The Future of Product Design Is Immersive: How Sony XR & Siemens NX Are Transforming Engineering
Blog Article | January 28, 2026
Product development is entering a new era—one where engineers no longer view designs on flat screens but step inside them, interact at human scale, and collaborate in real time across locations. Immersive engineering is no longer experimental. It’s here, and it’s redefining how modern teams design, validate, and deliver better products faster.
At the center of this shift is the Sony XR Head-Mounted Display (HMD), developed in collaboration with Siemens and purpose-built for Designcenter NX and NX Immersive Designer. Together, they deliver immersive engineering directly within NX—unlocking a powerful, intuitive way to experience CAD data and bridge the gap between digital design and real-world understanding.
Why Immersive Engineering Matters Now
Engineering teams face increasing product complexity, tighter timelines, and growing pressure to reduce costs—all while delivering higher-quality products. Traditional CAD workflows, while powerful, can limit spatial understanding and delay critical design validation until late-stage reviews or physical prototypes.
Immersive engineering addresses these challenges by enabling teams to:
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Visualize products at full, human scale
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Identify design issues earlier in development
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Reduce costly rework and physical prototypes
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Collaborate more effectively across disciplines and locations
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Make confident decisions faster
With Designcenter NX and Sony XR, immersive workflows are no longer disconnected from CAD—they are fully integrated into the design process.
Built for Designcenter NX: Immersion Without Disruption
Unlike generic VR tools, the Sony XR HMD is engineered specifically for Siemens Designcenter NX. With one-click access to NX Immersive Designer, engineers can step directly into their live CAD models—without exporting data or breaking established workflows.
Inside NX Immersive Designer, teams can:
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Interact directly with geometry and assemblies
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Manipulate parts with precision using Sony XR Ring and Pointer controllers
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Make real-time design changes while staying immersed
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Instantly see updates reflected in the NX model
This tight integration ensures immersive design isn’t a side activity—it becomes a natural extension of your existing NX workflows.
Design at Human Scale: See What Screens Can’t Show
One of the most impactful benefits of immersive engineering is human-scale visualization. Walking around a design, evaluating clearances, or assessing ergonomics at full scale reveals issues that can be difficult—or impossible—to detect on a monitor.
With Sony XR and NX, teams can:
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Validate ergonomics and operator interaction
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Review large assemblies and complex systems in context
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Animate mechatronics and motion behavior
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Catch fit, access, and visibility issues early
This leads to fewer prototype iterations, lower development costs, and higher confidence before manufacturing.
Faster Development Through Real-Time Interaction
Immersive engineering isn’t just about seeing designs differently—it’s about working differently.
Engineers remain fully connected to Designcenter NX while immersed, allowing them to model, edit, and refine designs in real time. By reducing context switching and improving spatial understanding, teams can iterate faster and resolve issues earlier in the design cycle.
The result is a more efficient, focused workflow that accelerates development without sacrificing accuracy.
- Real-time modeling and editing
- Reduced context switching between tools
- Faster iteration and refinement
- More intuitive problem-solving
Real-World Impact: Natilus Takes Flight with Immersive Engineering
Innovative companies are already realizing the benefits of immersive engineering.
Natilus, a next-generation cargo aircraft manufacturer, uses Sony XR and Siemens Designcenter NX to review full-scale aircraft designs, collaborate in real time, and reduce reliance on physical prototypes. By adopting immersive engineering early, Natilus is accelerating time to market while improving design confidence across teams.
Precision Controllers Designed for Engineering Workflows
The Sony XR Ring and Pointer controllers are designed specifically for CAD-centric tasks. Every interaction is intentional, precise, and mapped directly to NX commands.
Key benefits include:
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Natural hand gestures for manipulating geometry
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High-precision control for positioning, rotating, and editing parts
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Voice commands for navigating menus and issuing actions
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Minimal learning curve for experienced NX users
It feels less like operating software—and more like working directly on the product itself.
Seamless Collaboration Across Teams & Locations
Engineering teams are increasingly distributed. Designcenter NX and Sony XR enable collaboration in a shared virtual design space, whether participants are co-located or remote.
Using NX Collaborator, teams can:
- Conduct immersive design reviews with stakeholders
- Share insights between desktop and XR users
- Align faster on decisions with greater clarity and confidence
Step Into the Future of Product Design
Immersive engineering is no longer a future concept—it’s a competitive advantage available today. With Sony XR and Designcenter NX, engineering teams can design smarter, validate faster, and collaborate more effectively across the product lifecycle.
If you’re ready to bring immersive engineering into your organization, Saratech is here to help, Talk to an expert today.
