Augmented reality start-up targets shipping

The company, which uses Microsoft’s Hololens augmented reality platform, is building a library of applications in partnership with equipment suppliers and training agencies. The first applications will be announced at the SMM exhibition in September, by which time the company hopes to have five apps available.

CEO Håvard Notøy explained that Norwegian state company Equinor (previously Statoil) has identified augmented reality as one of three technology investment priorities over the next three years, alongside big data and artificial intelligence. “All the recent comments from the heads of major technology companies tell us that mixed reality [augmented reality and virtual reality] is going to be big,” said Notoy. “The question is how soon and when it will replace your smartphone.”

Fostech envisions charging a base subscription of around NOK80,000 (€ for a headset and communications package, after which supplier partners will be able to set their own prices for further applications. The company is targeting 40 subscriptions in the fourth quarter of 2018 and a further 360 next year.

Microsoft Hololens uses a headset and visor to project an image that can be manipulated and layered over the user’s natural vision. This means of examining ship or component models affords obvious opportunities in shipping, with potential uses including equipment servicing, training and ship design.

Notøy has more than 30 years’ experience in the marine industry at Rolls-Royce and Havyard Group. He started Fostech in 2015. The company has secured investment including NOK2.6 million (€276,000) from Innovation Norway, a further grant from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme and financing from other partners to develop specific applications.