27 October 2021, San Francisco, Calif. — Aechelon Technology, Inc. and Varjo, the leader in professional-grade VR/XR hardware and software, today unveiled a strategic alliance after a two-year research and development collaboration, resulting in a vertically integrated product line called Aechelon XR Station. It is designed to deliver a Mixed Reality Visual System solution for the most demanding government and commercial market simulation requirements. The product line incorporates Varjo’s mixed reality devices, the Varjo XR-3.

Aechelon XR Stations are configured from the ground up with a multi-GPU pre-integrated Image Generator capable of supporting the human-eye resolution (over 60 ppd) and high frame rate visual experience of the Varjo XR-3 HMD. The visual system seamlessly combines Varjo’s video pass-through technology to visualize physical aspects of the simulator with Aechelon’s renowned high-quality and global image databases, for a high-precision mixed reality simulation experience.  

The resulting solution provides the ultimate in visual fidelity for a mixed reality implementation and reduces the transport delay from trackers and host computers to a minimum.

The Varjo-Aechelon breakthrough collaboration has already resulted in multiple non-experimental program contracts with fully rated training and mission rehearsal requirements for their specific use cases, such as the U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper and UH-1Y Venom Deployable Mission Rehearsal Trainer.

The solution is vertically integrated using open standards and is compliant with the most stringent U.S. DoD security requirements. Alternative versions are available for the international export market.

The main benefits of the collaboration between Varjo and Aechelon to Governments, prime contractors, and commercial operators are:

• Reduced cost of Visual Systems compared to multi-channel domes or collimated displays
• Reduced lead times and costs associated with complex display systems
• Reduced physical simulator facility footprint increasing number of trainers possible per site
• Support of the same high-density worldwide databases already in service on high-end devices with full commonality, without modification, ensuring correlation.
• Support of advanced use cases which can replace costly and long lead items, such as active optical Head-Mounted Cueing Systems on advanced aircraft platforms.
• Support of Aechelon-proven multi-spectral sensor image generation.
• Computer Fluid Dynamics (CFD) stereo visualization in 4D context for training and mission rehearsal.
• Other sensitive requirements for advanced platforms.

Beyond current program deliveries, Varjo and Aechelon engineering teams are already at work evaluating and testing future model prototypes of their respective products in collaboration with NVIDIA.

“Varjo is thrilled to be working with Aechelon who is raising the bar on mixed reality visual systems that enable trainees to interact with the physical environment around them including seeing their hands and body while immersed in a geospecific virtual environment. This approach dramatically lowers the cost of training without sacrificing fidelity and the ability to develop muscle memory. The quality of the mixed reality implementation combined with the industry leading visual quality provided by Aechelon enables new use cases including portable mission rehearsal” Said John Burwell, Global Lead for Simulation and Training at Varjo.

“I have selected, procured, and integrated high-end VR head-mounted displays since 1991. Varjo XR products are the first to reach the proper suspension of disbelief for our stringent use cases.” said Javier Castellar, Co-founder, and VP of Programs at Aechelon Technology.

About Varjo:

Varjo Technologies is a global technology leader in virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality hardware and software. The company was founded in 2016 by former Nokia and Microsoft executives. Varjo specializes in developing industrial-grade, high-resolution devices that offer clarity comparable to the human eye. They take you to another level of performance and emotional immersion – recreating the exact feeling and conditions of real life, allowing you to perform better and learn faster. www.varjo.com

About Aechelon Technology

Aechelon Technology is a leader in real-time computer graphics applications for training, simulation, and entertainment markets. The Company provides COTS-based, high resolution, multi-channel, geo-specific image generators, OTW, and correlated sensor databases and integration services. The Company’s image generators are fielded, proven, and are delivered with full logistics support and documentation. Aechelon Technology is ISO 9001:2015 certified, and is located on the Internet at www.aechelon.com and headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Aechelon Technology is a trademark of Aechelon Technology, Inc.