경량 AR 안경, 일상 사용을 현실에 가깝게 만들다

A team of POSTECH researchers just unveiled a new method to create ultra-thin, lightweight Augmented Reality (AR) glasses. The updated approach could help make AR realistic for everyday use, ushering in a new era of tech across several sectors. Here’s how this team could drive AR adoption to new heights in the coming years.

증강 현실이란 무엇이며 왜 중요한가?

Augmented reality (AR) refers to blending the digital and real worlds in a seamless interface. The concept has existed since 1968, when Harvard computer scientist Ivan Sutherland, also known as the father of computer graphics, first introduced his AR head-mounted display.

It wouldn’t be until 2008 that the first commercially available AR systems began to spring up. In this instance, a German advertising agency coupled the technology with a magazine ad that, when held in front of a computer camera, allowed the user to manipulate the magazine image on the screen.

Since that time, AR has seen massive growth across the manufacturing, entertainment, and military sectors. You can find AR systems all over today. From the headsets worn by advanced fighter pilots, all the way to popular mobile games like Pokémon GO, AR tech continues to reshape how we interact with the world.

2024년 증강 현실 시장 규모는 얼마나 큰가?

There is a strong desire by manufacturers to make AR an everyday technology. This push can be seen by the market’s growth.  In 2024, the AR market hit $42.48B in value.  According to the latest Immersive Entertainment—Global Strategic Business Report 2024, the global market for Immersive Entertainment sat at $133.6B in 2024. Impressively, the global AR market is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 42.36%. This growth rate means that by  2029, the market will be worth +$248.38B.

일상적인 AR 안경을 방해하는 요인은 무엇인가?

Despite the predicted growth and a steady increase in manufacturers, there are still many problems with today’s AR systems that need to be addressed before they can take flight. For one, the headwear for these devices is too bulky and heavy.

Augmented Reality users are unable to truly experience daily usage because the devices are just too uncomfortable for prolonged wear. Imagine if your Smartwatch weighed a pound. There’s little chance that you would consider wearing it all day, or even for tasks that require delicate and precise hand movements.

The same scenario goes for AR systems. Their comfort level needs to surpass their usefulness. People want a lightweight device that is barely noticeable. The ideal form factor would be like traditional glasses and weigh about the same.

왜 웨이브가이드가 AR 헤드셋의 병목 현상인가?

At the core of the AR market’s issues is the way that the tech displays images. The AR optics utilize waveguide layers that assist in chromatic dispersion, guiding virtual images to your eye. Currently, AR systems can require a separate waveguide layer for each color. As such, these devices can have 3-6 stacked glass sheets in each eye.

Additionally, the devices need multilayer grating couplers to function properly. Sadly, these devices require complex fabrication processes that are expensive and involve high-level expertise, adding to their costs. When you examine these costs, coupled with the fact that these devices remain too heavy for ergonomic head-mounted applications, it’s easy to see where engineers need to focus.

메타표면이 AR 설계 과제를 해결할 수 있을까?

One method that has seen some interest is the use of metasurfaces. Metasurfaces are specially made subwavelength photonic resonators. The resonators are designed to repeat at certain intervals, allowing engineers to independently modify key aspects, including amplitude, phase, and polarization. Sadly, this solution has fallen short of its goals due to factors such as low efficiency, chromatic aberration, and poor uniformity.

POSTECH의 돌파구: AR용 무색차 메타그레이팅

Recognizing the need for more advanced AR systems, Professor Junsuk Rho and colleagues at POSTECH introduced an AR glasses manufacturing process that produces results as thin and light as regular prescription eyewear. The report¹ Single-layer waveguide displays using achromatic metagratings for full-colour augmented reality, published in Nature Nanotechnology, delves into how the team was able to create a single-layer waveguide display using achromatic metagratings rather than multiple lenses.

출처 – POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology)