, barometer, magnetometer, GNSS, PPG
Battery	6-8 hours
Availability	Research partner program

References