ODG R-9
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| ODG R-9 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basic Info | |
| VR/AR | Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality |
| Type | Smart Glasses |
| Subtype | Enterprise AR, Consumer AR |
| Platform | ReticleOS (Android 7.0 Nougat framework) |
| Creator | Osterhout Design Group |
| Developer | Osterhout Design Group |
| Manufacturer | Osterhout Design Group |
| Announcement Date | 3 January 2017 (CES 2017) |
| Release Date | Not commercially released; initial shipping was targeted for the second quarter of 2017, later "Fall 2017"; ODG described "limited quantities" in 2018 |
| Price | About US$1,799 (announced January 2017); reservations at US$1,999 (US$2,199 international) by July 2018 |
| Website | https://web.archive.org/web/20171023200716/https://www.osterhoutgroup.com/r-9-smartglasses (archived; company defunct) |
| Requires | None (standalone) |
| Predecessor | R-7 Smartglasses |
| System | |
| Operating System | ReticleOS on the Android Nougat (7.0) framework |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 |
| CPU | 2.45 GHz 8-core (Snapdragon 835) |
| GPU | Adreno 540 |
| Storage | |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Memory | 6 GB LPDDR4 RAM |
| Display | |
| Display | Dual 1080p OLED stereoscopic see-through displays |
| Resolution | 1080p per eye |
| Refresh Rate | Up to 60 fps (ODG tech sheet); 80 Hz reported at announcement |
| Image | |
| Field of View | Over 50 degrees (22:9 and 16:9 aspect ratios) |
| Optics | |
| Optics | Folded optics, optical see-through |
| Ocularity | Binocular (stereoscopic) |
| Adjustable Diopter | Optional corrective lens inserts |
| Passthrough | Optical see-through |
| Tracking | |
| Tracking | 6DoF inside-out (visual-inertial odometry, Snapdragon VR SDK) |
| Audio | |
| Audio | Built-in stereo speakers |
| Microphone | Digital microphones (environment and user) |
| Camera | 13 MP autofocus (4K at 60 fps, 1080p at 120 fps); two 1080p front cameras for stereo capture and depth sensing; ultra-wide fisheye tracking camera |
| Connectivity | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, GNSS (GPS/GLONASS), USB Type-C |
| Ports | USB Type-C (charging, data, audio and video output); expansion port (MIPI-CSI) |
| WiFi | 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 |
| Power | Internal batteries |
| Battery Capacity | 1,400 mAh (2 x 700 mAh) |
| Battery Life | About 2 hours of full AR, 4-5 hours of movie playback (ODG figures) |
| Device | |
| Weight | Under 6.5 oz (about 184 g) |
| Sensors | IMU with 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer; altitude, humidity and ambient light sensors |
| Input | Trackpad and controls on the frame; companion phone app; Bluetooth accessories |
The ODG R-9 (marketed as the R-9 Smartglasses) is a pair of standalone augmented reality smart glasses developed by Osterhout Design Group (ODG) of San Francisco. ODG announced the R-9 at CES 2017 on 3 January 2017, together with the smaller R-8, as one of the first devices announced with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor.[1][2] It had dual 1080p see-through displays with a field of view of more than 50 degrees, six-degrees-of-freedom inside-out tracking, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, and ODG priced it at about US$1,799.[1][3][4]
ODG aimed the R-9 at light enterprise users, "prosumer" media viewing and developers building mobile AR and VR applications.[1] In May 2017 THX named it the first product for its new Virtual Cinema Display certification program.[5] The glasses never reached general sale. ODG's shipping target moved from the second quarter of 2017 to fall 2017, and through 2018 the company was still taking reservations while running short of money. In December 2018 a sale of its patents and other assets was scheduled for January 2019. In its account of the company's collapse, TechCrunch reported that ODG "never ended up shipping the R-9 or the R-8".[3][6][7]
Background
ODG, based in San Francisco, was founded in 1999 as a technology incubator. By 2017 it described itself as a developer and manufacturer of head-worn computers and augmented, virtual and mixed reality products.[1] Its previous model, the R-7, had been shipping since November 2015, and ODG said the R-8 and R-9 would join it in its R-series. Engadget noted that both new models would be much cheaper than the US$2,750 R-7.[1][8] In December 2016 ODG announced a US$58 million Series A round with strategic investors including 21st Century Fox, Shenzhen O-film Tech and Vanfund Urban Investment & Development.[1]
ODG said the R-9 was based on its 50-degree, 1080p "Project Horizon" platform, which had already won awards.[1][2]
Announcement
ODG introduced the R-8 and R-9 at CES 2017 in Las Vegas on 3 January 2017. ODG's release said the R-9 had won in three CES 2017 Innovation Award categories, and that ODG was "the first to announce devices using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor".[1] TechCrunch likewise called the pair "the first smart glasses announced to use Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chip".[2]
The two models had different targets. ODG pitched the R-8 (under US$1,000, 720p displays, a field of view of more than 40 degrees, under 4.5 oz) at early consumer adopters. The R-9 was meant for wide-field-of-view uses "from light enterprise to prosumer media consumption", and also as a development platform for "sophisticated mobile AR/VR and smartglasses applications".[1] Engadget described the R-8 as the more consumer-friendly of the two, while the R-9 was "designed to be for enterprise use".[8] In an interview with UploadVR, ODG COO Pete Jameson said the R-9's display was "calibrated to reproduce the visual experience of sitting in the middle seat in a digital cinema".[9]
ODG's press release said the R-9 would be "priced around $1,799 with initial shipping targeted 2Q17".[1] UploadVR reported availability for developers in the second quarter of 2017 and for consumers in the third quarter. It also gave a list price of US$1,800 and said ODG offered prescription corrective lenses for under US$50.[9] Road to VR reported that R-9 development kits would launch in the second quarter of 2017;[10] ODG's release put the first R-8 developer units in the second half of 2017.[1]
ODG's CES booth showed entertainment content made with the Fox Innovation Lab of 21st Century Fox, an AR proof of concept based on 20th Century Fox's Alien franchise, a rendering showcase with OTOY, and AR demonstrations built with Vuforia. ODG also said the R-8 and R-9 were "expected to support" PTC's Vuforia platform.[1]
Design and hardware
THX's certification release described the R-9 as "a fully loaded, self-contained computer".[5] ODG's R-9 tech sheet (version 1.0.1) lists a 2.45 GHz eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 6 GB of LPDDR4 RAM, 128 GB of storage and two 700 mAh lithium-ion batteries (1,400 mAh in total).[4] The Snapdragon 835's graphics processor is the Adreno 540.[11] ODG gave the weight as under 6.5 oz.[9][2] The frame has a replaceable, adjustable nose bridge, changeable ear horns and interchangeable front shields.[4]
Display and optics
The R-9 has two 1080p stereoscopic see-through displays with a field of view of 50 degrees (described on ODG's product page as "greater than 50°"), and supports 22:9 ("cinema wide") and 16:9 aspect ratios.[4][3][9] Road to VR reported that both new models used OLED displays at 80 Hz with a "folded optics approach". ODG's tech sheet lists the displays at "up to 60fps", and so does a later ODG product comparison page.[10][4][12] THX's certification release compared the 50-degree view to a 100-inch cinema screen seen from 8 feet away.[5]
Cameras, tracking and sensors
ODG used the Snapdragon VR SDK for hardware-accelerated, visual-inertial odometry based 6DoF motion tracking, so the glasses tracked their own position without external base stations.[1][13] Road to VR quoted ODG as saying the R-8 and R-9 "weren't built for the same level of tracking quality as HoloLens".[10] The tech sheet lists a 13 MP autofocus camera (4K at 60 fps or 1080p at 120 fps), two 1080p front-facing cameras for stereo capture and depth sensing, and an ultra-wide-angle fisheye camera "for enhanced environmental tracking and positioning".[4] A later ODG comparison page lists the R-9's cameras as "Dual 5MP Stereoscopic plus Ultra-wide Fisheye for Tracking and Positioning".[12] The motion sensors are an inertial measurement unit with a 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer, plus altitude, humidity and ambient light sensors.[4]
Connectivity, audio and expansion
Wireless connections are Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11ac, and the glasses have GNSS positioning (GPS and GLONASS); UploadVR's specification list gave this as "GPS - GNSS with iZAT", Qualcomm's location technology.[4][9] A USB Type-C port handles charging, data, audio and video output. Audio comes from built-in stereo speakers, with digital microphones for the environment and the user.[4]
The R-9 has an expansion port for add-on modules, and the R-8 does not.[10][9] The tech sheet lists it as a MIPI-CSI port; UploadVR described it as a MIPI and USB module connector.[4][9] ODG said the port "taps directly into the headset's hardware". Example modules given at launch were ultraviolet, night-vision and gesture input cameras, a medical wavelength emitter, a multi-camera module for AR gaming and a cellular radio.[10][9]
Battery and accessories
SlashGear reported ODG's battery estimates: about two hours of full AR use, four to five hours of movie playback, and a full day of casual use.[13] The tech sheet lists interchangeable shields and a power supply as included accessories. Optional accessories were the Reticle Speed Mouse, a wireless keyboard, a portable backup power supply, corrective lens inserts, replacement nose pads and ear horns, a head strap and a carrying case.[4]
Software
The R-9 runs ReticleOS, ODG's operating system built on the Android Nougat framework (Android 7.0).[4][9] Road to VR reported that regular Android apps could run on it in a legacy mode. It also reported that the glasses could be controlled with buttons on the frame, a phone app or Bluetooth accessories.[10] ODG's announcement called its open Android platform a target for developers porting existing apps or writing new ones. With Vuforia support, ODG said, the R-8 and R-9 would be open to Vuforia's more than 300,000 registered developers.[1]
In July 2018 Next Reality published an ODG video of a prototype ReticleOS media player for the R-9, in which users chose and launched films with head movements alone. Next Reality reported that the app had no release date.[14]
Certification and demonstrations
On 30 May 2017 THX Ltd. announced its Virtual Cinema Display Certification program for augmented and virtual reality wearable devices and said the R-9 would become the first certified product. THX said the program tests color accuracy, video processing, grayscale quality and visual geometry, and that certification guarantees smooth video playback without stuttering or motion artifacts. It said the R-9 was calibrated to the color and resolution standards used in Hollywood studios. In the release, Ralph Osterhout said ODG had received feedback from expert users citing "no visible pixels and the ability to read 8-point font with photo-realistic clarity". ODG also said it would show the R-9 at the Augmented World Expo 2017 in Santa Clara.[5] ODG's product page later called the R-9 the "World's only THX-certified, Hollywood-standard smartglasses".[3]
At Money20/20 in Las Vegas in October 2017, Mastercard showed a proof-of-concept AR shopping demo built with ODG and Qualcomm. It used the R-9 "with enhanced iris tracking cameras" and Qualcomm's iris authentication to confirm Masterpass payments in a simulated Saks Fifth Avenue store.[15]
Release status
The R-9 missed its second-quarter 2017 target. In October 2017 ODG's product page offered reservations and said the R-9 was "Shipping Fall 2017"; that line was gone by February 2018, and the page still offered reservations.[3][16] In mid-2018 ODG's "How to Buy" page asked buyers who wanted to "get in line for the upcoming R-9 Smartglasses" to make a reservation.[17] Next Reality reported in July 2018 that reservations cost US$1,999 (US$2,199 for international orders) and that the R-9 was "shipping in limited quantities".[14]
By then the company was in financial trouble. TechCrunch reported that ODG, which had around 100 employees as it prepared for its CES 2017 launch, had used up its funding before fall 2017 and lost half of its workforce by early 2018. A late-2018 sale of the company to Magic Leap at a proposed US$35 million fell through.[7] In December 2018 UploadVR reported that Hilco Streambank, acting for JGB Collateral, LLC as collateral agent for ODG's secured lender, was seeking offers for ODG's patent portfolio (107 issued patents and 83 pending applications), related trademarks and other collateral, with a sale scheduled for 15 January 2019. ODG's website was still offering R-9 reservations at the time and described the glasses as "shipping in limited quantities".[6] TechCrunch wrote in January 2019 that ODG "never ended up shipping the R-9 or the R-8 or even fulfilling all of its R-7 orders".[7]
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 January 2017 | Announced at CES 2017 at about US$1,799, with initial shipping targeted for the second quarter of 2017[1] |
| 30 May 2017 | THX names the R-9 the first product certified under its Virtual Cinema Display program[5] |
| 23 October 2017 | Mastercard, ODG and Qualcomm show an iris-authenticated AR shopping demo on the R-9 at Money20/20[15] |
| October 2017 | ODG's product page says "Shipping Fall 2017"[3] |
| July 2018 | Reservations listed at US$1,999 (US$2,199 international); ODG says "shipping in limited quantities"[14] |
| 11 December 2018 | UploadVR reports a sale of ODG's patents and other assets scheduled for 15 January 2019[6] |
| 10 January 2019 | TechCrunch reports that ODG never shipped the R-9 or R-8[7] |
Reception
At CES 2017, SlashGear's Chris Davies wrote that the R-9 looked like "oversized sunglasses" and that he could wear it over his own glasses. He found the inside-out tracking "works surprisingly well" without the lighthouse base stations needed by the HTC Vive. His demo was the International Space Station orbiting a virtual globe, which he could walk around or crouch under.[13] In a 2017 hands-on with preproduction units, Next Reality's Jason Odom wrote that the R-8's field of view was noticeably wider than that of HoloLens and the R-9's wider still, although the view "did not feel as tall" as other devices he had used. He found the tracking "fluid and accurate" but the projected image "a little darker than expected", and said both models got "very noticeably hot" after a few minutes.[18] Road to VR's Ben Lang questioned the "Consumer AR Smartglasses" label, given the prices and fields of view of the two models.[10]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 "Industry Leader ODG Introduces R-8 and R-9 Smartglasses at CES 2017". Osterhout Design Group. 2017-01-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170202012801/http://www.osterhoutgroup.com/presskit/pressreleases/Industry_Leader_ODG_Introduces_R-8_and_R-9_Smartglasses.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Ingrid Lunden (2017-01-03). "ODG unveils its first consumer AR/VR glasses, built on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 835 chip". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/03/odg-unveils-its-first-consumer-ar-glasses-built-on-qualcomms-snapdragon-835-chip/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "R-9 Smartglasses". Osterhout Design Group. 2017-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20171023200716/https://www.osterhoutgroup.com/r-9-smartglasses. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 "R-9 Smartglasses Tech Sheet (v1.0.1)". Osterhout Design Group. https://web.archive.org/web/20170608111037/http://osterhoutgroup.com/presskit/R-9-TechSheet.pdf. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 "THX Paves The Way For Excellence In Headworn Devices With Smartglass Certification Program". PR Newswire. THX Ltd.. 2017-05-30. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thx-paves-the-way-for-excellence-in-headworn-devices-with-smartglass-certification-program-300464331.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Ian Hamilton (2018-12-11). "Patent Sale For Osterhout Design Group (ODG) Planned For January". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/odg-patent-sale-osterhout-group/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lucas Matney (2019-01-10). "An AR glasses pioneer collapses". TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2019/01/10/an-ar-glasses-pioneer-collapses/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mariella Moon (2017-01-03). "ODG launches its Snapdragon 835-based mixed-reality glasses". Engadget. https://www.engadget.com/2017-01-03-odg-r-8-r9-mixed-reality-smartglasses-snapdragon-835.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 9.8 John Gaudiosi (2017-01-03). "ODG Debuts Two New AR Glasses Aimed At Consumer Market". UploadVR. https://www.uploadvr.com/ces-2017-odg-r9-r8/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Ben Lang (2017-01-03). "ODG Announces Two New Smartglasses With Positional Tracking, Expanded Field of View". Road to VR. https://www.roadtovr.com/odg-announces-smart-glasses-r8-r9-ar-qualcomm-snapdragon-835/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Ryan Shrout (2017-01-03). "Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Preview - Semi-custom Kryo 280, Adreno 540, 10nm FinFET". PC Perspective. https://pcper.com/2017/01/qualcomm-snapdragon-835-preview-semi-custom-kryo-280-adreno-540-10nm-finfet/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Compare Our Products". Osterhout Design Group. https://web.archive.org/web/20190131093359/https://www.osterhoutgroup.com/products-compare. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Chris Davies (2017-01-04). "ODG AR Smart Glasses Hands-On: Snapdragon 835 Gets Real". SlashGear. https://www.slashgear.com/odg-ar-smart-glasses-hands-on-snapdragon-835-gets-real-04470339/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Adario Strange (2018-07-31). "ODG Video Shows Off Hands-Free ReticleOS Media Player for R-9 Smartglasses". Next Reality. https://next.reality.news/news/odg-video-shows-off-hands-free-reticleos-media-player-for-r-9-smartglasses-0186286/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Mastercard Eyes the Future of Retail with Augmented Reality Shopping Experience". Business Wire. Mastercard. 2017-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20171024155045/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171023005360/en/Mastercard-Eyes-Future-Retail-Augmented-Reality-Shopping. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ "R-9 Smartglasses". Osterhout Design Group. 2018-02-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20180226120502/https://www.osterhoutgroup.com/r-9-smartglasses. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ "How to Buy". Osterhout Design Group. 2018-07-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20180709172516/https://www.osterhoutgroup.com/howtobuy. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Jason Odom. "Hands-On: Our Detailed Look at Osterhout Design Group's R-8 & R-9 Smartglasses". Next Reality. https://next.reality.news/news/hands-our-detailed-look-osterhout-design-groups-r-8-r-9-smartglasses-0176502/. Retrieved 2026-10-12.