The first release of the “Monado” project was recently announced. This new platform aims to create an open implementation of the OpenXR standard, which defines a universal API for creating virtual and augmented reality applications , as well as a set of layers for interacting with equipment that abstracts the characteristics of specific devices.
The standard was prepared by the Khronos consortium, which is also developing standards such as OpenGL, OpenCL, and Vulkan.
About Monado
Monado provides a runtime that fully complies with OpenXR requirements , which can be used to orchestrate work with virtual and augmented reality on smartphones, tablets, PCs, and any other device, as the project develops several basic subsystems , which are as follows:
- A spatial vision engine: which is responsible for object tracking, surface definition, mesh reconstruction, gesture recognition, eye tracking.
- A character tracking engine: Its function is to control the gyroscopic stabilizer, motion prediction, controllers, optical motion tracking through the camera, position tracking based on data from a VR helmet.
- Composite server: handles direct output mode, video forwarding, lens correction, composition, workspace shaping to work simultaneously with multiple applications.
- Interaction engine- This is responsible for the simulation of physical processes, a set of widgets and a toolkit for virtual reality applications.
- Instrumentation: is responsible for the calibration of the equipment, establishment of movement limits, among other things.
As such , Monado is the first OpenXR runtime for GNU/Linux and hopes to drive the development of an open-source XR ecosystem and provide the fundamental building blocks for device vendors to target the GNU/Linux platform.
Among the main features highlighted are the availability of controllers for HDK (OSVR Hacker Developer Kit) virtual reality headsets and PlayStation VR HMD, as well as for PlayStation Move and Razor Hydra controllers .
In addition, it provides the possibility of using equipment compatible with the OpenHMD project and provides a driver for North Star augmented reality glasses.
It also includes a set of udev rules for configuring access to virtual reality devices without obtaining root authorization, along with a driver for the Intel RealSense T265 position tracking system.
It also includes a ready-to-use composite server that supports direct output to the device , bypassing the system's X server. Shaders for Vive and Panotools are provided, along with support for projection layers.
Other of its characteristics are:
- Motion tracking components with a frame for filtering and streaming video.
- Character tracking system with six degrees of freedom (6DoF, forward / backward, up / down, left / right, yaw, pitch, roll) for PSVR and PS Move controllers.
- Modules for integration with the Vulkan and OpenGL graphics APIs.
- Screenless mode (headless).
- Manage spatial interactions and points of view.
- Basic support for frame synchronization and information input (actions).
About the first version of Monado
Currently, the first version is considered experimental and is aimed at novice developers familiar with the platform.
In the current state of the project, Monado allows you to create applications and track rotation on compatible devices using OpenHMD and also offers the ability to directly display output to virtual reality devices without going through the operating system's graphics stack.
The project code is written in C and is distributed under the GPL-compliant Boost 1.0 Software License, which is based on the BSD and MIT licenses, but requires no mention when the derivative work is distributed in binary form.
Currently the platform only supports Linux , and compatibility with other operating systems is expected in the future.
Finally, if you want to learn more about Monado, you can find details and access its source code on its official website.