At the Swiss Smart Factory (SSF), applied research is closely connected to realistic industrial
conditions. As Switzerland’s leading test and demonstration platform for Industry 4.0 and
Industry 5.0 technologies, SSF offers something companies and research partners rarely
have access to. It provides a fully equipped demo factory where new solutions can be tested
safely, refined iteratively, and validated inside an authentic industrial environment.
This capability is particularly important for European research initiatives such as XR5.0. The
project aims to explore human centered XR technologies that improve work processes and
decision making in industry. SSF is an active partner in XR5.0 and coordinates Pilot 6, a
practical demonstration of remote support and hands-free information access conducted
together with LNS, a global Swiss machine tool company, and RealWear, a provider of voice
controlled industrial XR devices. SSF’s controlled industrial setting allows these partners to
evaluate how XR tools behave inreal operationswhile ensuring complete safety during
experimentation.
A Safe and Realistic Test Environment
Industrial floors are rarely ideal places for testing new technology. Production schedules,
safety requirements, and the risk of downtime make experimentation difficult. SSF’s demo
factory eliminates these obstacles by offering a real industrial environment that is
specifically designed for research. It contains robot cells, CNC equipment, assembly stations,
sensor networks, industrial communication systems, and all the conditions that shape day-
to-day factory work.
This environment is central for XR5.0 because the performance of XR tools must be
evaluated in situations that match real work. The demo factory provides conditions such as
background noise, movements of machines, variable lighting, protective gear, and high
wireless network usage. Testing in this setting helps determine how XR performs in realistic
and often unpredictable circumstances.
Advancing XR in Pilot 6 with LNS and RealWear
Pilot 6 focuses on supporting technicians during maintenance and troubleshooting with help
from RealWear head mounted XR devices. These devices offer visual instructions, remote
expert calls, and contextual information, all of which help technicians keep their hands free
while working. SSF’s demo factory is the central location where use cases, workflows, and interaction concepts are developed and evaluated before they move to the industrial
environment at LNS.
The demo factory allows partners to examine how XR behaves in practice. Questions
addressed include the clarity of voice control in noisy surroundings, the readability of
instructions during manual work, the level of comfort during prolonged use, and the
reliability of the system when network traffic is heavy.
A key measurement during early testing was the responsiveness of the system. The average
reaction time confirmed that the interaction was sufficiently fast for troubleshooting tasks.
This remained true even when the hall was subject to high wireless network usage during a
public event. These findings provide LNS with valuable reassurance about the robustness of
the technology before any real-world deployment.
Technology Designed Around People
The XR5.0 project promotes a human centered approach to Industry 5.0. SSF plays an
essential role in ensuring that XR solutions remain aligned with the needs and capabilities of
industrial workers. Every evaluation conducted in the demo factory considers both technical
performance and human experience.
Observations include the degree to which XR reduces the cognitive load of technicians, the
ease with which instructions are followed while interacting with machines, the potential for
faster onboarding of new staff, and the comfort of wearing XR equipment during long tasks.
These insights help partners design solutions that support operators rather than introduce
additional complexity.
Collaboration That Creates Real Value
Pilot 6 brings together SSF, LNS, and RealWear in a highly collaborative setup. SSF provides
the research space, the test infrastructure, and a structured evaluation methodology. LNS
contributes industrial expertise and use cases that reflect genuine challenges on the factory
floor. RealWear supplies the XR devices and works directly with SSF to refine their use in
real tasks.
This collaboration enables rapid iteration. If a challenge is discovered during testing, the
partners jointly develop improvements and return to the demo factory for another
evaluation cycle. This approach accelerates learning and reduces risk for industrial
deployment.
A Clear Path Toward Deployment
The purpose of the work carried out in SSF’s demo factory is to prepare XR solutions for real
factory use. By validating performance, usability, and reliability in a safe environment,
companies gain practical guidance on how to introduce advanced technologies without
disrupting operations.
Insights from Pilot 6 will guide the next steps at LNS and support wider adoption within the
XR5.0 network. The demo factory continues to demonstrate its value as a bridge between
research and industry, turning early concepts into mature solutions that are ready for real
world application.
