Manufacturing with AR, VR, and XR: How fusion is changing Future of Industrial Automation

Manufacturing with AR, VR, and XR for Industrial Automation

AR, VR, and XR have become significant tools in industrial automation, particularly in supporting human-centered activities like remote maintenance, design, simulation, data analysis, and workplace safety. AR, VR, and XR technologies are also utilized for training, asset identification, knowledge transfer, and process design in the manufacturing industry. These enable field workers to locate assets quickly, facilitate remote collaboration between experts and local engineers, and visualize virtual equipment in real-world environments.

Cutting-edge applications in AR, VR, and XR for Industrial Automation

From enhancing employee training to optimizing complex manufacturing processes, the following are the latest and most cutting-edge applications that are reshaping the future of the manufacturing industry.

• Streamlining Logistics with AR Glasses: In manufacturing, AR glasses, such as those developed by Taqtile, are used to streamline logistics operations. Employees can receive real-time information, pick instructions, and navigation guidance hands-free, improving efficiency and reducing warehouse management errors.
• Industrial Metaverse Solutions: The metaverse is revolutionizing manufacturing by merging digital twins and virtual environments to create immersive interconnected workspaces. The metaverse enables seamless collaboration, ideation, and productivity in manufacturing. For instance, XR+ offers a complete web-based AR platform that allows users to create impressive augmented reality experiences without requiring coding skills. They offer web AR, VR, and metaverse solutions for various industries, including manufacturing.
• WebAR for Accessible Experiences: WebAR solutions are gaining prominence, providing accessible XR experiences directly through web browsers without dedicated apps. In manufacturing, this enables easy deployment and access to XR-based training and guidance materials for employees. For instance, Euphoria XR is a WebAR services company based in the USA. They provide AR and VR development services to create immersive and accessible customer experiences. The collaboration with Euphoria XR can allow manufacturing companies to implement XR technologies in their environment according to their requirement and needs.

Technical Innovations in Manufacturing Using AR, VR, and XR for Industrial Automation

The following innovation sheds light on the game-changing technologies propelling the manufacturing sector into a new era of efficiency and productivity:

Improved User Experience and Efficiency in Industrial Automation

• There is a need for improved VR and AR technologies to enhance user experience and efficiency in industrial automation processes.
• By using industrial collected data and combining text, pictures, videos, and 3D assets, immersive interfaces can be created that enable users to interact with industrial automation systems through AR and VR interfaces. This will also enhance decision-making and efficiency in industrial processes.

AR-based Manufacturing for Further Integration of Quality Control 4.0

• To ensure to meet end-user demands and for better quality control, there is a need for improved methods that require high accuracy and near-zero error rates.
• Three main categories of AR-based solutions are introduced for the quality sector to overcome this shortcoming: AR-based apps as virtual Lean tools, AR-assisted metrology, and AR-based solutions for in-line quality control. An AR architecture layer framework is designed for long-term AR integration in quality control.XR/AR for Quality Assurance in Manufacturing
• Traditional quality assurance processes are usually time-consuming, prone to human error, and require significant expertise.
• AR enhanced the quality assurance processes by overlaying digital data onto real-world objects, enabling workers to identify defects or deviations from quality standards more effectively. AR is also used for employee training on quality assurance tasks, real-time remote assistance from experienced workers, and data collection to monitor process metrics.

Use Cases

The following innovations shed light on the game-changing technologies propelling the manufacturing sector into a new era of efficiency and productivity:

• Airbus Case: Mixed Reality (MR) Bringing Design and Manufacturing to the Next Level Mixed reality helps transform digital data into a three-dimensional experience by using holograms. With AI and specific hardware design, MR allows users to interact with holograms in a physical environment, separately or in combination with real physical items. Airbus, a pioneering manufacturer of aircraft and satellites, assigned MR a special role in their digital transformation strategy. The company chose Microsoft’s Azure Mixed Reality and HoloLens 2 to speed up the design and production of aircraft while boosting safety and functionality. Airbus designers can virtually test their designs with mixed reality to ensure they are ready to manufacture. MR allows production line personnel to access essential information hands-free by overlaying instructions or diagrams on real equipment.
• SEACOMP Leveraging XR Technologies for Remote Customer Trust Building SEACOMP, a global electronics manufacturer, recognized the transformative potential of XR technologies in building customer trust. Before the pandemic, SEACOMP fostered belief with customers through physical visits to their facilities, providing a firsthand experience of their processes and capabilities. On-site visits became challenging with the advent of the coronavirus outbreak. SEACOMP partnered with Matterport and used Matterport Capture Services and Matterport Capture Technician, using XR technology to create digital twins of their facilities that enabled clients to experience 3D walkthroughs of the factory, eliminating health risks and saving time and costs associated with travel.
• Ford Harnessing VR for Collaborative Design and Human-Centric Approach Ford became the first automaker to collaborate with Gravity Sketch, a VR tool empowering designers to create more human-centric designs. Through VR headsets and controllers, Ford's designers can sketch virtual car models through intuitive gestures, enabling rotation and viewing from any angle, even the interior. The Co-Creation feature allows multiple designers to participate in virtual model creation, making real-time adjustments and reducing the need for extensive travel during the design process.This integration of VR technology has resulted in increased productivity for Ford's designers, enabling them to work on projects virtually from anywhere and at their convenience. As a result, design times have been dramatically reduced from weeks to mere hours without compromising the quality of the end product.

Market Activities

Whether you are a manufacturer or an investor, this segment offers valuable information on the market activity of key players within the manufacturing with AR, VR, and XR markets.

• Implementing AR, Boeing switched from the cross-checking practice to line-of-sight instructions, minimizing the risk of mistakes and decreasing the time of wire assembly by almost 25%.
• VR technology in manufacturing allows companies to create digital twins of real-world environments using XR/VR/AR technologies. Major firms such as Siemens, NVIDIA, Unity, and General Electric have developed these digital twins for brainstorming, monitoring processes, and quality control.
• Companies such as ARuVR, Lenovo, CoSo Cloud, and Moth+Flame offer similar tools for various purposes. They provide XR headsets for employee training and smart glasses for interacting with data and visuals in the field.
• AR smart-glass solutions from companies like RealWear, Kognitiv Spark, ThirdEye, and Vuzix enable first responders to access patient data and allow remote workers to troubleshoot equipment with on-demand video and schematics.
• Hewlett-Packard has created an industrial printer solution for Microsoft HoloLens 2 wearers, enabling rapid device repairs and minimizing equipment downtimes.

Conclusion

Virtual reality solutions can optimize complex assembly processes by training workers through simulations, resulting in enhanced safety, increased productivity, and improved operational efficiency. For instance, Airbus utilizes Microsoft HoloLens 2 AR glasses to guide workers with visual data and step-by-step instructions during assembly tasks. XR technologies like AR and MR enable remote collaboration between experts and workers, allowing real-time guidance on complex tasks across different manufacturing sites.

This leads to faster problem-solving, reduced downtime, and increased productivity. Integrating AR, VR, and XR with AI will further revolutionize quality control in manufacturing. AI algorithms analyze visual data to detect defects, predict potential quality issues, and provide immediate feedback, enhancing the accuracy and speed of quality control processes.

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