The system uses artificial intelligence and eye-tracking to react to user needs and display layers of electronic information in the vehicle’s direct line of sight.
Urho Konttori, co-founder and CEO of Distance, referred to the system as having” very perceiving powers.” Operators can get field data, terrain maps, and AI-generated insights without veering off the road or compromising presence in smoke or darkness, according to him.
” Mixed fact is all about understanding exactly what is in front of you and then mixing the chemical signal on top of it,” Konttori said.
Distinct from traditional heads-up features, which project simple information at a fixed focal length, Distance’s technology offers an “infinite image level.” This enables the display to feel unaffected from reality by displaying online objects in the appropriate geographic context.
As part of Patria’s eALLIANCE program, which is funded by the Scandinavian state, the project will be deployed in its six-wheel drive defense vehicles. By 2027, the goal is to check the engineering in real-world military settings.
Distance’s strategy eliminates physical light leakage, which means that vehicles with the display can’t be seen clearly from the screen, a danger that is frequently associated with digital cockpit devices.
The agency’s chief marketing officer, Jussi Mäkinen, stated that the goal of Distance is to lessen the burden rather than make it worse.
” Our engineering is all about adding value without requiring devices or complicated resources,” he said. It can be used” with little training,” he says.
Before being used in defense applications, the technology was first developed for the automotive industry to ensure cost-effective large creation. Range emerged from cunning style in 2024 after receiving a$ 2.7 million pre-seed funding and a$ 1.1 million square led by Google Ventures.
Any open surface can be transformed into a screen using the MR system. It does this by combining computer-generated images with the natural surroundings through light area optics that adjust to a user’s position and eye movement. The technology has been tested on various types of aircraft, including fighter planes, and is currently being developed for use in armored vehicles.
The agreement, according to Patria, shows how committed it is to developing national capabilities in AI and device fusion. It produces defense systems and armored vehicles for Nordic and EU causes.
The design was embedded in a Patria 6×6 system during a demonstration of the MR car earlier this week in Arlington, Virginia. The final type, scheduled to arrive by 2027, is expected to be considerably more developed.
Konttori, the founder of Distance, was originally the CTO of the Helsinki-based XR company Varjo, where he contributed to the creation of the first retina-resolution headset. Varjo left Varjo, and he founded Distance to concentrate on wearable-free display options.
The fresh partnership coincides with rising defense costs in Europe. Germany a €500 billion bank for defense and infrastructure investments on Tuesday. The shift has heightened calls for more technological advancement in defense across the globe.
HT