BİTES Organizes the First
BİTES organized the first industry day activity event, "XR Technology Day," focusing on Extended Reality (XR) on June 21st at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ankara. The XR Technology Day event featured discussions on the secrets of the XR world and its implications for the defense and aviation sectors.
At the event, Founder & CEO of BİTES, Uğur COŞKUN delivered a presentation on the global position of XR technologies and their future direction, the use of technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) in various fields, the differences between these technologies, their subcomponents such as goggles, and the relationships between XR technologies and other technologies like artificial intelligence. Representatives from military and civilian procurement authorities, as well as military attachés from the Ankara Military Attachés Association (AMAC) and leading companies in the industry, attended the event. The event, where the latest developments in virtual reality technologies were presented to BİTES' stakeholders in the Turkish defense and aviation sectors, greatly contributed to raising awareness in the industry in this field.
BİTES Products Take the Stage
During the event, BİTES showcased its products developed using various Extended Reality (XR) technologies at exhibition booths. These products included virtual cockpit simulators, virtual maintenance simulators, the Tactical Area Blue-Force Tracking System (ATOK), an augmented reality-based future military concept, as well as recent notable BİTES products in the mixed reality field, such as the KARMA Flight Simulator and KARMA Tactical Map. Attendees had the opportunity to experience different XR technologies and also closely examine BİTES products such as ATOK, Bright Sight Enhanced Close-Range Surveillance System, KARMA Flight Simulator, and KARMA Tactical Map, which are built upon these technologies, using XR goggles developed by BİTES for technology development purposes.
Among these products, ATOK was developed to enable soldiers to receive and transmit secure data through wearable technologies, thereby increasing their situational awareness and even preventing negative situations such as friendly fire. KARMA was developed as a much more cost-effective and efficient training system by utilizing Mixed Reality Technology in simulators to train pilots and drivers. In the system where real devices work together with the simulator, a pilot wearing mixed reality glasses can fly in a cockpit with real avionics. On the other hand, KARMA Tactical Map was developed to enhance the user's situational awareness in the tactical field and coordination between different command centers. BİTES, thanks to its expertise in augmented reality technologies, also presents innovative products such as the "Augmented Reality Supported Maintenance System."
Always One Step Ahead with Augmented Reality
Tactical Area Blue-Force Tracking System, ATOK, equips infantry units with cutting-edge wearable tech, providing them with the tactical advantage and situational awareness they need for a decisive victory. ATOK System consists of a mobile smart device and multiple wirelessly connected sensors. Different components can be integrated into the system depending on the requirements of the operation, such as Augmented Reality Glasses, Positioning Sensors (Integrated onto glasses), Health Sensors, Mobile Devices, and Cases, Smart Watches, Precision Positioning Sensors, and Analog Compass.
Designed for the soldiers of the future, ATOK ensures total control over tactical area, improving the communication and operational capabilities of military personnel. Customizable, portable, and flexible, ATOK increases the situational awareness of the Armed Forces conducting military operations. ATOK is a prime example of how wearable technology changes the landscape of military operations. Utilizing the latest technologies, such as Augmented Reality, ATOK is an autonomous and intelligent system with all its components. ATOK provides Secure Communication Network, LTE Base Station on Armored Vehicle, Voice Communication, File Sharing & Video Conferencing, Receiving Images from UAVs through SATCOM and Sharing within the Team, Real-time Health Situation Tracking, and Generating Location Data without Internet Connection.
KARMA, a Mixed-Reality (MR) based training simulation system supported by advanced VR capabilities, provides a unique learning environment for pilots and other hands-on training needs. KARMA is highly customizable for a wide variety of training programs in aviation, maritime, and ground operations, making it applicable for both militaristic and commercial use. The system enables simulation even in the most extreme conditions in a completely risk-free environment. Easily switch between software-generated realistic scenarios and test students’ stress management and decision-making skills. Prepare your students for unexpected situations and track their development. Merging the real world and the virtual world, KARMA offers a cost-effective and portable training platform for high-fidelity simulations with unique features such as a high-fidelity synthetic environment created using advanced game engines, 360° cockpit view (made possible with eye movement tracking technology), reduced accommodation, transportation, and equipment costs, haptic feedback, risk-free & comprehensive hands-on training, easy installation and deployment, high-resolution display, and interaction with real objects in a virtual environment.
The Augmented-Reality Remote Assistance System is a holographic content-based video connection system that allows experts to aid maintenance technicians remotely. The system increases efficiency and decreases maintenance time and hands-on training time. Remote support experts can share videos, pdf, and images to guide the technicians in the field via the Augmented Reality Content Creator (ARCC). ARCC is used together with the "Augmented Reality Remote Assistance System" or the "Augmented Reality Maintenance System" to upload User/Maintenance Manuals, Illustrated Parts, and Catalogue content of a device/product to the Augmented Reality World. ARCC can create AR content that may include holograms, animations, texts, videos, and images. The contents created in ARCC can then be displayed as holograms and animations on the real device/product with AR glasses. The Augmented Reality Maintenance System provides the technicians with the holographic instructions of the user/maintenance manuals that are projected on the real device/product. The system increases productivity, operation speed, repair rates, compliance, and profit by providing guidance for the maintenance and training of critical systems/platforms. The Augmented Reality Maintenance System reduces human error, execution time, breakdowns, downtime, and costs. Any change in the device/product can easily be handled in ARCC without any additional software.
High-tech Support for Highly Complex Urban Environments
Developed for the Turkish Land Forces Command, Bright Sight (KARAR) is an Augmented Reality (AR) System for Military Operations in Urban Terrain. Bright Sight provides 360° situational awareness to the Armored Vehicle crew on the battlefield. Bright Sight is capable of working with existing Close-Range Surveillance Systems on armored vehicles. The system provides tactical advantages to the vehicle crew by displaying the outside information gathered from onboard sensors.
Bright Sight uses geo-referenced data from the C2IS and other systems on the vehicle. The system also enables the operator to monitor the vehicle's status by displaying data gathered from the Vehicle Control System, such as speed, fuel level, and engine temperature. The video feeds from onboard Surveillance Systems are fused and displayed on the smart glass used by the crew with tactical data and symbology gathered from the C2IS systems. Data obtained via Fire Control Systems and onboard 360° Surveillance Systems will be displayed according to the operators’ viewpoint. Bright Sight can also display video feeds from external sources like UAVs. Additionally, the system will provide a bird’s eye view of the tactical area and vector map layers to the vehicle commander. The system will receive operational data from onboard systems and display them on the map using appropriate symbology and will facilitate the in-vehicle activities of the personnel with its wireless communication system.
Cutting-Edge Technology for Military Operations
Reshaping the military tactical planning practices, Augmented Reality Sandbox enables operation planning on an interactive 3D virtual battlespace. The traditional Sandbox method currently in use has physical and perceptual limitations. AR Sandbox aims to remove these restrictions with the real-time 3D display of the tactical area and terrain data, utilizing Augmented Reality technology. All operation data is saved, enabling analyses and situation assessments for past operations. AR Sandbox visualizes the data from C2IS systems in NATO Vector Graphics format in a 3D holographic tactical field with Augmented Reality glasses. AR Sandbox can be used in headquarters and training classes thanks to its portable design and is suitable for multiple users to perform joint operations. Augmented Reality Sandbox provides several capabilities such as analyses and situation assessments for past operations, Live C2IS integration, Dynamic 3D terrain display & field information layer visualization (NATO Vector Graphics), Multiple user support, and "Spectator Mode" that allows the operations to be monitored by other personnel using AR glasses.
BİTES Products are Proven in the Field
Uğur COŞKUN, Founder & CEO of BİTES, stated that there have recently been significant developments in augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. He said, "AR glasses technology is rapidly advancing. As a company that applies these technologies in the defense industry and meets the needs of the defense industry, we organized a major event to explain the differences and benefits that these applications bring to users. During the event, attendees have the opportunity to experience both the products and the new technologies in this field. It is an informative and beneficial event addressing people's questions and concerns about these technologies. We organized this event to create awareness about the firsthand benefits of experiencing these technologies."
COŞKUN continued his speech with the investments of major technology companies in this field and stated that BİTES also has been investing in such technologies since 2012. “When we talk about Mixed Reality, Augmented Reality, and Virtual Reality, we refer to them as Extended Reality (XR). Looking at the ongoing trend since 2015, XR technologies have been progressing rapidly, reaching a peak. With the emergence of Apple's Vision Pro product, this trend will continue to rise even further. BİTES, since 2012, has been investing in technologies such as Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality to take a share of the global market in this field. Now, let's discuss a new concept called Spatial Computing. It involves simulating virtual elements on top of the real world and interacting with them, as well as aligning three-dimensional data with real-world locations. In Spatial Computing, we use the external world as a computer environment, and there is a potential for the disappearance of laptops in the future. Instead of looking at a screen, we create a computer environment where we interact with the external world. When we look at the broader scope of Spatial Computing, it encompasses AR, VR, IoT, 3D models, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Twin technologies. The upward trend in glasses-related technologies has attracted everyone's attention. Among the major technology companies, Amazon is the only one that hasn't released its own glasses. Google initially released Google Glass and is now working on another pair of glasses. Apple has introduced Vision Pro, Meta has released Quest, and Microsoft has introduced HoloLens.”
Founder & CEO of BİTES, Uğur COŞKUN emphasized that BİTES has significant expertise and infrastructure in Extended Reality Technologies. He also mentioned that they closely follow NATO's work in this area, and thanks to their mastery of these technologies, they have developed several products primarily to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, including ATOK. "We have deep expertise and infrastructure in Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, and Extended Reality Technologies that encompass them all. We closely follow all the advancements and leading companies in this field globally and adapt ourselves to these developments. We also closely monitor NATO's activities in this area. In a process where the world is still debating the usage concepts of this technology, we are a company that internalizes the technology, develops products and proves their benefits in the field. Thanks to our mastery of these technologies, we develop products such as Bright Sight Enhanced Close-Range Surveillance System, Augmented-Reality Sandbox, and especially the Tactical Area Blue-Force Tracking System (ATOK), in addition to educational systems. Our solutions in the training field, such as Virtual Cockpit Simulators, have been in use for years. Our products like ATOK, Bright Sight Enhanced Close-Range Surveillance System, and Augmented-Reality Sandbox are already in operation in the field. We also work to transfer our capabilities in this field to the civilian sector. To further advance the technology level that competes with the rest of the world in this field, we continue our R&D and innovation efforts"
