Microsoft is stopping further development of HoloLens and is handing over its contract to create augmented reality glasses for the US Army to Anduril Industries, a company that specializes in the production of drones and software for them. This was reported by Bloomberg.
Anduril's responsibilities include full control over the further development of hardware and software, as well as compliance with the established timeframes. Both companies noted that this cooperation leverages the strengths of each of them and will ensure sustainable development, increasing combat effectiveness.
Earlier, Microsoft discontinued support for HoloLens 2 and announced that it had no plans to release new headsets, but assured that it would remain committed to developing an "integrated visual augmented reality system" (IVAS) based on HoloLens. The first tests of the system were scheduled for early 2025, and full-scale production was to begin by the end of 2025.
The IVAS were to be designed to provide soldiers with a variety of functions, from night vision to warning of approaching air threats. According to reports, the US Army has praised the new prototypes of the device, after previous versions caused soldiers to experience nausea and headaches.
Microsoft's role in the project will shift to providing cloud platforms and artificial intelligence technologies, as the company's expanded capabilities in these areas "will continue to provide a solid foundation for the program, delivering seamless data integration and real-time analysis that is critical to soldier effectiveness."
The US Army planned to order up to 121 thousand devices based on HoloLens, but they must pass all the tests and their cost should be much lower than the projected $80 thousand.