Telexistence Project
The UK Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) have been exploring telexistence technology. This is a system which allows a human user to operate in an environment without physically being there, be remotely ‘tele-present’ by using a robot as a surrogate self. This emerging capability will reduce the physical risks associated with military personnel, emergency workers and civilians operating in dangerous and hazardous environments. In other words, it allows a human operator to perform complex tasks and operate equipment remotely from a safe distance, such as bomb disposal, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear decommissioning, space exploration and firefighting.
DASA and the NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Agency) allocated £800,000 to 11 projects on the development of telexistence technologies. Holoxica was one of them.
Isometric representation of the Holographic 3D Telexistence system.
Digital Twin
Holoxica built on its existing HoloPresence technology and developed a ‘Holographic 3D Telexistence system with Light Field Displays for Remote Object Interaction’. This included a real-time Digital Twin for heightened operator clarity.
Screenshot of the Digital Twin.
Live Demo
We did a live demo using the wireless robot with a mounted depth camera with pan & tilt capabilities on a course, scanning the route and scenes. It found a (fake) IED. The operator could see the IED and the wire with 3D perspective, remotely from a safe distance, on a 3D Looking Glass display. The operator could cut the wire and even interact over audio if need be. The operator had full control and situational awareness at all times through a tailor-made Digital Twin visible in real 3D on the Looking Glass display.
Photograph of the robot during the Telexistence Live Demo.