Advancing Human-Centric XR Interfaces and Situational Awareness in Industrial Machinery

Challenges and solutions : Bridging the gap between concept design and real - world deployment required addressing multiple challenges . Ensuring intuitive , human - centric interaction in complex industrial environments was critical . Additionally , maintaining high levels of situational awareness — especially in dynamic , obstructed settings — and enabling effective remote operation posed safety and usability concerns . Translating user requirements into reliable , field - ready systems that maximise situational awareness was essential . A user - centred design process was embedded from the start , involving operators in iterative XR prototyping and validation . This enabled early detection of usability and safety issues . Real - time people tracking , 360 ° video , and AR overlays were refined in lab and XR environments , ensuring seamless transition to machinery . LinkedIn The system enhanced situational awareness by making occluded personnel visible and supporting decision - making with contextual AR cues . Field deployment required minimal adjustment , and remote operators quickly adopted the system due to its intuitive interface and safety - enhancing features . Impact : The XR - based , human - centric system significantly improved safety , efficiency , and remote operability in industrial environments . By combining real - time people tracking , intuitive AR guidance , and 360 ° situational awareness , it enabled remote operators to make faster , safer decisions . The system reduced blind spots , enhanced user confidence , and demonstrated how immersive design can accelerate innovation and ensure seamless deployment from virtual prototypes to real - world machinery . This work is part of the THEIA project that received funding from the European Union‘s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 101092861. XR theia-xr.eu KEY BENEFITS Intuitive, human-centric interface for on-site and remote users Seamless transition from XR prototypes to field deployment Enhanced situational awareness through 360° vision and AR Advancing Human - Centric XR Interfaces and Situational Awareness in Industrial Machinery Figure 1: From XR design to actual implementation in the reach stacker