XPANCEO, the deep‑tech unicorn pioneering smart contact lenses as the ultimate interface for AI‑powered XR computing, has unveiled its new space‑focused prototype. The company showcased the integration of its smart contact lens with a real space suit.
This breakthrough addresses some key constraints of working in the conditions of outer space, where obstructive devices such as smart glasses can be hazardous. Touchscreens are also impractical for astronauts wearing gloves, and currently, crew members often operate tablets with their noses. Moreover, they must rely almost entirely on voice commands when outside their spacecraft. Delivering visuals directly to the eye avoids interference with movement or safety, making XPANCEO’s lens a transformative interface for orbital, lunar, and deep‑space missions.
In this newest prototype, the contact lens incorporates a holographic display and pairs with an image source in the space helmet, which also powers the device. A similar suit configuration could be adapted for lenses with different optical designs — for example, an integrated microdisplay as shown in other prototypes. This concept builds on XPANCEO’s previous demonstrations of holographic display lenses in racing helmets, now adapted to integrate with a suit designed for outer space.
Roman Axelrod, founder of XPANCEO, states:
“Humanity is confronting two defining challenges this century — drastically expanding our capabilities and extending healthspan. We’re building smart contact lenses as a new interface for life on Earth — and one that can hold up in orbit, on the Moon, or wherever people decide to go next. These prototypes are an essential step toward that future.”
The space‑ready smart lens is built on XPANCEO’s portfolio of innovations, which includes the smart contact lens for AR vision, a compact companion device for wireless data and power transfer, and an integrated micro‑battery version for autonomous operation. Founded in 2021 by entrepreneur Roman Axelrod and physicist Valentyn Volkov, the forward-thinking company continues to advance its vision of integrating AR interfaces, health monitoring, and biomedical sensing into a single smart contact lens — preparing these capabilities for not only terrestrial applications but also the next era of AI‑powered XR computing in orbit and beyond.
