Fugro Selects RealWear Assisted Reality Headsets to Increase Operational Safety, Capacity and Efficiency
January 13, 2021 – London, UK – RealWear, Inc, the global leader of hands-free head-mounted tablets for digital transformation in industry, announced that Fugro has selected and deployed the RealWear HMT-1 voice-enabled headsets throughout its fleet.
Fugro, the world’s largest geo-data specialist collecting advanced information about subsurface and structures, conducts the majority of its operations across remote and often harsh environments, both on land and at sea. The innovative global company wanted to see if a wearable solution for its onsite workers could significantly reduce the number of site visits while maintaining, or even improving, communication and collaboration amongst the entire fleet. Fugro also desired to support its larger sustainability and carbon reduction goals.
Following consultation with RealWear’s partner VR Expert, Fugro selected RealWear’s purpose-built wearable technology over other wearable options, including AR smart glasses. Fugro specifically chose RealWear to support its connectivity, ruggedness and safety requirements.
In 2019, Fugro began with a single HMT-1, and gradually increased the number in the field after testing connectivity, durability, user feedback, and potential scale. For connectivity it had to test the video and audio in low bandwidth and extreme weather conditions. To resolve this issue, VR Expert adapted their software to automatically determine and optimize settings based on the users current latency and bandwidth scenario. The software was also integrated into Fugro’s IT infrastructure as an on-premise solution. After successfully validating the use case, VR Expert created special kits for Fugro including the headset, accessories and manuals which can now be found on almost every Fugro vessel.
“The VR Expert team offered great advice in choosing the right hardware and accessories for our environment. They also helped validate our use case with extensive testing. In the end, we purchased over 40 RealWear HMT-1s which have been deployed across our global fleet as our Remote Expert solution for providing assistance to our vessels from onshore. We’re proud of our teamwork and look forward to expanding business together,” commented Hannes Swiegers, Global Director Remote Operations and Support Services, Fugro.
Since the deployment of the solution, Fugro was able to reduce in-person site visits to potentially hazardous locations. This has also had a positive impact on the environment and their bottom line. Fugro can now drive customer satisfaction and optimize its resources, including decision-making efficiencies, by assessing situations onsite without having to travel. For Fugro’s staff out in the field, the HMT-1 running Remote Expert has acted as a key tool in their toolkit, enabling workers to operate more quickly, with instant access to expertise and knowledge from colleagues around the world.
“Once again, the RealWear HMT-1 has passed the durability and rugged test in some of the most extreme environments in the world,” said Sanjay Jhawar, President and Cofounder, RealWear. “Fugro is maintaining its innovation position by combining the HMT-1 with the power of Remote Expert, even during these challenging times. We appreciate the opportunity to empower and elevate these remote teams”
“Working with Fugro from vision to validation was a great experience and we couldn’t have done it without the reliability of the RealWear HMT-1s. The team at VR Expert is extremely proud seeing the RealWear HMT-1s being used to great effect across the globe.” added Tim Nijland, CMO, VR Expert.
About RealWear
RealWear® is a knowledge transfer platform company providing in-situ information and in-the-field training with software and hardware to help people improve safety and increase productivity at work. The company’s flagship system, the HMT-1®, is the best ruggedized head-mounted, wearable, Android-class tablet computer that frees a worker’s hands for dangerous jobs. With an ever-growing number of hands-free enterprise-ready software apps and integrations, enterprise customers gain instant knowledge for faster troubleshooting and communication and inspection with remote mentor, visual assist, document navigation, industrial IoT visualization and digital workflow solutions.
Global leaders in energy, manufacturing and automotive industries trust the HMT-1 and HMT-1Z1 to empower and connect their global workforce. Companies operating global businesses in diverse industries including Shell, Colgate-Palmolive, BMW and State Grid trust RealWear.
About Fugro
Fugro is the world’s leading Geo-data specialist, collecting and analyzing comprehensive information about the Earth and the structures built upon it. Adopting an integrated approach that incorporates acquisition and analysis of Geo-data and related advice, Fugro provides solutions. With expertise in site characterization and asset integrity, clients are supported in the safe, sustainable and efficient design, construction and operation of their assets throughout the full lifecycle. Employing approximately 9,500 talented people in 61 countries, Fugro serves clients around the globe, predominantly in the energy and infrastructure industries, both offshore and onshore. In 2019, revenue amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. The company is listed on Euronext Amsterdam.
About VR Expert
Since 2012 VR Expert has been a leading virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality(AR) hardware supplier for the B2B market. They help companies with advice and supply of specifically selected VR / AR hardware. VR Expert provides services in regards to installation, logistics and support for hundreds of companies across the globe.
HMT-1 and Intrinsically Safe HMT 1Z1 Voice-Controlled Wearable Computer
HMT-1, which recently won AWE’s people’s choice for Best Headworn Device, is RealWear’s flagship AR wearable device, bridging the last mile of your Connected program to maximize the potential of your industrial workforce. Workers can follow work instructions, watch videos or communicate with experts even in extreme noise, temperature, darkness, tight spaces, or even in the high seas, all through voice navigation and a safe, hands-free experience. The device has been drop-tested, temperature-tested, and worker-tested. Companies from oil and gas, utilities and manufacturing trust the HMT-1 to get the jobdone. The HMT-1Z1 model is the world’s first and only commercially available intrinsically safe head mounted wearable computer that meets Class 1 Division 1 and ATEX Zone 1 certifications – presenting no ignition risk where potentially explosive atmospheres exist in normal routine operations.