Tag: gaming

Using GPS, Pokémon GO takes on the world

Nintendo has launched a beta test of a new Pokémon game that takes place in the real world. The beta testing began July 6.

Using Pokémon GO, gamers travel between the real world and the virtual world of Pokémon with iPhone and Android devices.

Pokémon GO is built on Niantic’s Real World Gaming Platform for augmented reality. It uses GPS to encourage players to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. The game allows players to find and catch more than a hundred species of Pokémon as they explore their surroundings.

Players are represented on an augmented reality map of the real world.

Moving around, the smartphone vibrates when near a Pokémon. When players encounter a Pokémon, they take aim on their smartphone’s touchscreen and throw a Poké Ball to catch it. the player is indicated on a map showing their actual location.

The game encourages users to explore the cities and towns where they live to capture as many Pokémon as they can. Also, PokéStops are located at interesting places, such as public art installations, historical markers and monuments, where players can collect more Poké Balls and other items.

Players can also join teams, and “battle” with their captured Pokémon at “gyms” that can be found at real-world locations.

The Pokémon GO Plus wearable can be removed from the band and worn on a shirt.

The Pokémon video game series has used real-world locations such as the Hokkaido and Kanto regions of Japan, New York, and Paris as inspiration for the fantasy settings in which its games take place. This is the first time the popular game franchise has used the real world as its setting.

While the game is free to play, Nintendo will be rolling out a $35 wearable that enables play without looking at a smartphone, such as for joggers on their morning run.

July 7, 2016
CES 2016: Bosch Sensortec unveils intelligent accelerometers and high-performance gyroscopes

Bosch Sensortec is unveiling new generations of intelligent accelerometers and high-performance gyroscopes at the 2016 International CES in Las Vegas.

Aimed at smartphones, tablets and wearables, the new devices cover a wide range of requirements, from low-power consumption for always-on applications such as step counting, to high-performance optical image stabilization (OIS).

Intelligent three-axis accelerometers — BMA422 and BMA455

Today’s applications running on modern mobile devices place many demands on motion sensors. These sensors are required to continuously sense motion, such as for step counting operations, while at the same time delivering a high level of performance without compromising battery lifetime.

To meet these challenges, the new sensors from Bosch Sensortec integrate embedded intelligence functionality into standalone accelerometers. Adding intelligent features to an accelerometer enables innovative applications, while minimizing power consumption by eliminating the need to wake up an application processor or an additional discrete sensor hub. Overall system power management and user experience can be improved by the accelerometer detecting and processing motions such as glance, pick-up and tilt.

Current consumption of the new accelerometers is kept very low to extend battery life. The integrated Android 6.0 “Marshmallow” features minimize programming effort for customers. Each device delivers outstanding accelerometer performance for low offset, low temperature coefficient offset (TCO) and low noise levels, the company said.

Two new accelerometers are being launched: the BMA422 “all-rounder” is suitable for standard applications, and the BMA455 provides high performance for gaming and immersive activity tracking. In addition, the high level of performance enables demanding applications covering augmented reality, virtual reality, image stabilization and industrial measurement applications such as spirit leveling and inclination measurement.

High-performance gyroscopes — BMG250 and BMG280

Mobile devices require gyroscopes for many applications, including gaming, augmented reality, virtual reality and OIS. To provide the necessary performance, Bosch Sensortec’s new gyroscopes combine the most important parameters in a single device: low noise, low TCO and high bias stability.

Although delivering high performance, they do both feature the lowest power consumption of any standalone gyroscope in the market, thus helping to extend battery lifetime in mobile devices.

Today’s announcement includes two three-axis gyroscopes: the BMG250 provides low noise, low TCO and high bias stability, while the BMG280 delivers ultra-low noise optimized for OIS and includes a secondary interface for OIS, making it fit for use in camera modules. The BMG280’s secondary interface can be used in parallel with the primary user application interface, for example for simultaneous panorama creation and OIS.

Packages and availability

The new devices are provided in small packages. The BMA422 measures 2.0 x 2.0 x 0.95 mm³, while the BMA455 is 2.0 x 2.0 x 0.65 mm³. The BMG250 and BMG280 gyroscopes both measure 3.0 x 2.5 x 0.83 mm³.

Samples of the all sensors are available now, with mass production of the gyroscopes to commence in Q1 2016 and mass production of the accelerometers starting in mid-2016. For pricing, contact Bosch Sensortec.

January 5, 2016
OriginGPS Nano Hornet Module Powers TobyRich Gaming Drones

The tobyrich.vegas gaming drone.

TobyRich has integrated OriginGPS’ Nano Hornet into a smartphone-controlled gaming drone line, to extend its range and enhance its directional capabilities. By leveraging the Nano Hornet, a tiny GPS module with an integrated antenna, TobyRich was able to design a smaller, sleeker form factor for its innovative drones while taking advantage of OriginGPS’ performance and low-power consumption features, according to TobyRich.

TobyRich, established in 2011 and with deep experience in designing smartphone-controlled drones, launched a Kickstarter campaign that will run until Aug. 28 to offer a new, more interactive experience for video gamers and drone enthusiasts across the globe.

The agile drones blend realistic flight maneuvers with innovative interactive gameplay and are designed to resemble an airplane rather than a quadcopter to extend flight time and carry more payload than traditional drones without compromising on functionality or performance. The drones can easily be controlled within a range of 90 meters via the tobyrich.red mobile app, which is available on iOS and Android.

TobyRich’s drones combine the immersive experience of video games with the exhilaration of real flight to unlock possibilities such as mid-air battles, races, stunts and other gaming scenarios, plus additional applications such as aerial photography and video, the company said. Single and multiplayer gaming modes enable video gamers to live out their flight fantasies with friends or solo. To meet users’ exact interests, several different versions are in development, including the basic tobyrich.vegas model, tobyrich.tokyo, which features a HD camera, and tobyrich.guru, a 4G/LTE-enabled drone.

With the help of OriginGPS, a TobyRich drone knows exactly where it is in relation to a user’s smart device, with unprecedented accuracy, allowing it to respond immediately and precisely to gesture controls or on-screen joysticks. OriginGPS’ location capabilities ensure that a drone will automatically return to its point of origin or a pre-programmed destination if it strays too far from its corresponding smart device or flight path, which reduces user frustration, minimizes human error and increases safety.

Measuring 10 by 10 millimeters, the OriginGPS Nano Hornet module powers TobyRich’s flight management system by achieving a rapid time to first fix (TTFF) of less than one second, with approximately 1 meter accuracy and -163 dBm tracking sensitivity, and it uses OriginGPS’ proprietary Noise Free Zone technology to increase sensitivity and minimize interference. It achieves a state of near continuous availability, while consuming microwatts of battery power, ensuring maximal power is devoted to increasing drone flight times. Because OriginGPS’ modules are complete, plug-and-play solutions, they significantly shorten time to market and dramatically reduce engineering risks, the companies said.

August 21, 2015