Rebirth 08: Rise from copycat phones

Chapter 429: AI Glasses that Transcend the Era
When Xu Shen learned about the AI ​​glasses project team, he soon saw the prototype of the AI ​​glasses made by the project team.

The entire AI glasses look a bit like large black-framed glasses, especially the relatively thick supports on both sides, but the overall feel is similar to ordinary glasses, unlike the previous VR glasses and early AR glasses... They are called glasses, but they don’t look like glasses.

Especially the VR glasses currently sold by Zhiyun Group. The correct name of that thing should be "head-mounted smart display". It is relatively large in size and weight, and also requires the support of a small host with a wired connection... otherwise it cannot achieve ultra-high-resolution display effects.

So much so that many people describe this thing as a head-mounted game console... You know what, it really is a bit similar to a game console, and it's pretty good for playing games.

However, the portability is not good enough!

Previously, Zhiyun Group’s wearable device project team also developed AR glasses and tried various technical routes.

Various display screen modes have been tried, but they are relatively thick and heavy, and are limited by size, power consumption, weight, etc., resulting in poor results. Currently, the technical difficulty is still relatively large, and commercialization is difficult.

Zhiyun Group's AR glasses are also playing with optical mode.

The principle of the optical mode of AR glasses is quite simple. It is to have a built-in micro display, and then find a way to project the content of the micro display into the user's eyeballs so that the user can see it!
For example, the original plan in the early days was very simple and crude. It directly integrated a micro display on the upper part of the frame. At first glance, there seemed to be nothing wrong with it, but if the user wanted to see the content, he needed to roll his eyes up...similar to rolling his eyes.

It looks tiring, and will make outsiders think that you are rolling your eyes at him!

So, engineers began to think of other ways to project the images in the microdisplay onto the user's eyes better and more conveniently.

This has led to the emergence of various technical solutions, including the prism mode, which was an early solution but did not work well and has been abandoned.

I also tried the free-form surface solution, but the display effect was not good, so I threw it away.

Recently, many AR glasses manufacturers have favored the BirdBath mode, which is a method of collimating the image of the microdisplay through a lens, and then using a combination of a semi-transparent and semi-reflective mirror and a convex lens to magnify the virtual image and project it into the user's field of view.

This solution has low cost and low technical difficulty, but the imaging effect is still not good. Although many manufacturers are using it, Zhiyun Group still does not use it...

This is also the reason why, in recent years, many manufacturers have developed optical-based AR glasses and launched them into the market, but Zhiyun Group has never taken any action... They look down on these optical display technologies because the effects are too poor.

In the past year, Zhiyun Group's AR project team has focused its main resources on the diffraction optical waveguide technology route.

The principle of this technical solution is quite simple. It is to use optical elements to couple the light beam emitted by the micro-projection optical machine into the waveguide and propagate it in a total reflection manner.

The display effect is good and the light transmittance is high, making it look like ordinary glasses!
But there are also problems, that is, the technology is relatively complex and the cost is high.

At the same time, Zhiyun Group is currently trying to combine the high-resolution screen mode with the optical mode to obtain a better display mode. However, the technology is extremely difficult, and the existing display technology is not enough for Zhiyun Group to achieve the desired effect.

We are currently conducting joint development with Huaxing Technology and other partners. The technology is progressing at a relatively fast pace and is close to commercial application.

From the technical routes of the display modes of the above-mentioned AR glasses that Zhiyun Group has worked on, we can simply understand Zhiyun Group's R&D model in the field of AR glasses.

This is a 'multi-line R&D model'.

To put it simply, try whatever technical routes you have, try it out first to see which technical route is more feasible, and then increase investment in certain technical routes in a targeted manner. This model can shorten the research and development time and increase the success rate... There is no need to worry about not being able to develop your own technical route A, but your competitors come up with technical route B.

Of course, this model also has its flaws, namely that the R&D investment is too high, making it difficult for ordinary companies to emulate it.

Therefore, this multi-line R&D model is basically adopted by large enterprises, and huge projects require the support of top high-tech companies.

Zhiyun Group is a leading player in this R&D model. Even for a huge R&D project like the S series of mobile phones, they maintain three project teams all year round. They compete with each other every year, and the design plan of the winning team is the one that is finally launched into the market.

This design dispute is not just about the surface design, but also involves a large number of new parts and components, the application of new technologies, and the R&D investment for each design is very large.

However, Zhiyun Group does not care about the extra R&D costs, as it only wants to ensure that every year's S series mobile phones have the best design.

In the research field of smart wearable devices, Zhiyun Group has also taken similar measures, trying various technical routes and then looking for a more suitable technical route.

Huge R&D investment, coupled with the support of scientific research systems, has enabled Zhiyun Group to be significantly ahead of its competitors in the technological progress of wearable devices.

With the continuous advancement of technology, especially the advancement of semiconductor technology, advanced low-power, small-sized high-performance chips have emerged. Coupled with the advancement of imaging technology, very small cameras can also achieve ultra-high resolution.

The diffraction optical waveguide display technology developed by Zhiyun Group has also made great technological progress.

In addition, it is also inseparable from the support of the higher energy density semi-solid-state battery technology developed by its sister company Hailan Automobile, which in turn improves the battery life of small smart devices.

These technological advances in hardware have made it possible for Zhiyun Group to make miniaturized and lightweight AR glasses based on the diffraction waveguide optical display technology.

But even so, the commercial prospects of pure AR glasses are not very good...mainly due to the lack of practical ecological applications.

At the same time, Zhiyun Group currently has pure optical diffraction waveguide display technology that can be mass-produced for commercial applications. It is not the monochrome display mode that many other manufacturers focus on, but a full-color mode.

Many other manufacturers' advanced optical waveguide technology, the early research and development are focused on monochrome display, that is, only one green display, some are even monocular display... only one pair of glasses can see the content.

Zhiyun Group has previously developed binocular monochromatic diffraction optical waveguide technology. The diffraction optical waveguide technology that has recently achieved a technological breakthrough is actually a binocular full-color mode.

This is more advanced and displays richer content, but the corresponding technology is more complex and more expensive.

Engineers are currently trying to find ways to further improve performance while reducing costs to achieve large-scale commercial applications. Otherwise, things that are too expensive will have no practical significance.

Therefore, the optical display mode of AR glasses that can be used at the current stage, with good effects and acceptable costs is this diffraction optical waveguide technology solution... Of course, this is a high requirement for Zhiyun Group, and other manufacturers use other solutions that are one or two generations behind.

Today, the prototype of AI glasses that Xu Shenxue has seen uses MicroLED plus full-color diffraction optical waveguide technology.

This is currently the most advanced display technology for AR glasses in the world, and even the only one that can be commercially applied.

However, the core technology of this pair of AI glasses, in addition to the relatively key MicroLED plus full-color diffraction waveguide display technology, semi-solid-state high-energy density batteries, ultra-high-resolution small-volume and low-power cameras, small processor chips and other hardware.

The core is still artificial intelligence technology!
The project leader introduced the AI ​​glasses to Xu Shenxue: "Our AI glasses have an integrated Yun AI interface, which can be called through the network to provide users with various generative AI functions, including translation, data query, etc."

“It also integrates an offline translation module, which can translate common Chinese, English, Spanish, Japanese, French and German offline, avoiding power consumption caused by network connection, thereby improving overall battery life!”

"When connected to the Internet, you can call Yun AI to control various ecological applications, such as object recognition, ordering takeout, and taxi-hailing applications."

When Xu Shenxue heard this, he immediately said, "In other words, most of the functions of our AI glasses are based on Yun AI?"

The person in charge said: "Yes, many of the functions of our AI glasses are based on the use of Yun AI, which is why we call it 'AI glasses'."

"We have also developed a special operating system for AI glasses, which has many local applications built in. Users can also download new ecological applications according to their needs. At present, in addition to some ecological application software within our group, some software from Yihai Technology has also been adapted. At the same time, we are also cooperating with some other software manufacturers to enable them to adapt the corresponding ecological applications!"

"This is still our first generation product. For the next generation, we plan to try to upgrade and use better screens, and continue to improve the full-color diffraction optical waveguide technology to further improve the display effect. We also plan to use more advanced chips!"

"At present, our first generation of AI glasses uses the LC1 chip released by the group at the beginning of the year, which is aimed at lightweight and low-power intelligent terminal products. The chip uses a -nanometer process. Although the performance is good, it is still somewhat different from our requirements overall."

"As for the second-generation LC2 chip, Zhiyun Semiconductor said it is expected to use a seven-nanometer process, and its performance will be improved several times. We are looking forward to this chip, but I heard that the production capacity of the seven-nanometer process will be very tight next year, so I am afraid it will not be used next year."

After hearing this, Xu Shenxue smiled and said, "Take your time. By the year after next, the production capacity of the 7-nanometer process will be a little more relaxed!"

"But just because we don't have 1-nanometer chips right now doesn't mean we can't make products. We can just use the -nanometer company's LC chips for now, and we can still get by!"

Xu Shenxue is very clear about the nature of these technicians... they always want more advanced chips!
In the past, when the technology was 28 nanometers, people always wanted chips with 14 nanometer technology.

Now it’s the era of 14-nanometer process, and people want chips with 7-nanometer process. The pursuit of chips is endless!

However, the 7nm process has just been fully technically verified, and it will take several more months to conduct various tests to further improve the yield.

At the same time, there will be only one chip factory that can mass-produce 7-nanometer process chips next year, with a monthly production capacity of a pitiful 40,000 pieces, which can basically only meet the demand for S series chips and a small number of other server GPUs and terminal computing chips.

Other types of chips, including W series SOCs, computer CPUs, consumer-grade GPUs and other chips will have to be postponed and will not be used until the year after next as the production capacity of the seven-nanometer process is further improved.

Now, it’s still early.

Therefore, the LC2 chip under design will not be put into mass production for at least two years, but we cannot just sit there and do nothing during these two years.

Otherwise, why would we specially develop an LC1 chip at the beginning of the year?
----

As the person in charge of the AI ​​glasses project continued to explain, Xu Shenxue also asked many questions and experienced it himself.

It is very convenient to wear, just wear it like ordinary glasses.

"Our AI glasses are very light, weighing only 34 grams, which gives users a better experience. AI glasses that are too heavy will cause a huge burden on users, causing discomfort when wearing them and the glasses will easily fall off!"

"After all, the weight of ordinary glasses is only between 10 grams and 30 grams. According to our survey, if the weight exceeds 30 grams, the user will feel some pressure from the weight, but it is not obvious. However, if the weight exceeds 40 grams, the user will feel a more obvious pressure. If it reaches more than 50 grams, then most people will not be able to wear it for a long time!"

"Therefore, controlling the weight of the glasses has become one of our core tasks. In order to control the weight, all the components we use are specially designed for micro-lightweight, even at the expense of some performance!"

"As for the fuselage material, we use an ultra-light titanium material newly developed by Fairy Mountain Holdings to reduce the weight of the fuselage to the greatest extent!"

"In the end, we managed to control the weight of the entire AI glasses to 34 grams. Although it is still relatively light compared to the commonly used glasses that weigh more than 10 grams or 20 grams, this is also a very amazing achievement. It is the result of many new materials and technologies of our company and its partners!"

“I think it’s impossible for other manufacturers to make AI glasses or AR glasses so lightweight at the moment!”

Xu Shenxue agrees with this statement... In the research on the performance and lightweight of AI glasses, if Zhiyun Group cannot do it globally, then other companies will do even worse.

Of course, to be precise, it is not done by Zhiyun Group alone. In fact, there are a large number of partner manufacturers cooperating in research and development.

For example, the more core display technology, the MicroLED display screen, is actually the current top-level screen provided by Huaxing Technology. Although the core module of the diffraction optical waveguide is developed by Zhiyun Group itself, there are still many components provided by cooperative manufacturers, and the subsequent assembly and production also need to be provided by corresponding cooperative manufacturers.

The semi-solid-state battery is provided by Hailan Automobile. The micro camera module is supplied by Nanjiang Technology, a subsidiary of Xiannvshan Holdings, but the CMOS used in the camera is supplied by Zhiyun Semiconductor, and other parts are supplied by Southern Optics.

Acoustic components such as micro microphones and speakers are supplied by a domestic supplier.

Then some other sensors or spare parts come from many companies, some of which are subsidiaries of Zhiyun Group, some are subsidiaries of Xiannvshan Holdings, some are subsidiaries of Liuhe Investment, and there are also a bunch of other domestic high-tech companies.

As a smart device, AI glasses may look simple, but they contain many parts and require a complete supply chain system.

If you want to make AI glasses that meet these standards in terms of performance, weight and volume... you must have such a supply chain.

Currently, there is no other supply chain system in the world with the same strength except the supply chain under Zhiyun Group.

Therefore, Xu Shenxue is quite satisfied with the hardware performance of this pair of AI glasses!
Especially after experiencing its display mode, it looks and feels very good. You can see various full-color images very clearly without affecting the real scene.

There will be no dizziness, sore eyes after looking for a long time, or obvious pressure on the nose bridge after wearing it for a long time.

The overall experience is quite comfortable, just like wearing a pair of slightly thicker black-framed glasses. At the same time, the display effect is very good, the real world and the virtual world are perfectly integrated, and it looks very comfortable.

Afterwards, Xu Shenxue began to experience the many mobile phone functions of AI glasses.

Before the official experience, the project leader also introduced to Xu Shenxue the supporting equipment in the AI ​​glasses, which was similar to a ring or something similar.

“Although our AI glasses already have voice control, they also have gesture control capabilities!”

"But that's not enough, so we designed this small ring that connects via Bluetooth, imitating the glove operation mode in VR glasses."

"The bracelet used with our VR glasses is a multi-finger glove with a complex sensor system that can perform a variety of very complex operations. However, our AI glasses do not require such complex operations, so we simplified it and finally made it similar to a ring!"

"Through the various sensors built into the ring, especially the ultra-high-precision accelerometer, pressure tactile sensor and other sensors, we can sense the user's slight finger movements and recognize commands such as sliding, pressing and tapping."

"These instructions are transmitted to our AI glasses via Bluetooth radio signals, and then they can be operated in a similar way to traditional control methods such as mouse and touch!"

“Therefore, our AI glasses are very convenient to operate!”

Xu Shenxue also tried it, well, it was just so-so!

He had previously experienced the VR glasses in the virtual equipment project, or the operating gloves in the head-mounted display. That thing was truly black technology, which could easily complete various operations, just as flexible as human hands, and was quite easy to use.

However, the hardware cost of the virtual device operating gloves is a hundred or even a thousand times that of the ring in front of you!

The huge difference in hardware costs between the two means that they are not the same thing, so there is no comparison.

So Xu Shenxue did not dislike the ring. Instead, he put it on and started to perform some simple operations with the AI ​​glasses. It felt okay. I can't say how good it is, but at least it can be operated, which is much better than using "air gestures" and voice commands stupidly.

Air gestures and voice commands seem to be all good, but imagine that in a situation where there are other people, such as a classroom, conference room, restaurant, or subway car, you suddenly say: Xiaoyun, please take a picture of the girl in front of me.

Or stretch out your hands and wave them wildly in front of you, and in front of you is a young lady in cool clothes.

This scene must be ugly!

But with this control ring, you don’t have to complete various operations so awkwardly.

At the same time, Xu Shenxue also found that these glasses have some convenient operations. For example, without the ring, you can directly slide or touch the temples on both sides to perform some custom operations, such as taking photos, recording videos, recording audio, turning on translation and other functions.

Xu Shenxue is more concerned about the many hardware features... After all, the ecological content can still be improved and developed, but the prerequisite is that the hardware can support it.

Most of Xu Shenxue's experience time was actually spent experiencing the features of many hardware devices.

As for specific applications, or ecosystems, Xu Shenxue now feels that most of them are quite general and have no core competitiveness.

For example, ordering takeout, hailing a taxi online, and other things that call on other network software functions may seem good at first glance, but their actual usefulness is average.

If you have the free time, it’s faster and more convenient to place an order directly on your mobile phone!

Only the translation function made Xu Shenxue very satisfied!

After he put on the AI ​​glasses, his colleagues began to speak to him in English, French or Japanese, and the AI ​​glasses translated them simultaneously, and projected the text of the translation results directly into the micro display, which he finally saw.

In this way, even if the user still does not understand the other party's language, he can still understand what the other party is saying.

In particular, the translation function of the AI ​​glasses is a translation module developed by Zhiyun Software based on artificial intelligence technology, and it is quite easy to use.

In Xu Shenxue's view, this translation function is a major highlight and is easier to promote and arouse public discussion.

This allows two people who do not speak the same language to communicate quickly and conveniently through AI glasses, which is very friendly for people traveling abroad, on business trips or other people who have translation needs.

Moreover, this type of translation is not limited to language translation, it also has the function of recognizing text in scanned images and then translating it in real time.

The principle is actually quite simple. Use the camera to take a picture, then use the software to scan and extract the text, and then call the translation function to translate it...and it’s not really black technology, many manufacturers can do it.

However, when combined with AI glasses, its usage scenarios are very wide.

For example, you can read foreign books, or browse foreign language content on the Internet. In countries where the language is unfamiliar, you can translate many billboards, road signs or other forms of text!
At this time, the project leader also explained: "In order to ensure battery life, our image translation mode requires users to actively turn on the relevant function and take photos through manual or voice commands before the photos can be translated."

"However, if users have a need, they can also turn on the real-time translation function. The system uses video recording mode to continuously shoot, extract text and translate it. However, due to the limitation of computing power, the presentation of the translation results will be a little slow!"

"Continuously calling the camera for real-time translation will cause the battery life to drop significantly, and the battery life will be reduced to only 30 minutes."

"Among the many technical problems that currently plague us, the battery life issue is one of the biggest. Limited by the size and weight of AI glasses, we cannot install large-capacity batteries for them. We can only build batteries into the temples on both sides of the glasses!"

"With the current battery capacity, our AI glasses can last about five hours when operating offline locally. If the recording mode is turned on, the battery life is only 40 minutes. If the real-time image translation function is turned on, the battery life is only 30 minutes!"

"As battery technology cannot achieve further breakthroughs, we have also designed a wired supplementary solution. Mr. Xu, you can see that there is a small interface at the bottom of the temple of our glasses, which is specially used to connect to our Zhiyun mobile phone."

"Through this wired connection, we can use our Zhiyun mobile phone to provide power support for AI glasses, while also providing computing power support, network connection and other functions."

"This cable is also relatively light, similar to an earphone cable. For daily use, it is almost the same as wearing earphones, and the mobile phone or micro console can be placed in a pocket or simply held in the hand!"

As he said that, the project leader returned the glasses to Xu Shenxue for a look. There was an inconspicuous small hole at the bottom back of the right temple. Then, the project leader brought over a Zhiyun S17MAX mobile phone. After connecting it through a wired connection, Xu Shenxue experienced it again.

But this time, the feeling was different. He turned on the real-time image translation function... The translation speed was obviously much faster, and it could even be said that there was almost no delay.

The project leader at this time also began to say: "This is because the computing power resources on the mobile phone are used, so the speed is so fast."

"In wired connection mode, our AI glasses are more for information collection and feedback, and do not undertake a large amount of computing tasks!"

Xu Shenxue found this quite interesting: "So, now these glasses are just a sensor and a display?"

The project leader said: "It is somewhat similar to this situation, but the system is still running, just maintaining basic low-power operation, and there is no need to worry about power consumption. In wired connection mode, users can choose to prioritize external power, just like using it in charging mode on a mobile phone!"

After he finished speaking, the man took out a small cube-like object and said, "Of course, considering that some users are unwilling to use their mobile phones to connect directly, or that users of other brands of mobile phones cannot connect, we have also specially developed a micro host device."

"It mainly has an S703 chip and corresponding computing hardware such as running memory, and also has a large-capacity battery built in."

"The overall size is very small, only 86mm long, 48mm wide, 14mm thick, and light weight!"

"With the support of this micro-host, the overall battery life of our AI glasses will reach a very good level. Under normal use, they can even be used for several days in a row, completely solving the problem of battery life!"

Xu Shenxue picked up the black miniature host and it was indeed quite easy. He could put it in his pocket comfortably without any impact.

However, compared to this micro host, he actually prefers the solution of directly connecting to the Zhiyun mobile phone.

After all, if you go out, you must bring your mobile phone. The mobile phone can be directly connected to the AI ​​glasses... This mode is just like many people using wired headphones to listen to music when going out, and it will not cause too much trouble.

But a micro console means you have to carry one more thing. Even if the micro console is very small and can be easily put in your pocket, it is still an extra trouble anyway.

But it's always good to have as a supplementary option.

The project leader also explained: "Users can make choices based on their own lives and usage habits. They can buy AI glasses separately, and we will provide operating rings and connecting cables; or they can buy an additional micro host."

Xu Shenxue said: "It's a good thing to give users more choices. Well done!"

At this time, everyone else tacitly did not mention why other brands of mobile phones were not supported. Even if the computing resources could not be called upon, it would be good even if it was just for charging.

Not to mention whether other mobile phone manufacturers will open their charging protocol interfaces to Zhiyun, even if they can... Zhiyun Group will not do so.

Because AI glasses are only part of the Zhiyun ecosystem.

Zhiyun Group makes AI glasses not to serve other manufacturers, such as Apple or OnePlus, to form an ecological chain supporting product!
Zhiyun Group’s AI glasses serve the entire Zhiyun ecosystem, just like other smart terminals under Zhiyun Group.

Business computers, tablets, smart watches, Bluetooth headsets, home hosts, mini hosts, all-in-one computers, various smart home products, and other miscellaneous things are all part of the Zhiyun ecosystem.

What Zhiyun Group wants is for customers to purchase the entire Zhiyun family package as much as possible, rather than just a single Zhiyun product!
Otherwise, where does Zhiyun Group's annual revenue of more than 300 billion US dollars from smart terminals come from? Although mobile phones account for the majority of this, other smart terminal products also contribute a lot of revenue.

After experiencing the AI ​​glasses in detail, Xu Shenxue said: "The product is very good and has a high degree of completion. I will ask the marketing department and the supply chain department to take a look and see how to mass-produce and launch this product."

(End of this chapter)