5 Cool Augmented Reality Applications in the Manufacturing Sector (Part 2)

Personnel Training – Range Rover

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) partnered with Bosch and RE’FLECT to design an AR integrated training app for employees. The objective of the app is to train new technicians without removing and reinstalling the vehicle dashboard.

With the newly designed app, the mechanic simply has to point the iPad at the dashboard to see everything that is hidden behind the paneling. From sensors, wirings, and connections, the mechanic can easily determine their exact locations and also interact with each individual component. The app generates connection and wiring diagrams, allowing the instructors to perform the training exercises on the actual vehicle without the need to spend time in dismantling and re-assembling. The visual knowledge transfer is helping JLR to train new employees quickly while keeping the training costs to a minimum.

Quality Control – Porsche

For Porsche, the factory of future is already a reality, and you can see that through their upgraded factories at Leipzig and Zuffenhausen. The company calls it as “Porsche Production 4.0”, which signifies their commitment to continuous improvement using new technologies and methods.

Apart from using robots for repetitive tasks, Porsche is applying augmented reality to take quality control to the next level. At the company’s quality center, experiments are conducted with Augmented Reality to figure out if the technology can be used to obtain precise design information about components quickly. Using an AR tool that can work within tablets, engineers can instantly gauge the dimensional accuracy, surface finish, tolerances and interference and other potential issues. The app also provides the functionality to test the functional aspects of components such as power windows and lights.

Maintenance – Caterpillar

Caterpillar successfully completed a pilot project that involved using AR for machine maintenance tasks. The company has developed its own AR app that assists technicians in performing service and maintenance checks. The hardware independent app can be used on a phone, tablet or AR glasses. It essentially provides sequential instructions to technicians to perform maintenance tasks on CAT machines. While performing the tasks, it is also possible to take it is also possible to take pictures of each step. The app further informs the technician how correctly the steps are performed. This helps novice mechanics to learn the maintenance procedures faster and avoid the possibility of errors. Caterpillar is currently looking to take this proof of concept and apply it in real world in coming months.

Apart from these five applications, Augmented Reality is being applied to various manufacturing environments to find out how the technology can aid in meeting the productivity goals. As the hardware and software for AR improve, this embryonic technology will gain more potential to disrupt the traditional industrial environment eventually.

Source: Interesting Engineering