Holovis has debuted a new virtual reality ride at this year’s Asian Attractions Expo (AAE), combining interactive VR with a robotic arm to create a virtual flying taxi ride through Singapore.

Dubbed R3ex – rideable real time robot experiences – guests can ride the two-seat, four axis robot arm, which synchronises movement with VR to create an immersive storytelling experience.

The ride is set in an imagined Singapore in the year 2133, with riders experiencing a taxi flight from the AAE convention centre to a nearby hotel. However, the rush hour leads to some surprise events during the trip.

Holovis says the experience can be configured, with tailored media, gesture-based interactivity and rider-guided control. Future models currently under-development include a four seat version and the chance for guests to have full control of the robotic arm as they explore virtual reality.

“Theme park guests want new kinds of out-of-home experiences that stretch and test their senses like never before,” said Holovis CEO Stuart Hetherington.

“R3ex is a new type of attraction where the dramatic impact of robotics has been integrated and appropriately layered with other technologies, all working with specially designed real-time media. That means effective deployment of VR today, AR tomorrow, and full holographic arrays in the future, on a robot.”