As a collective of NVIDIA’s interoperable, modular, and novel technologies, NVIDIA Omniverse is a diverse and interactive virtual development platform. Further, NVIDIA Omniverse employs multiple unique avenues for 3D workflow collaboration worldwide. In addition, NVIDIA Omniverse incorporates an extensive selection of AI-based software tools for increasing efficiencies during project design and development.
In this article, we are going to dive deep into NVIDIA Omniverse. We’ll be exploring the history of the project, current products and services, and future developments. Also, we will provide a breakdown of protocols and features of NVIDIA Omniverse that are useful to developers. Finally, we’ll explore NVIDIA Omniverse Enterprise, NVIDIA’s all-in-one solution for enterprises to integrate projects on a globally-collaborative level.
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What is NVIDIA Omniverse™?
NVIDIA, responsible for popularizing the acronym “GPU” (short for graphics processing unit) in the late 1990s, is at the forefront of computer system design services. NVIDIA Omniverse™ is an exciting evolution of the organization’s product range incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, and cutting-edge NVIDIA RTX™ technology.
Further, NVIDIA Omniverse™ is a multi-GPU, open-source, and scalable development platform for virtual artistic collaboration and 3D design. Also, the NVIDIA Omniverse utility extends to a variety of different industries and roles. This includes the likes of researchers, engineers, and digital designers. In addition, by integrating elements based on Pixar’s “Universal Scene Description” (USD), NVIDIA Omniverse allows users to develop their own applications, extensions, and microservices. Plus, these innovations are available for others to integrate, thanks to the modular infrastructure by NVIDIA Omniverse.
NVIDIA Omniverse is a virtual space for creative collaboration with like-minded individuals worldwide. Moreover, it uses “real-time physically accurate simulation” with ray-tracing rendering offering breathtaking immersive visualization experiences. With customizable and flexible features, NVIDIA Omniverse is continually expanding its functionality and utility. Accordingly, NVIDIA includes both user-centric and developer-centric Omniverse connectors, extensions, and apps. NVIDIA Omniverse makes it quite easy for content creators around the world to collaborate and expedite 3D workflows. In addition, developers can access the platform layer of the Omniverse stack facilitating the opportunity for innovation and developments.
NVIDIA Omniverse for Developers
NVIDIA Omniverse is a cutting-edge development playground that’s easy to navigate. Fundamentally, the NVIDIA Omniverse infrastructure uses a modular development framework to facilitate utmost flexibility. This is to offer fast, efficient, and sustainable development. Further, developers can create quality tools with little to no coding using Python-based development.
Another exciting aspect of the Omniverse platform includes access to the core NVIDIA technologies, leveraging over 20 years of development. This includes various rendering technologies, simulation SDKs (software development kits), and AI. NVIDIA Omniverse uses Pixar’s open-source “Universal Scene Description” (USD) for the stunning representation of real-life assets. The interchange framework “enables complex property inheritance, instancing, layering, and lazy loading,” among many other exciting features.
The complete NVIDIA Omniverse ecosystem comprises third-party and NVIDIA-built apps, microservices, and extensions. In addition, the ecosystem features third-party interoperable rendering services and digital content creation (DCC) tools. Crucially, the NVIDIA Omniverse ecosystem operates from five key components.
Omniverse Components
NVIDIA Omniverse incorporates a variety of different Omniverse components: “Nucleus,” “Connect,” “Simulation,” “Kit,” and “RTX Renderer”. Below, we’ll present a summary of each component crucial to the operations and smooth-running of the project.
Omniverse Nucleus
Often referred to as the “collaboration engine of the Omniverse platform”, Omniverse Nucleus is the project’s database. Omniverse Nucleus enables different aspects of the ecosystem (including renderers, microservices, and client applications) in the network to alter and share representations of virtual worlds. Moreover, users can choose to install Nucleus in a private cloud, on-premises, and on a workstation. Nucleus uses a publish/subscribe model to allow Omniverse clients to update digital assets and virtual world modifications in real-time.
Omniverse Connect
Adjustments transmit between Omniverse Nucleus and applications using two-way Omniverse connectors. Available as various plugins, Omniverse connectors facilitate seamless, reliable, bi-directional “live-sync workflow between client applications and Omniverse apps”. Omniverse connectors are one of the many ways developers can connect digital content creation (DCC) tools and asset libraries with NVIDIA Omniverse.
Omniverse Kit
Developers can create their own Omniverse connectors and other plugins using the powerful Omniverse software development kit (SDK). In addition, the Omniverse SDK offers programmers the freedom to build flexible applications, microservices, and extensions. Furthermore, developers have the choice of running the SDK with a user interface (UI) or headless as a microservice. For developers using the UI application, this is fully customizable as it is written using the UI engine.
Omniverse Simulation
NVIDIA’s core physics simulation technologies enable developers to access advanced, physically accurate, real-time world simulation. The three leading simulation technologies are NVIDIA PhysX, PhysX Flow, and PhysX Blast. NVIDIA PhysX offers “high-performance rigid, deformable, and vehicle dynamics”, whereas PhysX Flow focuses on fire dynamics, combustible fluid, and smoke effects. Also, developers can use PhysX Blast for “fracture and destruction” simulation.
RTX Renderer
NVIDIA Omniverse presents Omniverse RTX Renderer, a scalable multi-GPU solution for developers who do not wish to create their own. Omniverse RTX Renderer allows end-users to toggle between two modes with zero friction. Users could choose the “real-time ray-traced mode” for ultra-fast interactive performance. Alternatively, for more high-end cinematic quality, users can adjust to the referenced “path-traced mode”. At the time of writing, NVIDIA Omniverse offers the RTX technology renderer alongside any renderers connected with Pixar’s “Hydra” architecture.
Omniverse Extensions
A collection of Omniverse Kit extensions are responsible for underpinning each application available with NVIDIA Omniverse. On a fundamental level, Omniverse extensions are pieces of code with a specific design for aiding in a particular task. As such, developers can leverage these tools to increase the efficiency of workflows. Moreover, Omniverse extensions are easily customizable for non-blockchain developers using the Python programming language. Accordingly, NVIDIA Omniverse offers users more than 200 extensions, with new developments continually added. This includes everything from window extensions and UI extensions to Pixar’s Universal Scene Description (USD) widgets and voice AI programs.
A popular core extension is the Omniverse AI Toy Box extensions. The Toy Box extensions is a collection of AI-powered development tools for 3D workflows. For example, the GANverse3D extension in the box allows creators to use 2D images of vehicles into 3D virtual replicas. Using a generative adversarial network (GAN), an algorithmic architecture in AI to generate synthetic instances of data, the extension predicts 3D geometry of thousands of angles, incorporating texture and light. In short, this means that aspiring 3D artists with little experience can quickly generate drivable, virtual models of cars using a simple 2D image. Further, the representations are “complete with realistic headlights, blinkers, and wheels”!
Omniverse Farm
Omniverse Farm sits in the system layer of the NVIDIA Omniverse stack. Offering both a task-agnostic and infrastructure-agnostic service, Omniverse Farm allows developers to batch execute interactive tasks through the coordination of multiple computing resources. This includes numerous tasks from simulation and data generation to file conversions or rendering. Moreover, developers can use Omniverse Farm across many typical workstations, advanced cloud scheduling platforms, and virtual machines (VMs). Using the Omniverse software development kit (SDK), developers can design tools with Omniverse Farm leveraging batch processes for either themselves or their users.
Omniverse Avatar
Taking the collaborative development approach to a whole new level, NVIDIA Omniverse offers a diverse range of AI-based interactive avatars to assist with recommendations. Currently under development, Omniverse Avatar is the platform connecting NVIDIA’s core AI (artificial intelligence) technologies to develop AI avatars. Comprising NVIDIA Metropolis, NVIDIA Riva, NVIDIA NeMo Megatron, and NVIDIA Merlin, Omniverse Avatar is the go-to protocol for powering a cutting-edge collection of AI digital assistants. In addition, Omniverse avatars can understand and communicate in multiple languages and respond to verbal and non-verbal facial cues. The Omniverse Avatar collection can assist in smart recommendations for any technological hurdles.
An example of a NVIDIA digital assistant, powered by Omniverse Avatar, is DRIVE Concierge. To summarize, DRIVE Concierge offers a personal digital concierge assistant for each driver and passenger within NVIDIA Omniverse. As a result, users needn’t worry about tasks such as reminders, alerts, making phone calls, or booking reservations, with DRIVE Concierge taking care of it all. Plus, the AI avatar will remove the need for physical controls or screens with voice-activated commands. Also, NVIDIA promises that users can engage in a natural conversation with DRIVE Concierge.
Another popular digital assistant available with Omniverse Avatar is “Project Maxine”. Integrating NVIDIA Riva’s real-time translation, Project Maxine aids significantly in the communication of a global collaboration with multiple languages present. Project Maxine also offers real-time text-to-speech translation with “live portrait” animation, including eye contact.
NVIDIA Omniverse Enterprise
For businesses implementing 3D workflows, NVIDIA Omniverse Enterprise is an all-in-one solution for end-to-end collaboration on a global scale. Designed to run on NVIDIA-Certified Systems™, Omniverse Enterprise offers plugins that can seamlessly connect a collaborative distributed workforce using incompatible software tools. As a result, this can substantially speed up the development time and increase cost-efficiencies.
With the rise of remote work, a synergistic scalable network is essential for the quality, integrity, and opportunities for a global collaborative project. Businesses can deploy Omniverse Enterprise with zero friction, no matter the scale, to help strengthen team communication and output by unifying the tools and systems used. Moreover, all plugins facilitate a live-sync collaboration and “iteration across multiple software suites simultaneously”.
Another benefit to NVIDIA Omniverse Enterprise is the international full-service enterprise support, designed for minimizing downtime regardless of location. In addition, Omniverse Enterprise removes any need for the distribution of sensitive files by offering a secure IP address. As such, enterprises can use this to keep assets safe and accessible to relevant parties from anywhere in the world.
Exploring NVIDIA Omniverse – Summary
To summarize, if you can imagine it, you can build it with NVIDIA Omniverse. Offering a comprehensive suite of development tools and SDK, NVIDIA Omniverse ameliorates many challenges surrounding global collaborations of 3D designs and workflows. Plus, the project offers a selection of tools for non-blockchain developers. This includes customizable extensions and components for developers’ own applications that are easy to navigate for most content creators.
NVIDIA Omniverse can allow for batch processing of numerous tasks using Omniverse Farm. Moreover, the Omniverse Avatar development platform powers multiple AI-operating digital assistants. Conveniently, AI avatars can provide real-time language translation, plus calculate smart recommendations for any technical hurdles users may encounter.
In addition, NVIDIA Omniverse offers Omniverse Enterprise to allow artists and businesses to work collaboratively on a global scale. Also, NVIDIA Omniverse can offer utility to a wide range of industries incorporating 3D workflow designs. With a wealth of tools available, including cutting-edge AI, NVIDIA Omniverse is at the forefront of AI-based virtual 3D collaborative development.
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