1

Argon360 – real-time video stitching

NAB Show 2016

Clifford Dive – VP Business Development

18 April 2016

2

Introduction

What is Argon Design?• Electronics and software development consultancy

• Primary activity is outsourced product development services

• Also develop products and intellectual property (IP) that complement the consultancy business

So what are we doing at NAB?

3

Argon R&D – it all fits together

• Argon Streams – test bit streams for VP9 and HEVC– HEVC and VP9 are video compression

algorithms

• High frequency trading, using FPGAs for ultra-low latency applications in financial services– The Argon360 real-time stitching demo

uses FPGA acceleration

Dig i ta l v ideo domain

FPGA and ASIC

des ign sk i l ls

4

SLAM (Simultaneous Location And Mapping)

Stereo depth perception– Building 3D model

of the world

Argon360– Real-time video stitching

Argon R&D – video processing

5

Argon360 – real-time video stitching

6

Argon360 – real-time video stitching

Launched at

NAB 2016

7

What is the story for 360 video?

• Production– What is a compelling proposition for the user?– Story telling

• Viewing– What devices will be used?– The HMD – anti-social media

• 360 vs. 3D – source of some confusion. 360 doesn’t necessarily mean 3D……and should it?– What is the driver of 3D?

• Is there a use case that generates enough revenue to feed the industry?

8

Challenges in viewing 360 video

• Which devices will be used?

• The head mounted display – social media or anti-social media– The sick-making dilemma – real enough to make you sick– A feature film on an HMD?

• Reality drop-offs– Movement parallax– Focus accommodation– Latency– Resolution

• Waiting for Magic Leap?

9

Technical challenges in acquisition• Workflow

– Offline stitching– Multiple files– Camera synch– Operational complexity (multiple

cameras…)

• Stitching– Parallax – Blending

• Packaging– Size– Power consumption

• Real-time– Streaming– Preview

10

Technical challenges in acquisition• Workflow

– Offline stitching– Multiple files– Camera synch– Operational complexity (multiple

cameras…)

• Stitching– Parallax (In development)– Blending

• Packaging– Size– Power consumption

• Real-time– Streaming– Preview

11

Argon360 – what is it?

• High quality video stitching

• Real-time

• Compact

• Low power consumption

• Scalable

• IP core for chip or FPGA

…and still to come

• Depth dependent parallax correction

Patent pending technology bringing the speed and efficiency of hardware to real-time video stitching

12

Patent pending technology bringing the speed and efficiency of hardware to real-time video stitching

Argon360 block diagram

13

…and what it isn’t

It’s not a ready-baked product:

• A lot of people are saying “can I try your stitching box”. Sorry – no! We have a single working engineering prototype– Some real-life trials– Prototype platform – not for production

environment

14

Sample footage

https://youtu.be/pW6W-gdeFic ….view on Chrome browser or YouTube app

15

What’s next?

• Evaluate reaction to the Argon360 launch

• Develop road-map features– Parallax correction

• Start working with development partners– Licensing to silicon companies for ASICs– Licensing for FPGA-based products– Design services engagements for bespoke development

Get in touch:cliff.dive@argondesign.comargon360@argondesign.com

More info:www.argondesign.com/products/argon360Download product flyer