The virtual test drive

The virtual test drive

NXRT is the name of the Viennese startup founded in 2019 that specializes in the development of so-called mixed reality systems. This involves operating real machines and vehicles in a virtual environment that is simulated for the user in VR glasses. The highlight: The hands on the steering wheel and the controls in the vehicle remain visible while driving through the computer-generated world. The future potential of the technology recently brought the quartet of founders Lukas Stranger, Alexis Kopciak, Martin Wagner and Patrick Kolar investor money worth 1.5 million euros, as well as two partnerships with big players in the industry. None other than Porsche chose the young Viennese as a cooperation partner in order to be able to offer its prospective buyers an at least realistic driving experience in the showroom in the future. The VR glasses that the customer wears in the driver's seat are the latest model from HP with the product name “Reverb G2 Omnicept Edition”. This so-called “head mounted display” enables hyper-realistic driving simulations thanks to high-resolution screens and new sensors that record and process human behavior in real time.

Assistants in the test

With sensors on the headset that track eye movements and pupil reactions, record the heartbeat and digitize movements across the entire face, NXRT can even measure the driver's stress level in certain simulated traffic situations. Porsche's main interest is to introduce its customers to the functionality of driving assistance systems and autonomous driving functions, which are becoming increasingly important as a decisive purchasing criterion. Even before the cooperation with the sports car manufacturer from Zuffenhausen, NXRT was also able to win other large customers from the automotive, railway and aviation industries. One of them was the railway technology company Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group, which eventually even became an investor in NXRT. Through the recently decided collaboration with HP, NXRT can now further consolidate its position internationally and accelerate the scaling of its products beyond Austria.