University of New Brunswick Establishes Spatial Computing Education, Training and Research Laboratory

New lab will support growth in aerospace ecosystem 

 Aerospace is one of the most research-intensive and export-focused manufacturing industries, employing thousands of highly qualified people in every region across the country. By strategically investing in the aerospace sector, the federal government is supporting an innovative industry and a key driver of our nation’s economy. 

New lab will help small and medium-sized businesses in the aerospace industry 

Today, the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA announced an investment of $823,125 toward the Spatial Computing Education, Training & Research Laboratory (SPECTRAL) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). The announcement took place at Fredericton-based Kognitiv Spark, a global leader in spatial computing technology. Kognitiv Spark is investing $150,000 in the project, as well as a $410,000 in-kind contribution. 

 SPECTRAL will support SMEs and other aerospace industry clients by providing access to world-class research and development and supporting a digitized aerospace supply chain, as well as new educational and training programs in the spatial computing field. The project will create a pipeline of highly qualified personnel with training in industry-relevant spatial computing and help local companies maximize opportunities in the global aerospace supply chain. 

Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to help businesses grow, reach new markets, drive innovation and contribute to Atlantic Canada’s economic success. 

Quotes 

“We are committed to driving economic growth in Atlantic Canada. The University of New Brunswick’s Spatial Computing Education, Training & Research Laboratory will help maximize opportunities in the spatial computing industry and meet growing demand in the global aerospace sector, benefitting our economy for years to come.” 

- The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA 

 “Spatial computing is an exciting area full of rich, emerging potential for the aerospace ecosystem and beyond. We are grateful for ACOA’s support of our vision of collaboratively advancing research and innovation in this domain and training tomorrow’s experts through student learning opportunities.” - Dr. Paul J. Mazerolle, President and Vice-Chancellor of UNB 

“Today’s announcement is truly exciting and will have a positive impact across not just the Atlantic region, but Canada and the wider aerospace industry. This is the next step in a collaboration that highlights some of the amazing opportunities for technical and academic leadership in Spatial Computing that exist here in New Brunswick.” - Duncan McSporran, COO and VP of Defence and Public Sector, Kognitiv Spark 

Quick facts 

• The University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) SPECTRAL builds on years of expertise and partnership in human-computer interaction, as well as a desire to grow the aerospace ecosystem. 

• Since 2016, Kognitiv Spark Inc. has worked closely with global partners to guide mixed reality solution development, with an emphasis on user-centered development. 

• ACOA’s contribution is through the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, which supports projects that promote sustainable community economic development, enhance business development and growth, and facilitate innovation. 

Kim Holland 

Director of Marketing 

Kognitiv Spark 

kim@kognitivspark.com 

Kognitiv Spark, Leeway Marine Share HoloLens 2 Success Story at the Microsoft HoloLens Manufacturing Industry Forum

By DEMOND CURETON of XR Today

Kognitiv Spark's RemoteSpark immersive platform has empowered maritime firms with rapid workflows

The Microsoft HoloLens Manufacturing Industry Forum, hosted by the Virtual and Augmented Reality Association (VRARA), the world’s top forum for advocating extended reality (XR) technologies, gathered thousands of executives, experts, and industry thought leaders online on Wednesday.

Members of the global tech industry debuted vital use cases for the Microsoft HoloLens 2, a key hardware component for numerous industrial sectors adopting mixed reality (MR) technologies

Iain Whyte, Director of Defence at Kognitiv Spark, explained his work with the HoloLens 2, which has empowered workers in the marine sector, namely amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Kognitiv Spark’s Immersive Industry Story

According to Whyte, COVID-19 had “accelerated the update of remote support solutions” to provide businesses with greater continuity and resilience. He added that MR solutions also played a key role in digitally transforming enterprises, namely for operational efficiencies and sustainability strategies.

Kongnitiv Spark, a Gold Partner with Microsoft’s MR and cloud computing, currently empowers Canada’s maritime sector, he said, adding his company’s communications platform, RemoteSpark, allowed clients to quickly resolve challenges across the world via the HoloLens 2 and other hardware.

The Fredericton, New Brunswick-based firm also holds offices in the United Kingdom and works with numerous clients, including the Royal Canadian Navy and others, as well as collaborates on three ocean technology projects via Canada’s Open Ocean SuperCluster, he explained.

His firm also works to visualise sensor data sets and incorporate digital twins for offshore maritime operations, including major projects such as the Mariner of the Future, Shipyard 4.0, and others.

Leeway Marine Case Study

Personnel working on vessels had significantly reduced downtime and maintenance gaps with the firm’s MR tools, he explained, citing a case study from Leeway Marine Chief Executive, Jamie Sangster.

The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-based marine data acquisition service company provides some of Canada’s top technical and innovative teams in the maritime sector and has deployed immersive MR technologies to rapidly streamline operations across the Atlantic for his vessels and crew.

Speaking in a short recorded video at the presentation, Sangster explained that his crews faced “emergent issues that happen onboard ships,” which his teams have worked to tackle with remote connectivity protocols.

He continued, stating,

“What we wanted to do really is figure out if there’s a better way, rather than pulling the ship off charter, task, or mission that it’s currently undertaking? [That] fundamentally for us is a huge cost driver in our business. So any way that we can reduce those costs and downtime is important for us to investigate”

Leeway Marines later deployed mixed reality technologies for his staff for trial runs to use the product to directly solve issues as they arose on vessels, without having to dispatch additional crew on-site.

He explained further,

“In our case, we can put on the [HoloLens 2], initiate the software, and in an instant, our technicians back home really have an acute understanding of the technology and understanding of the equipment and are able to see what’s happening”

According to the executive, previous contact protocols such as sending messages, pictures, emails, and texts greatly extended downtimes for vessels, but the HoloLens 2 provided “direct visualisation, including video and audio” to crew staff, he said, adding “there’s absolutely no replacement for that.”

He concluded, stating the HoloLens 2 solution had become a “bit of a panacea” for his remote teams and added it was important to explore further.

Sangster continued, explaining that industrial installations required digital twins and 3D models to visualise specific engineering changes or repairs on vessels. The HoloLens also allowed crews to complete walkthroughs for refitting devices on the A-frame of ships, he said.

Citing figures on the benefits to Leeway Marine, the HoloLens 2 reduced equipment and platform downtimes by 30 percent, or a total of 14 to 20 hours per incident, as well as offered a 50 percent reduction in diagnostic times.

Travel costs were also slashed by 75 percent, allowing the company to meet critical sustainability strategies by reducing carbon emissions.

The news comes after Kognitiv Spark revealed in February it had expanded its offices to the United Kingdom, where the Canadian firm will operate its hub for clients across the European continent.

The company’s UK operations will focus on deploying AR and MR solutions for the manufacturing and defence sectors following huge growth across the Americas as well as for its global workforces.

Source