In a landmark achievement for immersive training, the AEGIR simulator was officially certified by the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) as part of a training course at our partner facility, the Reval Safety Training Centre. This was a long and rigorous process, culminating in a pivotal moment not just for Varcus, but for the entire maritime training industry.
Following the success of the AEGIR prototype, we were inspired by the potential of overlaying data onto the real world. This led to the birth of the ESBEN concept, and our first trial was a true engineering feat. The initial prototype was a testament to raw innovation, consisting of a heavy 2kg mixed-reality headset tethered to a powerful, dedicated PC. The sole purpose was to answer a critical question: is it possible to project navigational data as a stable spatial overlay in a real, moving environment?
In the summer of 2021, we reached a pivotal milestone: the first fully functional prototype of our mixed-reality simulator, then codenamed “ShipSimulator,” was brought to life. Set up in a green room, this early version was our initial attempt to bridge the gap between the virtual and the physical. The goal was to move beyond the limitations of purely virtual reality and allow trainees to interact with real, tangible equipment within a simulated environment.
