Meta revealed the latest version of its experimental smart glasses intended to help bolster research into artificial intelligence, robotics and machine perception.

“For researchers looking to explore how AI systems can better understand the world from a human perspective, Aria Gen 2 glasses add a new set of capabilities to the Aria platform. They include a number of advances not found on any other device available today, and access to these breakthrough technologies will enable researchers to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” Meta said in a blog post.

Arriving about five years after the first-generation Aria device, the Aria Gen 2 expands the platform's capabilities using Meta's proprietary technology and an enhanced sensor suite.  The Aria Gen 2 features a contact microphone to separate the wearer's voice from that of onlookers and a PPG sensor to measure heart rate.

According to Meta, the 75-gram Aria Gen 2 has open-ear "force-canceling" speakers, a battery that lasts up to eight hours on a charge, and the ability to conduct AI functions including speech recognition, hand tracking, and eye tracking.

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Envision used the on-device SLAM capabilities of Aria Gen 2, along with spatial audio features via onboard speakers, to assist blind and low-vision individuals seamlessly navigate indoor environments. This innovative use of the technologies, which is still in the exploratory and research phase, exemplifies how researchers can leverage Aria Gen 2 glasses for prototyping AI experiences based on egocentric observations. The advanced sensors and on-device machine perception capabilities, including SLAM, eye tracking, hand tracking, and audio interactions, also make them ideal for data collection for research and robotics applications, Meta said in a blog post.

In the upcoming months, Meta intends to provide the glasses to commercial and academic research laboratories.  One early tester, Envision, is testing Aria Gen 2 to develop solutions for those who are blind or have low vision.