Y-12 signs agreement with CrewXR

Extended reality platform will enhance manufacturing

Niko Chauls (left), CEO and co-founder of CrewXR, signs a memorandum of understanding with Ashley Stowe, senior director of Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn — Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), which manages and operates the Y‑12 National Security Complex for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CrewXR. This agreement will bring government and industry together to advance extended reality (XR) technology software and accelerate technological development.

This partnership will focus on enabling real‑time visualization of manufacturing data at the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC) at Y‑12. The foundation for this MOU stems from an NNSA‑funded project with Case Western Reserve University on data-driven manufacturing.

“The goal is to get the data and tools to visualize the manufacturing processes,” said Ashley Stowe, senior director of ORETTC. “Using ORETTC as a test facility helps facilitate technology integration in a secure environment.”

CrewXR operates as a zero‑client system, meaning devices have no local storage, which enhances data security. The platform supports XR headsets, smartphones, and tablets. During a demonstration at ORETTC, CrewXR co‑founders showcased medical applications using CT scans and immersive environments.

Niko Chauls (left), CEO and co-founder of CrewXR, and Ashley Stowe, senior director of Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center, shake hands after signing a memorandum of understanding to enable real-time visualization of manufacturing data.

Niko Chauls, CEO and co‑founder of CrewXR, emphasized the platform’s role in teaching and training. During a demonstration at ORETTC, Chauls and the other co‑founders showcased medical applications using CT scans and immersive environments. “We want to show how the platform works in real‑life situations,” he said. Case Western Reserve University currently uses CrewXR to train students in healthcare, the arts, and dance.

“CrewXR is meant to enable group shared experiences optimized for all types of users,” Chauls explained. The platform offers a wide range of applications. For example, a surgeon on the East Coast can consult with a peer on the West Coast in real time using server‑based data. In manufacturing, production teams can collaborate with system designers to troubleshoot operations efficiently.

“For a designer to be able to see what’s happening with a product or system without being in the same room is a game changer,” said Stowe. “Platforms like CrewXR will facilitate real‑time improvements in processes and products.”

Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC operates the Y-12 National Security Complex, located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration. Bechtel National, Inc. is the lead member of CNS; minority members include Leidos, Inc.; ATK Launch Systems, LLC; and SOC LLC. Y-12 is a key facilities in the U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise, and CNS performs its work with a focus on performance excellence and the imperatives of safety, security, zero defects, and delivery as promised.

For more information, visit www.y12.doe.gov. Follow Y-12 on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

CONTACT
Kathryn King, APR
Communications
Office (865) 315.5996
Kathryn.King@y12nsc.doe.gov