What is Augmented Reality? Augmented Reality (AR) is an indirect or direct live view of an existing real world environment. It is filled with amplified computer generated perceptual information. It is cutting edge technology that superimposes computer generated images into the real world view in order to provide a composite view. AR technology enhances many aspects of efficiency for the manufacturing industry. Aside from the increased technical opportunities, it can assist in maintenance and diagnostics, save human resources, reduce costs and physical risk while also providing a valuable tool for training and education.
(Photo courtesy of Atheerair.com)
TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITY:
With Augmented Reality, a facility can inspect and visualize technical upgrades and modifications without taking great financial risks and prolonged periods of down time. This can be an opportunity for the facility to upgrade equipment while still maintaining general operation.
MAINTENANCE AND DIAGNOSTICS:
AR allows companies to maintain, diagnose, and repair equipment without retaining facility specific or professional support staff while still receiving immersive and expert technical assistance. Technicians will no longer need to travel from one facility to another to assist with maintenance and repairs. They can collaborate across vast geographical distances to remotely assist and repair equipment. AR enables smaller companies to utilize expert technicians while not having them on staff and decreases the general cost of maintenance and repair to ultimately increase the efficiency of the facility.
Video example:
(Video courtesy of youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZP4rjjBqPw)
EDUCATION:
Technicians with extensive training are able to communicate with and remotely access or advise newer technicians with real time problems without the added costs of travel and time. AR enables the technicians to use real time information without relying on outdated manuals. This allows them to work more effectively and efficiently to repair and maintain equipment. Repairs and maintenance can be visualized in live view with hands on experience and training as if the expert is walking the technician through the process in person. It can assist technicians with complex assembly of manufactured goods in real time without the use of outdated static documents that are not easily or efficiently updated. This technology enables the technician to be up to date on changes or upgrades in the facility in addition to the particular item being manufactured.
(image courtesy of twnkls.com)
FUTURE OF AUGMENED REALITY:
The future of Augmented Reality goes far beyond entertainment value. Millions of users experienced the basic idea of AR with the introduction of the application, Pokémon Go in July of 2016 by enabling anyone with a smart phone to download it free from Nintendo. This location based app utilized GPS to enable the user to locate, capture, battle and train the Pokémon characters virtually as if they were in the same real time and physical space as the player.
(Photo courtesy of AP, 2016)
As Augmented Reality continues to develop and become more accessible, the manufacturing industry will become more efficient and the capacity in which it functions will increase exponentially. Because AR gives people the ability to receive contextually relevant information almost immediately and automatically, the technology will continue to be in great demand in other industries as well.
