Distance Technologies
Distance Technologies is a Helsinki-based deep tech company building glasses-free AR HUD technology using computational optics and AI-driven visual intelligence for defense, aerospace, and automotive OEMs, with active NATO military deployments and OEM partnerships including Supacat, Galvion, and Kia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- Headquarters—
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Distance Technologies does
Distance Technologies is a Helsinki-based deep tech company founded in 2024 that develops glasses-free augmented reality technology built on computational optics, AI-driven visual intelligence, and computer vision. Its Lightfield HUD approach renders information with pixel-perfect depth across the entire field of view, transforming transparent surfaces such as vehicle windshields and helmets into intelligent interfaces rather than overlaying data on glass or screens. The company currently employs 34 people and operates as a private entity with no public revenue or funding disclosures.
The product portfolio spans two verticals sharing a common optical and AI foundation. For defense and aerospace, Distance offers the Acuity Visual Intelligence Platform (powered by Acuity OS), which fuses sensors, battle-management systems, machine intelligence, and computational optics into a unified tactical experience, and the Field Operator HUD (FOH), a head-mounted always-on visual intelligence device for vehicle operators. For automotive, the company offers Lightfield HUD Technology and a Panoramic Lightfield HUD variant, the latter integrated into the Kia Vision Meta Turismo concept car. Across both verticals, the platform ingests hyper-spectral, thermal, and battlefield data and projects it as a 3D visual layer spatially aligned with the real world.
Distance monetizes via licensing and OEM integration rather than direct sales, embedding its optics and Acuity OS into customer platforms. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales to defense ministries and NATO country military programs, OEM partnerships with vehicle manufacturers (Supacat) and head protection specialists (Galvion), and event-driven demonstrations such as the Supacat Capability Day in the UK. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, reflecting custom integration scope and contract terms typical of deep-tech defense and Tier-1 automotive supplier relationships.
Distance Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Distance Technologies
- Legal name
- Distance Technologies
- Website
- https://distancetech.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Distance Technologies is a Helsinki-based deep tech company building glasses-free AR HUD technology using computational optics and AI-driven visual intelligence for defense, aerospace, and automotive OEMs, with active NATO military deployments and OEM partnerships including Supacat, Galvion, and Kia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Distance Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Augmented Reality Display Technology
- NAICS
- Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AR/VR & Spatial Computing (SLAM, 3D vision) (HDAAAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wearable Computers (Industrial Smart Glasses/Wrist/Arm-Mount) (HDACALAH), Active Safety Sensing Hardware Manufacturing (Radar/LiDAR/Cameras/Ultrasonic) (IMACAMAF)
Keywords
Distance Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Defense and Aerospace Systems: Revenue generated through licensing and integration of Distance's computational optics and Acuity OS platform into military vehicle windshields, helmets, and situational awareness systems for defense customers including NATO countries.
- Automotive OEM Integration: Revenue from embedding Lightfield HUD technology into automotive manufacturer platforms, with Kia becoming the first consumer automotive vendor to integrate the next-generation panoramic Lightfield display technology.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Distance Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Distance Technologies develops and licenses glasses-free augmented reality technology based on proprietary computational optics, AI-driven visual intelligence, and computer vision. Its products transform transparent surfaces into intelligent interfaces with pixel-perfect depth, integrating hyper-spectral, thermal, and battlefield sensor data into a unified 3D visual layer for defense vehicle windshields, helmets, and automotive windshields. The portfolio is delivered through OEM integration and licensing agreements with defense vehicle manufacturers, head protection providers, and automotive OEMs.
Product overview
Distance Technologies offers a glasses-free augmented reality and visual intelligence platform consisting of multiple interconnected products. The core portfolio includes the Acuity Visual Intelligence Platform (powered by Acuity OS) for defense applications, the Field Operator HUD (FOH) head-mounted system for defense vehicle operators, and Lightfield HUD Technology for automotive applications. These products share a common foundation in computational optics and AI-driven visual intelligence, with the Lightfield HUD enabling glasses-free AR in automobiles while Acuity/FOH delivers sensor fusion and 3D visual layers for defense and aerospace deployments. The company targets defense, aerospace, and automotive verticals with its visual intelligence layer technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Acuity: Visual Intelligence Platform for Defense powered by Acuity OS, aligning sensors, battle-management systems, machine intelligence and computational optics into a unified tactical experience.
- Acuity OS
- Field Operator HUD (FOH)
- Lightfield HUD
- JetFighter HUD
Products and services
- Acuity Visual Intelligence Platform Defense-focused visual intelligence platform powered by Acuity OS that aligns sensors, battle-management systems, machine intelligence, and computational optics into a unified tactical experience for defense customers.
- Field Operator HUD (FOH) Head-mounted always-on visual intelligence system for defense vehicle operators delivering next-generation visual augmentation that supercharges perception and awareness on the battlefield while minimising cognitive visual burden.
- Lightfield HUD Technology Glasses-free augmented reality technology that turns transparent surfaces into intelligent interfaces with pixel-perfect depth across the entire field of view, embedding navigation, ADAS, and sensor data into the physical environment rather than floating on glass. Targeted at automotive OEMs for next-generation immersive driver experiences.
- JetFighter HUD Solution Aerospace-grade heads-up display solution integrated into the Supacat Jackal ground platform, bringing fighter jet-level visual intelligence to ground vehicles for defense operators.
Companies that use Distance Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Distance Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature4 records
Distance Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- GalvioncoreGalvion, a world leader in innovative head protection systems, collaborated with Distance Technologies on advanced helmet systems integrating Distance's computational optics and Acuity OS platform. The collaboration aims to deliver enhanced visual intelligence capabilities for defense personnel through Galvion's helmet systems.
- KiacoreKia became the first consumer automotive vendor to integrate Distance's next-generation panoramic Lightfield HUD technology into the Kia Vision Meta Turismo concept car. This collaboration represents Kia's vision for human-machine digital interaction enabling a new class of immersive driver experience with navigation, ADAS, and sensor data visualization embedded in the physical environment.
- Supacat LtdcoreSupacat, a British manufacturer of specialized ground vehicles based in Dunkeswell, Devon, England (part of SC Group), signed a framework agreement with Distance Technologies to enable aerospace-grade HUD capability across the entire Supacat HMT ground vehicle platform. The agreement formalizes long-term collaboration following successful UK military demonstration at Supacat Capability Day. Distance had previously collaborated to bring the JetFighter HUD solution into the Jackal ground platform.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Distance Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Envisics: UK-based AR-HUD technology company developing holographic projection HUDs for automotive OEMs (Jaguar Land Rover, Hyundai Mobis). Directly comparable in targeting glass-based AR HUD integration for next-generation vehicles, competing for the same automotive tier-1 design slots.
- Vuzix: US-listed smart glasses and AR optics manufacturer targeting enterprise and defence markets with waveguide-based head-worn displays. Direct comparability on AR head-mounted hardware and defence/enterprise customer verticals, though Distance's glasses-free transparent-surface approach is differentiated.
- Magic Leap: US-based spatial computing platform pursuing enterprise, healthcare, and defence XR deployments. Competes for the same AR/sensor-fusion narrative and defence-customer mindshare that Distance targets with Acuity OS, though Magic Leap remains headset-based rather than glasses-free.
Broad incumbents
- Elbit Systems: Israeli defence electronics prime with extensive helmet-mounted display (Helmets-Up Display for F-16/F-35), ground vehicle, and aerospace HUD product lines. Directly comparable technology/customer overlap, with substantially more entrenched relationships across NATO and allied militaries.
- Microsoft (HoloLens / IVAS): Through HoloLens and the US Army's IVAS programme, Microsoft dominates defence-grade head-mounted AR with a deep-pocketed platform stack. Comparable on the defence-AR end-market positioning, though Microsoft has shifted focus and faces recent defence programme volatility.
- Saab (Aerobeyond / EW / HUD): Swedish defence and aerospace prime with significant HUD programmes (Gripen, T-7A trainer) and head-mounted display offerings (Helmet-Mounted Display). NATO-aligned supplier comparable in defence HUD market overlap with potential European procurement synergy.
- BAE Systems Electronic Systems: Dominant incumbent in defence HUD manufacturing for fighter jets (F-35, Eurofighter) and ground vehicles. Directly overlaps with Distance's defence airborne/ground HUD opportunity and operates in the same NATO procurement channels, but as part of a much broader defence electronics portfolio.
- Thales Group (Avionics / Optronics): Major European aerospace and defence prime with deep optoelectronics, helmet-mounted display (TopOwl, Scorpion), and HUD programmes (Rafale, Eurofighter). Operates across the same NATO supply chain and competes for similar defence situational awareness contracts.
Emerging players
- WayRay (now Optical Holography): Originally an automotive holographic AR-HUD developer (previously partnered with Hyundai). Direct product overlap in automotive holographic heads-up displays, though WayRay has undergone restructuring and now focuses on holographic HUD technology for OEM integration.
- Lumus: Israel-based AR waveguide and reflective optics specialist supplying display components for AR smart glasses. Adjacent technology enabling layer for AR eyewear — relevant comparator on optics IP and defence/enterprise AR supply chain, though Lumus is component-level rather than systems-level.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Distance Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceDistance Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Distance Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Distance Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Distance Technologies M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Distance Technologies
What does Distance Technologies do?
Distance Technologies develops and licenses glasses-free augmented reality technology based on proprietary computational optics, AI-driven visual intelligence, and computer vision. Its products transform transparent surfaces into intelligent interfaces with pixel-perfect depth, integrating hyper-spectral, thermal, and battlefield sensor data into a unified 3D visual layer for defense vehicle windshields, helmets, and automotive windshields. The portfolio is delivered through OEM integration and licensing agreements with defense vehicle manufacturers, head protection providers, and automotive OEMs.
Is Distance Technologies a public or private company?
Distance Technologies is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Distance Technologies founded?
Distance Technologies was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
How does Distance Technologies make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Defense and Aerospace Systems are the primary driver. The others are automotive OEM Integration.
Who are Distance Technologies's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Envisics, Vuzix and Magic Leap. Broad incumbents are Elbit Systems, Microsoft (HoloLens / IVAS), Saab (Aerobeyond / EW / HUD), BAE Systems Electronic Systems and Thales Group (Avionics / Optronics). Emerging players are WayRay (now Optical Holography) and Lumus.
Does Distance Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for Distance Technologies.
What industry is Distance Technologies in?
Distance Technologies's product category is Augmented Reality Display Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAAAEAJ, AR/VR & Spatial Computing (SLAM, 3D vision), with a secondary code of HDACALAH, Wearable Computers (Industrial Smart Glasses/Wrist/Arm-Mount). Its NAICS code is 334118 and its SIC code is 3827.