Tommy Nilsson

Tommy Nilsson is a Research Fellow at Fraunhofer FIT, where his work explores potential uses of digital twins in the aerospace sector. Co-sponsored by the European Space Agency (ESA) - where he previously served as a postdoctoral researcher for three years - Tommy specializes in applying virtual and mixed reality technologies to support scientific visualization, design, engineering, training and other preparatory activities surrounding future human missions to the Moon.

His workflow involves simulation of prospective lunar surface scenarios and their subsequent evaluation with astronauts and other space experts. To ensure maximum operational validity, his simulators were also deployed and assessed in extreme environments, including reduced-gravity parabolic flights and aboard the International Space Station. He holds a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from the Mixed Reality Laboratory at the University of Nottingham and has previously held research positions at the University of Cambridge, Roche Diagnostics, and the Czech National Institute of Mental Health.