Immersive Technology in Drones and Robotics

Drones and robots are no longer just tools of the future – they are actively reshaping how we explore, build, train, and respond to the world around us. Drones equipped with lidar and 360° imaging are uncovering hidden ancient cities along the Silk Road and creating immersive 3D digital twins of fragile heritage sites before they are lost to time. Underwater robotic cameras have produced detailed one-to-one models of the Titanic wreck, revealing details the human eye could never access alone. Meanwhile, VR is enabling researchers aboard the International Space Station to study how the human body and mind adapt to microgravity, and on the ground, VR-powered teleoperation is allowing people to control robots remotely with the kind of precision and intuition that was previously unimaginable. Construction sites are using a combination of VR training environments, drones, and robots like Boston Dynamics’ Spot to identify hazards, track progress, and prepare workers before they ever set foot on a job site.

As these technologies converge, the opportunities are significant – but so are the challenges. Scaling teleoperation systems, ensuring reliable real-time data transfer, navigating regulatory frameworks for drone use, and making these tools accessible and practical across industries are all areas still being worked out. Augmented reality is also emerging as a key layer in this ecosystem, helping operators visualize robot behavior, overlay spatial data, and respond faster in complex or dangerous environments – from disaster response scenarios to surgical training. The question is less whether these technologies work, and more how quickly industries can build the infrastructure, training, and trust to adopt them at scale.

Join us September 2nd at 2112 where this session brings together drone operators, robotics engineers, and XR developers to explore where immersive technology and autonomous systems are intersecting today, what it takes to move from proof-of-concept to real-world deployment, and what this convergence means for the future of work, discovery, and safety.