Project Announcement: DAIR Green Fund
OVA’s Digital Twin Technology removes barriers for Remote Operations and Training
March 14, 2023. OVA’s ‘Remote Training, Unrestricted’ project has been chosen for funding by the Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research’s (DAIR) Green Fund initiative.
Funding Initiative
The DAIR Green Fund empowers small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to transform the southern Ontario aerospace industry through sustainable and green aviation technologies and solutions. Funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), this initiative fuels DAIR’s mission to revolutionize the collaborative environment by catalyzing innovation in aerospace and beyond. By strengthening forward-thinking ideas and providing SMEs with technology, collaboration, partnerships, people and services, the DAIR Green Fund drives impactful change across our industrial sectors and better outcomes for Canada’s sustainable aerospace goals.
Funding Overview
DAIR will be supporting 75 percent of the total project cost, to a maximum of $75,000, and OVA Inc. will contribute the remaining 25 percent of the total project cost.
Process Overview
DAIR launched a call for proposals in the fall of 2022. Submitted projects were assessed by a review committee to ensure a tenable means to achieve target metrics was established. The committee reviewed projects to determine those that would be supported by the DAIR Green Fund and looked at issues such as pathway to commercialization, collaboration, leveraged support and impact on the industry, as related to green aviation and sustainability.
Project Duration
SMEs announced on March 14 will report back and complete activities by January 31, 2024.
Problem: Remote operations assistance and training is typically facilitated with the learner using either a VR headset or an AR headset. These experiences are restricted as a result of the combination of hardware, software, and developed training curriculum. Furthermore, the speed at which digital environments and equipment can be custom made is not fast enough to warrant this technology’s cost-effective use.
Solution: This project will provide tools that move the yardstick from restricted, or less-than ideal remote solutions, to an unrestricted (and better-than) operational or learning experience. Typical restrictions will be overcome by using the latest headset (with enhanced Passthrough), a paired and proprietary software module, and relevant training curriculum and processes using StellarX’s building tools.
The software/hardware solution will combine the best of VR and AR to remove the requirement for physical travel in operational or training sessions while keeping the integrity of an in-person experience (a feat otherwise impossible with VR-only or AR-only software). Remote operations and training activities will no longer be compromised or restricted — everyone, regardless of physical location, will have holistic engagement and presence. Cost savings are significant when remote training sessions are just as good or better than in-person sessions. The environmental footprint for travel is significantly reduced.
The ideal end users of the innovation are numerous. It was designed to support several operational and training use cases for the commercial aerospace & defence community. Training for operational drills, equipment & system maintenance, engineering applications, or communications are all applicable use cases. Any DND group, government branch, or learning school could benefit greatly from the technology. Defence programs such as the Future Aircrew Training (FaCT) and Land Vehicle Crew Training System (LVCTS) are also perfect fits for this innovation. Organizations with goals to train remotely would be great candidates as well.
The project is in effect until January 31, 2024 and will generate an enhanced commercial module that will be demonstrated at various stages of development through DAIR’s webinars, and finally at project closure. A generic aerospace scenario will help to communicate its effectiveness and market the solution to industry.
BDO Lixar will work with OVA to communicate project results, leveraging their existing aerospace network clients (as well as market-adjacent clients). They will help with commercialization activities, putting OVA in contact with key industry players and organizations looking for digital transformation products and services.
Comments from Government of Canada
The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“To meet our goal of becoming a net-zero economy, we must ensure that we are providing the new capabilities and technology for industries to easily make the transition. The DAIR Green Fund provides supports to businesses who are leading the charge in creating sustainable innovations that will help grow Canada’s aerospace industry. The eight businesses in southern Ontario that we are celebrating today have created environmentally friendly projects that will keep this industry competitive globally and create more jobs nationally. Our government is committed to finding new ways to move toward a greener economy that works for everyone.”
Comments from OVA
Tim Purdy, Project Manager and VP Client Solutions, Canada & US
“People are used to Zoom and Teams these days for remote boardroom meetings, but what about hands-on work in the field? Through this project, OVA is removing the barriers and enhancing field operations beyond what is currently available through typical Remote Assists.”
Comments from BDO Exponential Labs
Bill Syrros, BDO Partner, Exponential Labs Leader
“Together with like-minded industry leaders, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and creating truly game-changing solutions. This project, in collaboration with OVA and DAIR, is a testament to the strength of innovative partnerships. Our shared passion for innovation is fueling a bold, sustainable idea that’s coming to life!”
Comments from DAIR
Steven Cargnello, Green Fund Manager
“We are happy to have OVA Inc. as one of the initial eight projects awarded for the DAIR Green Fund initiative. The OVA team has demonstrated their knowledge and clear vision in providing unrestricted remote operations and training to the aerospace industry that will reduce travel requirements thus reducing carbon emissions through unnecessary travel.”
Links
StellarX — Features
StellarX — Use Cases
StellarX — Defence
Social Media
LinkedIn (OVA)
LinkedIn (StellarX)
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
About OVA inc.
OVA’s core mission is to empower businesses and content creators with immersive technologies. They understand how valuable digital transformation solutions can be and are striving to make them as accessible as possible through user-centered design thinking and artificial intelligence (AI) enhancements. Currently, the majority of Extended Reality content is developed by highly technical teams that have significant expertise with programming languages and professional 3D engines. The steep learning curve and difficulty to enter this field limits the amount and breadth of available content. Through OVA’s mission of democratizing the metaverse, they are enabling more and more people to come together to create new experiences, collaborate to solve difficult problems, share creative works/passions, and optimize business operations.
A focus in digital transformation efforts to revolutionize clients’ business operations has guided OVA’s product offerings since their infancy in 2014. Since then, the team has grown significantly and consists of tech-creatives, futurist gamers, eclectic artists, and passionate storytellers. OVA’s flagship software, StellarX, allows those with no programming or coding knowledge to place 3D goods and create immersive experiences through simple drag-and-drop actions. Storytelling, which involves a series of interactions, sequences, and triggers, are easily created through OVA’s patent-pending visual scripting tool. StellarX is continuously improved by developing more features and integrating the latest tools. While there are potentially limitless applications, Spaces within StellarX are tailored specifically by each client to intuitively build the experience they are imagining for their customers. Collaboration is heightened as StellarX allows for multiple people to be engaged in the experience together (either through extended reality headsets or personal computers) regardless of their geographical location. Furthermore, situations that would otherwise be incredibly expensive, logistically complex, or contain sensitive information are made cost effective, potentially effortless, and secure through curated immersive environments and interactive content.
About BDO Lixar
BDO Lixar is a premier technology solutions provider focused on serving enterprise clients through end-to-end solutions in Data and AI, Modern Workplace, Business Applications, Cybersecurity, and Digital Strategy. Underpinned by market leading cloud engineering capabilities, our technology practice combines over 20 years of industry expertise with operational excellence to help our clients efficiently and cost-effectively define and address their business challenges. BDO Lixar understands the importance of taking a holistic approach to business solutions. We build relationships with our clients, so we can truly understand and support their needs. Our global reach allows us to serve our clients anywhere in the world, with the best group of subject matter experts from across our firms working together to find the right solution for each client.
About DAIR
Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research (DAIR) is a not-for-profit whose mission is to revolutionize the collaboration environment by catalyzing innovation in aerospace and beyond. DAIR supports its members by offering access to state-of-the-art equipment and infrastructure to accelerate leading-edge and sustainable research and technology adoption; creating training solutions for the business and technology challenges of today and tomorrow; providing a platform for industry, academia, and government synergies, to foster and advance R&D partnerships; and advocation for the aerospace industry locally, nationally, and globally. To learn more about DAIR please visit the website www.dairhub.com.
About FedDev Ontario
For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
For further information, please contact:
Tim Purdy, VP Client Solutions, Canada & US (OVA)
tpurdy@ova.ai
Phil Giroux, Director, Innovation Development | Exponential Labs (BDO)
pgiroux@bdo.ca
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Edward Hutchinson, Press Secretary
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca
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