Towards Metaverse: Utilizing Extended Reality and Digital Twins to Control Robotic Systems
Tero Kaarlela, Tomi Pitkäaho, Sakari Pieskä, Paulo Padrão, Leonardo Bobadilla, Matti Tikanmäki, Timo Haavisto, Víctor Blanco Bataller, Niko Laivuori, Mika Luimula
Abstract
Digitalization shapes the ways of learning, working, and entertainment. The Internet, which enables us to connect and socialize is evolving to become the metaverse, a post-reality universe, enabling virtual life parallel to reality. In addition to gaming and entertainment, industry and academia have noticed the metaverse’s benefits and possibilities. For industry, the metaverse is the enabler of the future digital workplace, and for academia, digital learning spaces enable realistic virtual training environments. A connection bridging the virtual world with physical production systems is required to enable digital workplaces and digital learning spaces. In this publication, extended reality–digital twin to real use cases are presented. The presented use cases utilize extended reality as high-level user interfaces and digital twins to create a bridge between virtual environments and robotic systems in industry, academia, and underwater exploration.