As the world grows increasingly digital, the implications for traditional industries are profound. A striking example of this is the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies in the industrial and manufacturing sectors. With a vast array of practical applications, from virtual maintenance and repair to digital twin visualization, AR/VR technologies are reshaping the industrial landscape, enhancing productivity and streamlining operations.

AR/VR in Virtual Maintenance and Repair

One of the most significant applications of AR/VR technologies in the industry is for virtual maintenance and repair. Traditionally, diagnosing and repairing faults in complex machinery was a time-consuming and error-prone process, often requiring the physical presence of expert technicians. With AR/VR, this process has been transformed.

VR allows technicians to immerse themselves in a simulated 3D environment that mirrors the actual machine or system. In this environment, they can identify issues and experiment with different solutions without the need for physical access. On the other hand, AR can overlay digital information and instructions onto the real-world view of the machine, guiding the technician through the repair process and reducing the risk of error.

1. Resonai: Their AR platform, Vera, is designed to convert physical buildings into interactive 3D models or digital twins. This provides a complete virtual model of the building, allowing engineers to identify and troubleshoot issues remotely, improving efficiency and reducing downtime.
2. UpSkill: UpSkill’s platform, Skylight, combines AR with wearable tech to guide workers in maintenance and repair tasks. Skylight presents interactive, contextual information to workers as they perform tasks, reducing errors and improving productivity.
3. XMReality: Their AR-based remote guidance tool uses point-pads and gesture control to facilitate maintenance and repair tasks. It helps remote experts guide field technicians through complex processes, minimizing downtime and increasing first-time fix rates.
4. Taqtile: Taqtile’s platform, Manifest, provides step-by-step AR instructions for maintenance and repair. By overlaying digital instructions onto the real-world environment, it helps technicians execute tasks accurately and efficiently, reducing errors and rework.
5. Scope AR: Scope AR provides AR solutions for industrial use. Its software helps with training, equipment maintenance, and assembly tasks by providing real-time 3D animations, video, text, and images that guide users through each step of a task.

Augmented Assembly Instructions

Assembling complex machinery and equipment is another area where AR/VR technologies are making a significant impact. By replacing traditional paper or digital manuals with AR overlays, workers receive real-time, step-by-step, visual guidance on how to assemble parts. This approach not only reduces errors but also significantly accelerates the learning curve for new employees. Workers no longer need to divide their attention between their task and an instruction manual; instead, they can focus on the task at hand, leading to improvements in both efficiency and quality.

1. Light Guide Systems: Their AR solutions project visual prompts and cues directly onto work surfaces, guiding assembly process steps and eliminating the need for hardcopy instructions and training. This enhances speed, precision, and quality in manufacturing.
2. RE’FLEKT: Their AR and AI technology creates intelligent instructions for industrial use. Their platform helps companies transform existing technical documentation into intelligent AR instructions, making complex machinery easier to assemble, maintain, and repair.
3. Augmentir: Their platform uses AI to deliver personalized, step-by-step AR guidance to frontline workers, optimizing performance and reducing errors. It learns from user interactions and optimizes instructions over time, improving overall process efficiency.
4. Visualix: Their platform helps businesses create AR content tied to specific physical objects or locations. This enables clear, contextual instructions for assembly processes, reducing mistakes and improving assembly speed.
5. ARInspect: Their AR solutions enhance the accuracy and efficiency of inspection processes. By overlaying real-time data and instructions on the inspector’s field of view, ARInspect helps inspectors identify issues faster and perform inspections more accurately.

Remote Assistance Using AR Glasses

AR glasses are revolutionizing the way remote assistance is provided in the industrial sector. With AR glasses, field engineers can share their real-time view with a remote expert, who can then provide instant feedback and guidance. The remote expert can draw annotations and instructions directly onto the field engineer’s field of view, helping them solve complex problems on-site and reducing the need for repeat visits. This application of AR/VR technology significantly reduces downtime, increases operational efficiency, and enables the transfer of knowledge and skills across geographically distributed teams.

1. Vuzix: Vuzix’s AR smart glasses are designed for industrial applications. These glasses facilitate remote collaboration by allowing field engineers to share their views with remote experts, who can provide instant guidance and feedback.
2. ThirdEye Gen: Their AR glasses provide remote assistance and shared digital workspaces. Field workers can collaborate with experts in real time, streamlining problem-solving and increasing productivity.
3. RealWear: RealWear’s HMT-1 is a hands-free wearable computer that provides AR overlays to support industrial work. It enables remote experts to see what the field worker sees, enabling efficient troubleshooting and guidance.
4.  Atheer: Atheer’s AR platform offers remote collaboration tools to improve the productivity and safety of deskless workers. It allows real-time collaboration between remote experts and field workers, minimizing errors and increasing task efficiency.
5.  TeamViewer Pilot: TeamViewer Pilot offers AR-enabled remote assistance. Users can draw and highlight objects in the real-world environment of the connected partner, providing clear instructions and accelerating problem resolution.

Digital Twin Visualization

A ‘digital twin’ refers to a virtual replica of a physical product, system, or process. It acts as a real-time mirror, simulating the behavior and performance of its physical counterpart. AR/VR technologies play a crucial role in visualizing these digital twins, helping engineers and operators better understand and manage their systems.

By visualizing a system’s digital twin using AR/VR, operators can gain a comprehensive understanding of its operation and performance in real time. This allows for proactive maintenance, predictive analysis, and improved decision-making. For instance, operators can identify potential issues before they become problems, test solutions in the virtual environment, and implement them in the physical world, thereby reducing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.

1. Cityzenith: Cityzenith’s SmartWorldPro2 creates digital twins of buildings and cities. It allows users to analyze, monitor, and predict performance in real time, providing valuable insights for urban planning and design.
2. Ansys: Ansys provides comprehensive digital twin solutions for various industries. These solutions simulate and analyze a system’s performance under different conditions, facilitating predictive maintenance and operational efficiency.
3. TwinThread: Their predictive operations platform leverages digital twins to provide insights and recommendations to manufacturers. This allows for proactive maintenance, predictive analysis, and informed decision-making.
4. Cognite: Cognite Data Fusion enables the creation of digital twins for asset-intensive industries. It gathers and contextualizes vast amounts of industrial data, providing a holistic view of an organization’s assets and systems, and enhancing operational efficiency.
5. Siemens: Siemens’ MindSphere is an IoT system that leverages digital twins to predict system behavior. It collects and analyzes data from physical systems, enabling predictive maintenance, reducing downtime, and improving overall operational efficiency.

In conclusion, adopting AR/VR technologies in the industrial and manufacturing sectors signifies a new era in productivity and operations. With applications like virtual maintenance and repair, augmented assembly instructions, remote assistance using AR glasses, and digital twin visualization, these technologies are poised to continue reshaping the industrial landscape, offering promising prospects for increased efficiency, reduced error, and a more streamlined approach to operations. As we move forward, it is crucial for industries to embrace these technologies, understand their implications, and leverage their potential to thrive in an increasingly digital world.