Thales launches new innovation platform xPlor
Today, at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Mass., Thales launched Thales xPlor as a strategic function for engaging with the United States start-up and academic ecosystems to develop new, innovative and smart solutions for our world. As proof of concept, Thales also unveiled DragonFly, a product rooted in the technology transfer of Thales’ military head-mounted display capabilities. Finally, Thales announced its membership with the MIT Media Lab for collaborative work on cutting edge research and development.
"Our success in the future will be defined as much by our partners – in their innovation of new technologies and business models – as by our own ability to develop and market disruptive products and services."
Alan Pellegrini, President and CEO, Thales USA
Today, at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Mass., Thales launched Thales xPlor as a strategic function for engaging with the United States start-up and academic ecosystems to develop new, innovative and smart solutions for our world. As proof of concept, Thales also unveiled DragonFly, a product rooted in the technology transfer of Thales’ military head-mounted display capabilities. Finally, Thales announced its membership with the MIT Media Lab for collaborative work on cutting edge research and development.
The mission of Thales xPlor is to create new streams of value by identifying and partnering with emerging and disruptive technologies and companies within the United States’ innovation ecosystem. This practice is creating new business ventures, technology insights and licensing opportunities for Thales.
Supporting an ambitious goal of sourcing original concepts and technologies, Thales xPlor has established three complimentary pillars for success. The first leverages Thales’ existing competencies in aerospace, defense, security, space and transportation, to explore new ideas that drive a competitive advantage. The second pillar positions Thales xPlor within the start-up community to engage with new ideas, creative minds and critical problem solvers in the interest of discovering mutually beneficial partnerships. The final pillar builds relationships with leading academic institutions to engage with critical research in new and advanced technologies.
"Thales xPlor is changing the way we fundamentally engage with new, creative and cutting-edge ideas to help us leverage our core strengths to be more competitive."
Pete Roney, Vice President of Innovation and Technology, and Managing Director of Thales xPlor
Thales xPlor has shown early success as Thales today revealed DragonFly – a head-worn surgical display – which leverages Thales’ augmented reality technology used by military aviators. This product’s innovative technology transfer aims to modernize the operating room by improving the man-machine interface, simplifying procedures and enhancing operational awareness.
Collaboration and design-thinking is at the very core of Thales xPlor’s philosophy and product development methodology. As an example, earlier this year, DragonFly assisted in the first ever navigated spine surgery using a head-worn augmented reality display at St. David’s NeuroTexas Institute in Austin, Texas. Thanks to collaboration with future end-users, the results of this initial trial were a resounding success.
DragonFly puts critical surgical information directly in a surgeon’s field of view allowing for 100 percent eyes on the patient during a navigated surgery. It also provides greater operational awareness and reduces physician fatigue by eliminating the need for accompanying monitors outside of the immediate surgical space.
Going beyond simply creating efficiencies, DragonFly enables head-to-hand tracking and demarcation which can be used to assist in surgery, or allow for two-way collaboration with colleagues across the globe. Seamlessly integrating with existing operating room infrastructure makes DragonFly a game changing innovation born out of combat-proven Thales defense capabilities.
Thales’ collaboration with the MIT Media Lab is also a key asset of Thales xPlor, and it compliments a core Thales principle – to improve the safety and security of our world. Indeed, MIT Media Lab researchers are designing technologies that often help fundamentally change the world on a tremendous scale. Today those technologies are found in everyday life – gaming, mobile devices, 3D printing, customized robotics and urban planning were each influenced by the MIT Media Lab – and future developments in autonomous systems, bio-materials and others are sure to make a positive and lasting impact on society.
Together with the MIT Media Lab, Thales xPlor will discover disruptive technologies that are at all stages of development and shape products, systems or services that push the envelope of what is possible today. Pioneering these capabilities will help Thales build a better world everywhere.
Key points
- Thales xPlor is creating value in creative and innovative ways by identifying emerging and disruptive technologies within the U.S. start-up and academic communities
- DragonFly successfully completed the first ever navigated spine surgery using a head-worn augmented reality display in January 2015
- Thales’ partnership with the MIT Media Lab is bringing about fundamental change to how we engage with technology by asking the questions not yet asked
Notes to editors
Thales xPlor is a self-sustaining engine fueled by a portfolio of innovative projects.