Over the past years, DefenceTech has been thrown into the global spotlight. The war in Ukraine has prompted or accelerated many conversations about security and how technology can be better utilised to create a safer world. In Estonia, the race to establish the country as a hotbed for DefenceTech innovation is well underway.
Estonia has selection of the most promising companies working on innovative solutions for defenders off and on the battlefield. Take armoured vehicles, for example, which face a fairly prosaic problem in critical situations: for those inside them, there are no windows to actually see what’s happening outside of the vehicle in real-time. There’s also an often overwhelming number of digital sources of information inside the armoured vehicle, adding to the noise.
Both of these problems are solved in one fell swoop by Vegvisir, founded in 2021 by eight experienced professionals from Estonia and Croatia. Vegvisir is a mixed-reality situational awareness system (MRSAS) that provides armoured vehicle personnel a better understanding of their surroundings both in daylight and, thanks to thermal sensors, in the dark.
The uniqueness of Vegvisir´s system allows armoured personnel carriers to gain a better overview of their surroundings, thus significantly speeding up the decision-making process.
The key to getting mixed reality right on the battlefield
First, using cameras, Vegvisir brings a real-world image to the user inside the armoured vehicle. Through virtual reality (VR) headsets, the user is also connected to the digital battlefield. Important information is displayed right in front of the user’s eyes, making it impossible to miss. This, known as a mixed-reality solution, contributes to enhancing survivability and superiority on the battlefield.
But perhaps the most crucial element that often gets in the way of such technology being used reliably is latency — the time it takes for the photons of light to travel from the camera to the headset. In other similar systems, the delay often makes them unusable due to the motion sickness the latency can cause in users.
GOOD TO KNOW
The uniqueness of the Vegvisir´s system allows armored personnel carriers—be it the driver, commander, or gunner—to gain a better overview of their surroundings, thus significantly speeding up the decision-making process. The system’s uniqueness lies in its user-centric approach, offering a customized user interface for each position.
According to Ingvar Pärnamäe, CEO & Co-founder, Vegvisir’s system brings latency down to a minimum, meaning there’s no delay to speak of. This game-changing difference is what sets Vegvisir apart.
Defence solutions based on personal battlefield experience
Like all the best innovations, Vegvisir’s solution was born from personal pain.
The founding team combines a vast breadth of expertise — from military operations and the defence industry to years of startup experience. The original idea for the system came from the founders with military backgrounds who had experienced being stuck in armoured vehicles in a battle situation. Their question was a simple one: What tools did they wish they’d had available to them during their military deployments in Afghanistan or elsewhere in the world?
The answer was a 360-degree field of vision with a camera and sensor system installed on the armoured vehicle, allowing the entire crew to see a real-time, simultaneous, minimum-latency image of the vehicle’s surroundings.
As of today, Vegvisir has been in development for a few years. During this time, the team has already successfully completed field tests with the Estonian Defence Forces. The results: the concept clearly works in real life. Of the 40 people who tested the system, for example, none experienced motion sickness, showing that the system is reliable for real-life use.
The foundation is solid, and the future of mixed reality on the battlefield is looking bright.
Vegvisir’s partnership with MKU Limited opens doors to the extensive Indian market.
Vegvisir successfully entered the Indian market
On January 8, 2024, the Estonian defence industry company Vegvisir and the Indian defence industry company MKU Limited signed a vital partnership agreement, which opened Vegvisir doors to the vast Indian defence market.
Over the past three years, Vegvisir has been a leader in developing an innovative situational awareness system for armoured vehicles.
“Since the launch of our developed system in September 2023, it has generated considerable interest, now culminating in a strategic agreement to introduce the solution to the Indian defence market,” said Ingvar Pärnamäe, CEO of Vegvisir.
MKU Limited, a well-known Indian defence company, brings its expertise in advanced defence solutions for individuals and platforms to the partnership. The company, with a history dating back to 1985, has established itself as a global leader in the defence sector. MKU’s broad product range, including ballistic helmets, body protection, and optical equipment, is supported by significant investments in research and development, resulting in patented technologies and innovative solutions.
“This partnership is significant for Vegvisir and MKU Limited and the entire Estonian defence industry. It demonstrates the capacity of Estonian companies to develop high-tech solutions and establish new strategic partnerships for global implementation,” said Pärnamäe.
“For us, the first major task will now be to adapt our technology to the requirements of the Indian market,” added Pärnamäe.
The mutual understanding and cooperation memorandum between Vegvisir and MKU Limited was signed during the Estonian business delegation’s visit to India.
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