Mixed Reality Partnership Revolutionizes Defense Training

Aechelon Technology, Inc. has entered into a strategic partnership with Finnish mixed reality startup Distance Technologies Ltd.

Distance Technologies is a provider of panoramic, glasses-free light field-based mixed/augmented reality targeted at the defense market. The solution empowers users with contextual AI that will integrate with Aechelon Technology’s visualizations.

Distance transforms any transparent surface into a glasses- and headset-free window for experiencing next-generation augmented reality. Their solution employs a computer-generated 3D light field that blends with the real world, eliminating the need for headsets or glasses for a natural viewing experience without eye strain.

Together, Distance and Aechelon are developing the next generation of 3D mixed reality heads-up displays (HUDs) for advanced aerospace simulations. These simulations will occur in-flight and in real-time, marking a significant departure from traditional ground-based simulations that rely on projector dome visualization rooms or VR goggles.

Key highlights of the partnership include: the creation of advanced aerospace training simulations that operate in mid-air and in-situ; development of 3D mixed reality HUDs that revolutionize pilot and operator training; and enhanced defense use-cases, including real-time battlefield intelligence, target analysis, and in-flight augmented reality training.

The combined technology solution will deliver infinite per-pixel depth and covers the entire field of view, offering maximum immersion. The Distance solution is entirely independent of wearable devices, allowing users to look through transparent surfaces or screens to experience mixed reality content with clarity, perceived as profoundly natural—all enabled by Distance’s patented per-pixel optical depth capability.

The Distance light field solution integrates data streams from various AI systems developed specifically for defense, translating them into actionable insights for human operators via its next-generation human-machine interface.

“Distance’s control at the optical light field level is a perfect match for our virtual pixels,” said Javier Castellar, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Aechelon Technology, Inc. “Aechelon ensures real-time, worldwide accurate matching of our earth digital twins in combination with Distance’s see-through technology for the defense market, reaching places and spaces where headsets or glasses can’t (or won’t) go. This collaboration could become the operating system of Human-AI interfaces, enabling intuitive decision-making for both training and mission-critical operations. We are proud to take this next step into the future with Distance and glasses-free augmented reality at the edge.”

“This collaboration is a testament to Distance’s development prowess and focus on positioning ourselves at the forefront of defense technology,” said Urho Konttori, CEO and Co-Founder of Distance Technologies, Oy. “Our partnership with Aechelon introduces a completely natural way to view tactical or simulation data through windshields or viewports on the plane, without eyestrain or extra weight that compromises pilot or operator performance. Together, we are creating tactically accurate battlefield simulations that redefine what’s possible.”