IEEE SMC-IT/SCC 2025
Mon 28 July - Fri 1 August 2025 Los Angeles, California, United States
IEEE SMC-IT/SCC 2025 (series) / AR/VR 2025 (series) /

6th Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Realities Workshop: xR Technologies in Digital Engineering EnvironmentsAR/VR 2025

Scope

In recent years, efforts have been made to incorporate augmented, virtual, and mixed reality (xR) technologies across multiple phases of the space mission development lifecycle. Digital engineering (DE), an integrated approach that uses system data and models to support lifecycle activities from concept through disposal, has gained traction as a way to modernize the systems development process and sustain space systems with significant cost savings. xR technologies provide an enabling capability for visualization and human-machine interaction in DE environments. Continuing the success of the xR workshops held at SMC-IT 2024, 2023, 2021, 2019 and 2017, this full day workshop seeks to discuss and demonstrate successes, challenges, and failures associated with integrating xR technologies in space mission IT systems across the space mission lifecycle and DE enterprise.

Relevance Statement

Information Technology (IT) systems for space missions are increasingly handling greater volumes of data, being deployed earlier in the lifecycle, and intersect vast and varied constituency groups. With engineering environments becoming largely digital, xR technologies provide capabilities for visualizing and interacting with data and models throughout the system development lifecycle. Lower costs for commodity hardware, increased hardware reliability and robustness of the software development toolchain, and widespread availability of xR devices has resulted in efforts to realize the perceived benefits of these technologies through integration with a variety of user tasks. Understanding the state of the art and best practices for xR technologies prepare practitioners to enable new and valuable user experiences.

Call for Papers, Presentations, and/or Demos

We are excited to invite submissions for the 6th Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Realities Workshop: xR Technologies in Digital Engineering Environments, which will be held in conjunction with the IEEE SMC-IT/SCC from July 30 - 31, 2025, at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, CA. This workshop aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, and industry experts to explore the latest advancements and applications of extended Reality (xR) technologies within digital engineering environments, particularly in the context of space missions.

Relevant Topics

We invite submissions on, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • Survey of Current xR Tools and Technologies: Overview of existing extended Reality platforms and tools relevant to digital engineering.
  • Applicability of xR Technologies to Digital Engineering in the Space Mission Lifecycle: Integration of xR in various phases of space mission formulation, planning, development, and operations.
  • Challenges in Adopting xR Technology-Based Solutions: Technical, operational, and organizational hurdles in implementing xR within space mission environments.
  • Expanding xR Technologies in the Digital Engineering Enterprise Beyond Digital Twins: Advanced applications of xR beyond simulation and modeling, including training, collaboration, and real-time operations.
  • Pathways to Implementing xR in Secure Environments: Strategies for deploying xR technologies in environments with stringent security requirements.
  • Demonstrations of xR Applications: Practical showcases of xR solutions addressing real-world digital engineering challenges in space missions.
  • xR in Astronaut Training and Simulation: Use of virtual and augmented reality for training astronauts in mission tasks, extravehicular activities (EVA), emergency procedures, and habitat operations.
  • Extended Reality for Aerospace Design and Testing: Utilizing xR tools for designing, prototyping, and testing aerospace components and systems, enhancing the design process through immersive visualization.
  • xR Applications in Defense for Space-Based Operations: Deployment of xR technologies in defense scenarios, including space surveillance, satellite operations, and mission planning.
  • xR for Moon and Mars: Using xR technology for lunar and Mars exploration, science planning, robotics operations, etc.
  • HCI and UI/UX for xR for Space Applications: Designing effective user interfaces and interactions specific to xR systems used in space missions, focusing on usability and efficiency.
  • xR for Space Robotics: Managing and controlling space-based robotics systems through extended reality interfaces, enabling precise and intuitive manipulation.
  • xR for Space Habitat Design and Virtual Prototyping: Using xR to visualize, prototype, and iterate on space habitat structures, life support systems, and other critical infrastructure components.
  • Telepresence and Remote Collaboration for Space Missions: Enabling remote experts and team members to participate in space mission operations and problem-solving through xR-based telepresence solutions.
  • xR for Aerospace Applications: Using extended reality for aerospace applications more broadly, not just specifically for space.
  • xR for Planetary Exploration and Surface Operations: Enhancing planetary exploration missions through xR tools that assist in navigation, sample collection, and scientific research on planetary surfaces.

Submission Guidelines

  • Paper Submissions: We welcome both full papers and presentation proposals. Paper submissions should adhere to the IEEE formatting guidelines, available here
  • Page Limit: Full papers should not exceed 10 pages, excluding references.
  • Publication: All accepted papers will be published in the IEEE conference proceedings, indexed with the IEEE Xplore database. Note that IEEE has a “Podium and Publish” policy for conferences, which means that no manuscript will be published in IEEE Xplore without first being presented at the conference.
  • Submission Portal: Submissions should be made through the EasyChair portal. Please select the “6th Augmented, Virtual, and Mixed Realities Workshop (AR/VR)” track during submission.
  • Demonstrations: Accompanying demonstrations are encouraged and should be described within the paper or as a separate submission, detailing the functionality and relevance to the workshop themes.

Review and Presentation

  • Review Process: All submissions will undergo a peer-review process by the workshop’s technical program committee.
  • Notification of Acceptance: Authors will be notified of the acceptance decision by May 23rd, 2025.
  • Camera-Ready Submission: Final camera-ready papers are due by June 20th, 2025.
  • Presentation Format: Accepted papers will be presented as posters during the workshop. A select number of outstanding submissions may be invited for spotlight presentations.

Important Dates

  • May 9th, 2025 – Paper submission deadline
  • May 23rd, 2025 – Paper acceptance notification
  • June 20th, 2025 – Final camera-ready paper deadline

Contact Information

For any inquiries regarding the workshop, please use the contact form here.

Questions? Use the AR/VR contact form.
Submission Link
https://easychair.org/my/conference?conf=smcitscc2025
Program Committee