![[miko_tarik] wearing diy AR goggles in futuristic setting](jpg/diy-ar-goggles-120075cc.jpg?w=800)
If you’re into pushing tech boundaries from home, this one’s for you. Redditor [mi_kotalik] has crafted ‘Zero’, a custom pair of DIY augmented reality (AR) glasses using a Raspberry Pi Zero. Designed as an affordable, self-contained device for displaying simple AR functions, Zero allows him to experiment without breaking the bank. With features like video playback, Bluetooth audio, a teleprompter, and an image viewer, Zero is a testament to what can be done with determination and creativity on a budget. The original Reddit thread includes videos, a build log, and links to documentation on X, giving you an in-depth look into [mi_kotalik]’s journey. Take a sneak peek through the lens here.
![[miko_tarik] wearing diy AR goggles](jpg/diy-ar-goggles-smallphoto6cc5.jpg?w=400)
Creating Zero wasn’t simple. From designing the frame in Tinkercad to experimenting with transparent PETG to print lenses (ultimately switching to resin-cast lenses), [mi_kotalik] faced plenty of challenges. By customizing SPI displays and optimizing them to 60 FPS, he achieved an impressive level of real-time responsiveness, allowing him to explore AR interactions like never before. While the Raspberry Pi Zero’s power is limited, [mi_kotalik] is already planning a V2 with a Compute Module 4 to enable 3D rendering, GPS, and spatial tracking.
Zero is an inspiring example for tinkerers hoping to make AR tech more accessible, especially after the fresh news of both Meta and Apple cancelling their attempts to venture in the world of AR. If you are into AR and eager to learn from an original project like this one, check out the full Reddit thread and explore Hackaday’s past coverage on augmented reality experiments.
Blurry!
Hand cast and hand shaped lenses. I’d cut him a little slack..
Why? The processes for making good quality lenses have existed for well over a century, and are very well documented. If you don’t have the knowledge or expertise to make them yet, both are easy to acquire. If you choose not to make that modest investment then there is no shortage of suppliers of any kind of lens you wish, often quickly, cheaply, or both.
There’s no excuse to be stuck with crappy lenses, unless you want to prove a point, or are calling it ‘Art’, or just like self-flagellation.
But I’ll give benefit of doubt and assume those lenticular things are just a temporary stand-ins while decent lenses come in or he learns how to design an optical system and make decent lenses. Judging by the narrative in his posts, he has been focusing (har) on other things.
Zach Friedman mentioned in a recent video about his heads up display that the optics a wearable display like this take millions of dollars to develop, and are out of reach for hobbyists. So I’m not sure whether this project is really feasible.
He’s likely just ignorant of the actual processes needed. Mind you it isn’t easy, but one-off optics done to very high precision is completely achievable with time and patience. In this project he opted for a lower quality product to prioritise other aspects of the system.
He was referring to the sort of waveguide optics used in the epson moverio, he harvested his display from, which are entirely different than the method used here. This system is using a much simpler approach. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
That said, You can already find raw oled pumped waveguide assemblies on ali, if you dont want to gut a consumer product.
He had other priorities and based on both his attempts and there fact that he put his build log on Twitter this guy didn’t actually try looking into well established lens making techniques.
Every day we stray futher away from god.
Came here to say the same thing. That’s one of the worst phrases I’ve read in a while.
What does god have to do with this? And which one are you referring to exactly, your god, the god of others? Since there are many religions and many kinds of gods. The whole god concept is very confusing and full of holes.
Technology has gotten too pervasive.
“Something went wrong. Try reloading.”
Is X deliberately breaking itself? Almost nothing posted there works any more.
hmm. that header image strongly reminds me of La Jetee the french scifi “movie”. maybe he was influenced by it.
http://www.tasteofcinema.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/La-Jetee.jpg
https://dl9fvu4r30qs1.cloudfront.net/24/18/6bb9de584f0ba18b9b86f6643065/la-jetee.jpg
He looks like a plague doctor. And Xitter? Srsly?
Anybody able to say what “SPI” displays he’s using?
I wish him all the best. I am sure there is some clever stuff in there. But documenting one’s work via reddit and X seems like some kind of joke, or a bet, or some very weird clause by a sponsor or employer. Github is a thing. Blogs are a thing. Forums are still a thing.
i love it.
what a great build!
praise the guy for his ingenuity, he even built his own lens!!!
the toxic replies here suck.
It’s a nice and fun concept. With lot’s of very interesting technical challenges. The lack of finding more info about it can be a little frustrating to some and prevents them from appreciating it to the fullest.