As part of its ongoing collaboration with global drone leader DJI, Epson, providers of the Moverio augmented reality (AR) smart eyewear platform, recently announced the world’s first glasses-based augmented reality drone flight simulator app, developed by Y Media Labs exclusively for the Epson Moverio BT-300 (FPV/Drone Edition) smart glasses.

The application allows a user to fly a 3D digital drone in the real world using flight controllers from the latest DJI drones, including the Mavic Pro, Phantom 4, Inspire 2 and Spark. The simulator mirrors the natural, real-world movements of a DJI Mavic Pro, allowing new pilots to learn to fly and experienced pilots to sharpen their skills.

“Augmented reality is set to revolutionize the industry with the ability to create a safer, more productive flight,” said Romsin Oushana of DJI Partnerships. “The hands-free, heads-up experience delivered by the Epson Moverio BT-300 is the ideal way to experience aerial AR.”

The flight simulator experience is viewed through the Epson Moverio BT-300 smart glasses and includes a fly mode and two mini-games for advanced pilots.  It will be published on the Moverio Apps Market later this year but can be experienced today at any DJI store or most local drone retailers. The drone flight simulator app was demonstrated at the Commercial UAV Expo last month in Las Vegas.

“This is arguably the first mainstream consumer application for augmented reality smart glasses,” said Eric Mizufuka, Manager, New Ventures, Epson America. “The ability to digitally ‘paint the sky’ is a game-changer in the drone market and will usher in an exciting range of applications. We’ve been very impressed with DJI’s updated Mobile SDK and look forward to continuing to invest in new applications and partnerships in this space.”

“We’re excited to partner with Epson and DJI to set the standard for high-value consumer experiences in the AR space by harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology and world-class design,” said Ashish Toshniwal, CEO of Y Media Labs.

The flight simulator is the first application in a series of aerial augmented reality applications being developed by Y Media in partnership with DJI and Epson. A full-featured AR app for the Epson Moverio smart glasses is being designed to enhance the safety, productivity and capabilities of DJI drones for hobbyists and professionals alike.  It is scheduled to be launched by the end of the year.