6 Startups Redefining 3D Workflows with OpenUSD and Generative AI
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In the fast-paced landscape of industrial digitalization, startups are increasingly leveraging Universal Scene Description (OpenUSD) and generative AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible in 3D content creation, digital twins, and AI-driven innovation.
At GTC, six pioneering startups shared how they are solving complex problems and creating new opportunities across various industries by leveraging OpenUSD and Generative AI. You can watch the session here.
These companies are supported by NVIDIA Inception, the free program for innovative technology startups. This global program of over 18,000 members offers startups engineering guidance, technical training, and introductions to funding opportunities to accelerate their business.
Here’s how each is driving the next era of advanced 3D solutions with OpenUSD redefining the boundaries of digital creation and consumption.
Rendered.ai: Open Standards for Synthetic Data Generation
Rendered.ai, an NVIDIA Inception member, is using physically accurate 3D simulations to generate synthetic computer vision data to help overcome bias and power innovation in AI. Their expertise spans domains like remote sensing, healthcare, and the public sector, enabling their customers to generate unlimited, fully labeled data for training AI.
Despite increasing volumes of data that are being collected to train AI, a persistent issue that machine learning (ML) engineers face is getting data that meets their specific criteria and can be reused across multiple projects. To address these challenges, Rendered.ai has adopted OpenUSD.
OpenUSD allows Rendered.ai to facilitate more simulations for customers with fewer data translations to speed up their iterative process, enabling faster physically accurate synthetic data generation for a wide range of applications, from agriculture to defense to manufacturing.
One of the key stepping stones to solving problems optimally is open standards,” said Chris Andrews, COO at Rendered.ai. “Using standardized technology like OpenUSD allows us to participate in larger ecosystems that will enable us to do more than we could ever do alone.
Evolver Interactive: Navigating the Future with OpenUSD Digital Twins
Evolver Interactive, has been utilizing NVIDIA Omniverse, the platform for connecting and developing OpenUSD applications, for over five years. Their focus lies in digital twins and unified management systems as both software and services. The startup’s use of USD for collaboration and enterprise solutions has been pivotal in scaling their projects across various industries.
By leveraging USD and Omniverse, they have created an asset store in the cloud, streamlining their processes and enhancing collaboration. Chris Scott, CEO of Evolver, highlighted the importance of starting small and gradually expanding the use of USD and Omniverse to solve complex problems. Today, Evolver is able to build large-scale digital twins of factories, working with various data sources like Lidar point cloud data for customers like the European Consortium.
I urge you to consider where USD fits into your workflow and how it can propel your projects forward,” said Chris Scott. “OpenUSD and Omniverse offer versatile solutions, though no single solution covers all bases. It’s about leveraging the available tools effectively.
Ascon Systems: Bridging Digitalization, AI, and Industry Expertise
Today’s manufacturing industry faces numerous challenges, including traditional Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, a shortage of skilled labor, and limited information technology and operational technology (IT-OT) convergence. To address these, Ascon Systems has developed Ascon Qube, an automation platform that integrates real-time data and USD-based 3D pipelines. By linking the physical and virtual worlds through digital twins, Ascon Qube enables live production control, predictive maintenance, and accelerated ramp-up processes.
This has been instrumental in projects like BMW Group’s Innovation Hub. BMW has used Ascon Qube to link several automated assembly and testing stations, allowing users to see a live view of operations and related information, run simulations and analysis, obtain forecasts, and much more.
Looking ahead, we aim to shift away from linear programming and execution models, instead focusing on ecosystems and hyper-converged infrastructures, in collaboration with NVIDIA and our partners,” said Jens Mueller, CEO of Ascon Systems.
SyncTwin: Empowering Small Businesses to Build Digital Twins
SyncTwin aims to make the industrial metaverse accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises by leveraging OpenUSD and the Omniverse ecosystem. The catalyst for their journey was their partnership with BMW, which demonstrated the transformative potential of industrial digital twins. However, many small businesses lack dedicated IT departments for digital factory solutions, relying instead on tools like Excel and Powerpoint.
By converting existing layout information and process data from Excel sheets into OpenUSD components, SyncTwin creates interactive models that reveal the full potential of factory operations. This approach enables small businesses to easily engage with digital twin technology, empowering them to streamline operations, make data-driven decisions, and ultimately thrive in the digital age.
The integration of OpenUSD into SyncTwin exemplifies our commitment to leverage cutting-edge technology to democratize access to the industrial metaverse for businesses of all sizes,” said Michael Wagner, CEO of SyncTwin
Aireal: Immersive Pre-Construction Experiences with User-Centric Design
Aireal specializes in interactive and immersive technology platforms for pre-construction environments, providing visualization, customization, and exploration experiences before homes and communities are built. This extends to offering customers insights into amenities and lifestyles of future buyers.
By utilizing OpenUSD and Omniverse, they offer highly realistic and interactive experiences, allowing customers to visualize and customize their future homes. To ensure that product offerings align with customer expectations, Aireal connects data from ERP systems to OpenUSD so that showcased options are always available for production.
OpenUSD provides incredible value to us through performant, realistic experiences, real-time collaboration capabilities, and improved customer engagement,” said Kevin Hart, Founder and CEO at Aireal.
Configuru: Generating Personalized Marketing Experiences
In the digital age of AI, traditional sales methods are becoming less effective as users now demand more personalized experiences and a comprehensive understanding of their challenges. To address this, Configuru, an NVIDIA Inception member, has developed various AI applications for image generation and integrated them with NVIDIA Omniverse. For example, using their most recent AI extension for Omniverse, users can effortlessly create complex scenes with drag-and-drop functionality, saving time and resources compared to conventional rendering methods.
Integration with OpenUSD and Omniverse Nucleus enhances collaboration and data management across our different development environments,” said Aleksandr Evgrashin, Head of Software Development at Configuru.
These pioneering startups are at the forefront of leveraging OpenUSD and Generative AI to revolutionize industries. Their innovative solutions are transforming the way businesses leverage operational data, enable collaboration, and engage with customers. By harnessing the power of open standards and cutting-edge technologies like Omniverse, these companies are paving the way for a future where data-driven insights and immersive experiences drive success. The possibilities are endless, and these startups are leading the charge towards a more efficient, connected, and intelligent world.
Watch the full session with their presentations here: Building Tools for Digital Worlds: Startups Pioneering OpenUSD and Generative AI
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