XR - Extended Reality for Industry 4.0

Introduction - Industry 4.0 [1] represents the next industrial revolution that is fueled by IIoT (Industrial Internet-of-Things) [2] which creates a Cyber-Physical [3] connection of equipment on the factor floor. Extended Reality technologies [4] offer the opportunity to tap into this connected industry, and provide efficient methods of viewing IIoT data and systems. A Digital Twin [5] 3D model of products is a key component required in order to accomplish this.

Assisted Reality [IIoT] - Assisted Reality (ASR) [4] for Industrial IoT has the major benefit of providing a "heads up" display of sensor data in IIoT devices. Most IIoT factory systems incorporate internal sensors that feed data to cloud based software. Thus, in order for field service personnel to be able to easily diagnose the exact location of equipment error, it almost becomes a necessity to supply them with a wearable device, handheld tablet, or phone running ASR [4] software.

Assisted Reality [Remote Assistance] - Assisted Reality (ASR) [4] for Remote Assistance [6] offers the ability to have an Expert communicate with a service worker in the field, who is wearing an AR device or who has an AR tablet or phone. Once again, in an Industry 4.0 connected factory, Remote Assistance can also leverage IIoT sensor data... i.e. so that the expert who is assisting can provide advice to help them interpret what they are viewing.

Assisted Reality [Digital Work Instructions] - Assisted Reality (ASR) [4] for Digital Work Instructions [7,8] in an Industry 4.0 connected factory can help eliminate the need for Remote Assistance apps by providing a series of work instructions that will "Guide" the user through a series of steps. NOTE: A wearable AR device such as a HoloLens is going to be the best device to use for these applications since they provide hands-free use... however, in a pinch, a phone or table could be used if the software will support it.

Augmented, Mixed, & Virtual Reality - All of these technologies leverage the Digital Twin [5] 3D Model in a Industry 4.0 connected factory. For example, the Digital Twin Holographic Model [9] can provide 3D X-ray view of a product via an AR device. Thus, if a field service worker used an Assisted Reality app to view IoT data that flags an issue, the user could then switch to an AR app in order to visualize and identify likely internal components that are the cause of a failure.

Conclusion - Industry 4.0 and IIoT combined with XR is going to be a Trillion dollar industry by 2022 [10]. Some of the technologies and companies I have listed here are just the "tip of the iceberg" for those that are investing into it.  Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Intel, IBM, PTC, Rockwell International and many other major corporations are heavily invested.

[1] - Industry 4.0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_4.0

[2] - Industrial Internet-of-Things: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_internet_of_things

[3] - Cyber Physical Equipment: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-physical_system

[4] - Extended Reality Technologies: https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/xr-extended-reality-spectrum-kerwin-kassulker

[5] - Digital Twin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_twin

[6] - Remote Assistance: https://techsee.me/blog/augmented-reality-remote-assistance/

[7] - Digital Work Instructions: https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/mixed-reality/guides/

?[8] - Digital Work Instructions: https://www.scopear.com/solutions/work-instructions/

[9] - 3D Holograms: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/mixed-reality/hologram

[10] - IIoT Trillion Dollar Industry: https://www.statista.com/statistics/668996/worldwide-expenditures-for-the-internet-of-things/