Exploring the Metaverse: Mixed and Virtual Reality for Collaborative Interaction in an electrical substation

Abstract

The Metaverse [Mystakidis 2022], represents a universe beyond reality, where the boundaries between the physical and digital realms merge seamlessly. It exists as a continuous and enduring multi-user environment, facilitated by the convergence of technologies that allow for immersive interactions with virtual environments such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), digital entities, and workers. The approach in the application of this concept, in a real use case in an electrical substation, involves a bridge between MR and VR technologies, for a multi-user and multi-platform remote collaboration, supported by 5G communications and Edge Computing to manage visualisation and interaction through a cloud video-audio streaming. There is also management of real data acquisition from an autonomous mobile field robot, BIM Models of electrical structures and the integration of complex information systems, adding context to the experience.