Canon Introduces MREAL System For Mixed Reality

Canon U.S.A. announced the introduction of its Canon MREAL System for Mixed Reality (MR), a new imaging solution that simultaneously merges virtual objects with the real world, at full scale and in three dimensions.

The MREAL System and its associated professional services inclusive of MR implementation, integration to customer systems, and custom development can benefit companies in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, automotive, construction, aerospace, medical, defense, and entertainment, the company claims.

“In today’s competitive markets, companies are constantly looking for solutions that can help them introduce new products to market in a timely and efficient fashion. The new Canon MREAL System for Mixed Reality allows decision-makers to evaluate a product’s design and operability like never before,” said Sam Yoshida, vice president and general manager, Marketing, Business Imaging Solutions Group, Canon. “Canon has a very strong commitment to the augmented reality space, and by leveraging our strong heritage and leadership in optics, we intend to deliver solutions based upon mixed reality for use in industries including manufacturing, aerospace and entertainment.”

The MREAL System enables customers to develop digital prototypes, identify potential design concerns to reduce prototype iterations, incorporate required characteristics more quickly and get products to market sooner. Designers can closely examine how components manufactured at different locations are expected to come together, or see how light will reflect off the interior trim of a car, for example. Users can view intricate details of the 3D image from almost any angle.

The MREAL System consists of a head-mounted display (HMD) HM-A1 and the MR Platform Software MP-100. Two video cameras inside the HMD, located in front of each eye, capture video from the real world, which is then processed and sent to a computer. Using state-of-the-art Canon image processing and directional-sensor data, the computer-generated graphics and the real world are combined and are displayed on the small monitors located inside the HMD.

The MR Platform integrates with leading design applications including Siemens PLM Software’s NX software, and the 3D visualization software RTT DeltaGen, which renders mixed reality images through the Canon head-mounted display.

For more information, visit Canon.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.