XPANCEO has launched ground testing for its next-generation AR smart contact lens as part of a collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), marking a significant move toward the first contact lens engineered specifically for space missions. The prototype lens combines an AR image display with integrated biomedical sensors capable of monitoring critical health indicators such as intraocular pressure, glucose, vitamin levels, and lactate. Designed to connect directly with spacesuit systems, it can deliver mission data straight into an astronaut’s line of sight without obstructing natural vision, while simultaneously collecting health insights crucial for long-duration spaceflight.

The multi-stage testing program includes lab validation, parabolic flights that simulate microgravity, and environmental simulations at MBRSC that replicate the extreme conditions of space - such as low humidity, high oxygen, and enclosed environments. These tests aim to ensure the lens can operate safely and reliably before moving to the final milestone: potential in-orbit evaluation. Alongside performance testing, XPANCEO is also studying how its ultra-thin, high-performance materials behave under microgravity and radiation to inform future space-ready components.

This initiative represents a bold step forward for augmented vision technologies. By proving the capabilities of AR smart lenses in one of the harshest environments possible, XPANCEO and MBRSC are laying the foundation for safer, more efficient astronaut operations and advancing a future where humans interact with information seamlessly  (without screens or handheld devices) both in space and here on Earth.

About XPANCEO

Founded in 2021, XPANCEO is developing the next generation of human–computer interfaces: an ultra-thin smart contact lens that brings AI-powered extended reality into everyday life.