AMD-Powered "Spatially Aware" VR/AR Headset Revealed

AMD is getting into the VR game. The company today announced a partnership with Sulon Technologies for a "spatially award" head-mounted display that aims to blend virtual reality and augmented reality. The headset is called Sulon Q and you can watch an overview video for the device in the video below. AMD is calling it the "first and only all-in-one, tether-free, 'wear and play' spatially aware headset for VR and AR."

It sounds like the Sulon Q is trying to achieve something like Microsoft's HoloLens.

"When you experience augmented reality the Sulon way, your physical world is not replaced, its enhanced," reads a line from its description. "Everywhere you look your full field of view is the physical world you know, seamlessly augmented with new realities. It s the best of both worlds, literally."

Also like HoloLens, the Sulon Q will offer a "completely untethered experience." All of the computing is done inside the headset, meaning you will be free to walk around, with the physical space around you morphed into a "dynamic augmented environment," Sulon said on the device's website.

In a since-removed statement on the Sulon Q website, Sulon Technologies CEO Dhan Balachand said the device will boast "console-quality graphics" as well as "powerful processing."

Specifically, it uses the AMD FX-8800P processor with Radeon R7 graphics that leverage AMD's Graphics Core Next architecture.

"The full performance of 4 compute cores and 8 GPU cores are unlocked through a revolutionary Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), enabling the cores to share memory to work together for dramatic performance and efficiency," Balachand said. "The result is a solution that is optimized for modern workloads and media formats, capable of driving the latest graphics APIs including DirectX 12 and Vulkan, and able to render stunning video game console-quality visuals on a beautiful 2560x1440 OLED display."

The Sulon Q headset also makes use of AMD's LiquidVR technology to afford "smooth and responsive VR and AR experiences." Additionally, it uses the AstoundSound technology to let users hear sounds "within a complete spherical soundscape." The device has a 3.5mm audio jack and custom earbuds. For voice communication, there are dual noise-cancelling microphones.

Sulon is now putting the "finishing touches" on the Sulon Q headset, with the device scheduled to arrive "late spring." A price was not announced.

Balanchand's statement referenced a Game Developers Conference event, so it's possible we'll learn more about the device later this week. The show runs all week in San Francisco and VR stands to be a big trend.

What do you make of the Sulon Q? Let us know in the comments below!