Armscor’s Immersive VR and AR Facility Tour Experience
Physically touring seven defence facilities across South Africa isn’t always possible. For AAD 2024, Armscor brought all of them to the exhibition floor with immersive VR and AR experiences built by Realm.
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The Client
The Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor) is the primary acquisition agency for the South African Department of Defence (DOD) and other state entities. Armscor ensures the armed forces are equipped with innovative solutions that meet the highest standards of efficiency and effectiveness. The organisation also manages the DOD’s strategic capabilities, driving research and technological advancements that support safety and security for South Africa, its citizens, and the broader continent.
The Challenge
Armscor aimed to make a strong impression at the Africa Aerospace and Defence 2024 (AAD), Africa’s premier air and defence trade show, by presenting their capabilities in a compelling and memorable way. To achieve this, they needed an innovative digital experience that could connect with a diverse audience and showcase several of their key sites across the country.
To realise their vision for AAD, several critical challenges needed to be addressed:
- Presenting Complex Capabilities: Communicating their advanced services and capabilities in a manner that would resonate with a broad audience, including international stakeholders.
- Creating Immersive and Interactive Solutions: Designing a digital experience that highlighted Armscor’s research and development sites while ensuring ease of use and accessibility.
- Tight Timeline: Completing the project within a 40-day timeframe to be ready for AAD 2024.
The Solution
To meet Armscor’s objectives, Realm Digital crafted a suite of immersive digital experiences that combined Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to effectively showcase their strategic sites and capabilities.
VR and AR Development
Realm Digital developed a detailed VR tour, allowing users to explore seven of Armscor’s facilities, including the Gerotek Test Facility and the Institute for Maritime Technology. This VR experience featured 360-degree views, animation, and expert commentary to offer an in-depth understanding of each site. To ensure accessibility for a wider audience, the VR experience was adapted into an equally immersive AR application, providing a seamless way for viewers to explore Armscor’s capabilities without needing a headset.
Production and Content Creation
The project involved 360º filming at seven facilities across five locations, aerial and drone video shoots, and the development of animations and infographics to complement the VR and AR content. High-definition videos were produced and integrated with animation and professional voice over to deliver a cohesive and visually compelling experience.
Equipment and Setup
Realm Digital supplied state-of-the-art equipment, including Meta Quest headsets and VR pods, to deliver an enhanced and fully immersive experience. To ensure seamless interaction, we also provided trained facilitators to guide attendees through the experiences, allowing them to explore Armscor’s offerings in the most engaging and impactful way possible.
Showcase Video Production
To complement the VR and AR experiences, Realm Digital produced an updated corporate video designed for use at AAD 2024 and future marketing initiatives. This showreel highlighted Armscor’s full range of services and captured the unique essence of each facility, offering an impressive overview of their capabilities in a visually compelling format. Strategically integrated into the exhibition, the video provided attendees with a cohesive and impactful visual narrative.
The Result
- Effective Stakeholder Engagement: The VR and AR experiences provided a hands-on, immersive way for attendees to explore Armscor’s R&D capabilities, improving understanding of and engagement with their products and services.
- Strengthened Brand Perception: By leveraging advanced AR and VR technologies, Armscor was able to command the attention of event attendees and present a forward-thinking, innovative brand image.
- Cost and Time Efficiency: The solution allowed Armscor to effectively showcase their facilities without the need for physical tours, saving time and resources while providing a consistent experience to all users.
The AR and VR solutions developed by Realm Digital enabled Armscor to showcase their capabilities in an innovative and engaging format at AAD 2024, allowing them to stand out in a crowded exhibition and leave a lasting impression on stakeholders from around the world. Due to the success of the experiences at the event, Armscor plans to leverage them in various initiatives beyond the exhibition.
