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AtkinsRéalis partners with Optaric to bring smart glasses to the nuclear sector
20 October 2026
The firms say wearable technology could help in highly regulated and safety-critical sectors like nuclear.
AtkinsRéalis has teamed up with enterprise smart glasses company Optaric to jointly develop, test and validate wearable technology for use in the nuclear sector.
Marvin Johnson, AtkinsRéalis’ head of extended reality for nuclear, said: “As nuclear programmes grow in scale and complexity, the industry must embrace technologies that help workers perform tasks safely, efficiently and with the right information at their fingertips.
“Wearable technology has the potential to transform how information is accessed, shared and captured in the field. By combining AtkinsRéalis’ nuclear expertise with Optaric’s technology capabilities, we can build the evidence and confidence needed to support wider adoption across the industry.”
AtkinsRéalis said it brings expertise in nuclear operations, human factors, radiological protection, engineering, cybersecurity and digital innovation.
The priority will be to develop tools to help frontline workers access trusted information, connect with specialists and capture digital records at the point of work.
‘Mature vision’
AtkinsRéalis said they would look to apply the technology to new build, commissioning, operations and decommissioning.
Approaches to be tested include human factors, PPE compatibility, hands-free interaction, cybersecurity, information assurance, connectivity and sovereign hosting requirements.
Optaric chief executive Dr. Chris Parkinson said AtkinsRéalis stood out for “the maturity of its vision”.
“Rather than asking what XR might do in the future, they are focused on how smart glasses can be safely and securely deployed today to improve frontline operations.” he said.
He added: “We’ve built our platform for harsh, highly regulated environments where safety, security and data assurance are non-negotiable, and we’re excited to work alongside AtkinsRéalis to help define the next generation of frontline digital operations.”
Optaric Guard enterprise smart glasses are safety glasses that work with Optaric Link, software that connects the glasses to IT-managed iPhone and Android phones. The enterprise’s own apps, AI and data stay on systems it controls, with the glasses acting as the hands-free interface at the point of work.
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