Air Race X: Tokyo's wild ride into mixed reality air racing

Alright, folks, buckle up because we're diving into the world of Air Race X – a Tokyo-based start-up's audacious take on mixing reality with the thrill of air racing.

So, what's Air Race X all about? It's about taking a real sport, like air racing, and throwing it into a wild mix of real-world data and digital magic. Air racing is like a super fast plane race where pilots weave through inflatable pylons. It's intense and needs a lot of skill. But the issue here is the races needed a ton of money to happen, and people weren’t excited about them anymore. Also, flying pilots and planes all over the world was a logistical nightmare.

So, three pilots – Matt Hall, Yoshi Muroya, and Pete Mcleod – decided to change the game. They came up with Air Race X. Instead of traveling around the world, pilots race from their home base on the same digital course. Meanwhile, observers can enjoy the show through the magic of AR.

Just a few days ago on October 15th, 2023, the bustling streets of Tokyo's Shibuya district bore witness to this extraordinary experiment.



Now, here's the nitty-gritty of Air Race X: The data from the champion air pilot's flights is collected, digitized, and brought to life in mixed reality right above Tokyo's skyline. If you wanted to crank up the immersion, you could slap on a Pico 4E headset and watch the race mix with reality right out of a window.

But there's a catch – occlusion. It's like when you try to mix VR with the real world, sometimes they don’t blend perfectly. When watching these digital planes flying around, they sometimes zoom behind a skyscraper. But you can still see them as if the skyscraper isn't there. (Via Mixed Reality News)

Psychic VR Lab chose to turn off occlusion for Air Race X, even on devices that could handle it. They said it was due to alignment issues and visibility problems, but that decision has left some scratching their heads.

So, guess who took home the crown at Air Race X in Tokyo? It was none other than the incredible Yoshi Muroya, the hometown hero! Way to go, Yoshi!

In a nutshell, Air Race X is a daring leap into the realm of mixed-reality sports. It's bursting with potential, but there are kinks to be ironed out. As VR and AR continue to evolve, who knows? Air Race X might just be the future of sports entertainment.

After checking out the Air Race X teaser, and a few glimpses from the final round, I have to say, the idea is pretty darn impressive. The fusion of real-world locations with digital planes soaring through the sky is nothing short of thrilling. However, that occlusion issue does put a damper on things. It's like watching a superhero movie and wishing for better special effects. The potential is undoubtedly there, though. Let's keep an eye on where this wild ride takes us!

What are your thoughts on this daring venture? Share them in the comments below!