Fredericton-based Kognitiv Spark and HMS Inc. are pairing HMS SiNGRAY G2 industrial augmented reality (AR) glasses with Kognitiv Spark’s RemoteSpark mixed reality platform. Their newly announced partnership targets technicians maintaining and repairing military equipment and critical infrastructure.

The pairing allows a technician wearing the G2 to call an expert through RemoteSpark and share a view of the work. The expert can provide verbal guidance, annotate equipment in view, and send 3D models, manuals and schematics, leaving the technician’s hands free to carry out the repair.

RemoteSpark was originally built for Microsoft’s HoloLens headset. It now supports devices ranging from Android smart glasses to laptops and phones. The companies said the G2 meets customer demand for a fully standalone, stereoscopic 3D AR headset for holographic work following HoloLens 2’s exit from the market.

The G2 uses a dedicated vision processor to run tracking at kilohertz rates. This keeps models and annotations fixed to the equipment while reserving processing capacity for detailed 3D models and live video in the same session. High-resolution capture and depth sensing give the remote expert a better view of the job.

The headset’s field-use features include hot-swappable power, IP65 sealing and Micro-OLED displays. It has undergone testing to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards 62368-1, 62471 and 60825-1, and passed drop-ball and impact tests.

RemoteSpark is also designed for limited connectivity. It supports full calls at bandwidths as low as 256 kilobits per second and can be deployed in the cloud or on premises.

Kognitiv Spark’s Canadian defence work dates to 2019, when the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) began trials of its Mixed Reality Remote Assistant Support system for maintenance and repairs aboard active naval vessels. Security features and earlier work with the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force helped the company win that contract.

Co-founder Duncan McSporran said at the time that Kognitiv Spark had developed the system at the RCN’s request and planned to offer it to other military and defence industry customers after the navy completed testing. By then, the company had also received a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Innovation Challenge award for mobile apps serving defence users.

The RCN expanded its RemoteSpark trial in September 2020. In the same year, Mack Defense Canada and Valcom Consulting Group used the software to connect system experts in Canada with field service technicians in Europe for task guidance.

Kognitiv Spark Chief Executive Officer Yan Simard said customers “keep ships ready, energy flowing and production lines running”. HMS President and CEO Dr. Zhencheng Hu said Kognitiv Spark “has spent years earning the trust of Defence departments, utilities and manufacturers.”

The partnership announcement does not disclose financial terms, order volumes or an availability date. It also names no defence customer for the G2. Kognitiv Spark is headquartered in Fredericton and maintains an office in the United Kingdom.

Related naval coverage includes Scott Aerospace’s new Halifax subsidiary and HMCS Regina’s September maritime activity. The River-class destroyer briefing provides context on Canada’s future surface fleet.