How it Works

XR Broadcasting

Unlocking the Orbital Ecosystem: Modular Hardware

1. Hardware Overview: The Components of the System

The Orbital Capsule, Spectra Vision, and Space Station are modular enclosures designed to house the essential hardware and media that power immersive and collaborative experiences. Here’s how each component works together:

Spectra Vision Enclosure

  • The Spectra Vision is a sleek enclosure designed to house a Raspberry Pi, creating a self-contained unit for running the Spectra Vision headset software.
  • Orbital Capsule:
    • Attached to the Spectra Vision via USB-C, the Orbital Capsule is a compact, portable drive system.
    • CFExpress Card: Holds the Orbital OS, powering the XR experiences.
    • SSD: Stores the operating system and headset software.
    • SD Card Slot: Designed for marker-based media, enabling physical books or other media to trigger digital experiences like avatars or interactive content.

Space Station Enclosure

  • The Space Station is the central hub, housing an NVIDIA Orin Nano (purchased separately) connected to a router via Ethernet.
  • Internal Hardware:
    • CFExpress Card Slot: Located at the back, it holds the Orbital Server APIs, enabling multiplayer interactions and networked applications.
    • Hard Drive: Stores the Space Station’s Linux operating system and additional server files.

Enclosure Ecosystem

  • All three enclosures—Spectra Vision, Orbital Capsule, and Space Station—are designed to house modular drives, cables, and SD cards:
    • Raspberry Pi for Spectra Vision: Powers standalone headsets (sold separately) and connects to the Orbital Capsule.
    • NVIDIA Orin Nano for Space Station: Provides the computing power for APIs and server functionality.
  • The modular design allows users to mix and match components, enabling standalone headsets to be easily attached to the Spectra Vision Pocket Computer.

2. Network Capabilities: Collaboration and Creativity

The Orbital ecosystem is designed for seamless collaboration and hosting immersive experiences. Here's what it enables:

Group Hosting

  • The system supports up to 50 guests or attendees in a single session, providing the capacity for meetups, creative brainstorming, performances, and other collaborative events.

Performance and Scalability

  • The Space Station acts as the central hub, managing server-side tasks, APIs, and XR rendering while the Spectra Vision enclosures handle client-side operations.
  • Guests can connect wirelessly to the Space Station, creating a dynamic network where content is served locally for fast, reliable performance.

Medium of Its Own

  • The Orbital ecosystem isn’t just hardware—it’s a platform for creating and hosting unique XR environments that blend art, technology, and collaboration into a new, standalone medium.

3. Open Source and Customization: Build Your Own Ecosystem

We are committed to empowering creativity by offering all the software open-source, allowing anyone to expand or reimagine the Orbital ecosystem:

Custom Operating Systems and Apps

  • Developers can create their own operating systems or multiplayer-hosted games and apps, loading them onto CFExpress cards for use in the Orbital Capsule.
  • This flexibility ensures endless possibilities for customization and innovation.

Marker-Based Media

  • Users can create marker-based media (e.g., avatars, triggers for interactive content) using SD cards, enabling physical books and other tangible items to connect seamlessly with the digital realm.

Freedom to Innovate

  • With open-source tools and modular hardware, anyone can contribute to or build upon the Orbital ecosystem.
  • Whether designing new apps, creating unique XR content, or developing entirely new hardware integrations, the possibilities are limitless.

In Summary

The Orbital ecosystem is a modular, open-source system designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and customization. With hardware enclosures tailored for Raspberry Pi and NVIDIA Orin Nano, it supports immersive experiences, marker-based media, and multiplayer networking. By making the software open-source, we’re giving creators the tools to innovate and shape the future of XR technology. Whether you’re hosting meetups, crafting new media experiences, or building your own operating systems, Orbital is your gateway to exploration and connection.