UCD NetsLab Launches CollabXR: A 6G-Enabled Haptic Collaboration Project
UCD Network Softwarization and Security Labs (NetsLab), in collaboration with the project partner Quanta & Qualia, has launched CollabXR, a pioneering initiative developing real-time, multiuser haptic-enabled XR collaboration over emerging 6G-class networks. The project has been competitively selected and funded under the 6G-BRICKS Open Call, one of Europe’s flagship programmes for federated 6G experimentation.
CollabXR combines Magos VR Haptic Gloves, renowned for unmatched finger-tracking precision and advanced vibrotactile feedback, with the high-frequency mmWave and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) capabilities of the 6G-BRICKS EURECOM testbed. By enabling near-instantaneous synchronization of visual and haptic interactions across multiple users, CollabXR represents one of the most demanding and representative XR scenarios ever deployed on a 6G experimentation facility.
Transforming Remote XR Training Through Precision Haptics
CollabXR introduces a step-change in immersive training by offering:
- Exoskeleton-based hand-tracking accuracy (1/20th degree angular precision)
- Physics-based interaction realism leveraging the Unity engine
- Advanced haptic effects that emulate texture, resistance, and physiological cues
- A multiplayer architecture designed for ultra-low latency
- Integration with AI-driven zero-touch xApps, deployed on the Near-RT RIC to monitor and optimize network behavior
These features elevate XR training into a fully synchronized, collaborative, and tactile experience—far beyond the capabilities of traditional VR controllers or single-user simulators.
A New Benchmark for 6G-Enabled Medical and Industrial Training
The first deployment will focus on a multi-user medical intubation training scenario, co-developed at UCD. The platform will allow medical trainees to interact with surgical instruments, receive synchronized haptic feedback, and collaborate in real time—making it an ideal test case for 6G’s ultra-high data rate and ultra-low latency capabilities.
Beyond healthcare, the CollabXR framework will expand toward:
- remote collaborative engineering
- aviation and cockpit teamwork
- robotics teleoperation
- industrial assembly and maintenance
- emergency response coordination
Quotes from the UCD Leadership Team
Prof. Eleni Mangina — UCD Principal Investigator, CollabXR
“CollabXR is an extraordinary opportunity to push the boundaries of immersive training through advanced haptics and next-generation networking. Being selected for funding under the 6G-BRICKS Open Call allows us to rigorously test high-stakes XR training scenarios using mmWave and RIS technologies, and to accelerate UCD’s leadership at the intersection of XR, AI, and 6G experimentation.”
Prof. Eleni Mangina
Dr. Madhusanka Liyanage — UCD Co-Principal Investigator & Integration Lead
“CollabXR lets us challenge 6G infrastructure with one of the most demanding applications imaginable: real-time, multi-user haptic synchronization. This project is a major milestone for UCD NetsLab and builds directly on our extensive experience integrating VR and haptics with 5G testbeds. Through 6G-BRICKS, we are now taking a bold step toward the future of remote medical skills training, team-based XR collaboration, and AI-enabled network orchestration.”
Dr. Madhusanka Liyanage
Validating Breakthrough 6G Technologies
CollabXR serves as a high-intensity test vehicle for evaluating the 6G-BRICKS infrastructure:
- mmWave FR2 communication for high-density XR traffic
- RIS-assisted link optimization for stable XR performance
- Edge computing for sub-10 ms haptic–visual alignment
- Zero-touch management via AI xApps for real-time KPI monitoring
- Cross-site XR integration contributing to a federated European 6G facility
The project will deliver a fully reusable XR–haptics integration framework, a set of network-wide performance datasets, and a permanent Magos Haptic Glove kit hosted at EURECOM for future 6G testbed users.
Strengthening Europe’s 6G and XR Innovation Landscape
Through the funding of the (opens in a new window)6G-BRICKS Open Call, CollabXR positions UCD as a central contributor to Europe’s 6G experimentation roadmap. By demonstrating how 6G can unlock realistic, synchronized, and collaborative XR training at scale, the project sets the foundation for a new generation of applications spanning medicine, aerospace, robotics, and industry.
Published 25 Nov 2025