AR/VR technologies have left their exotic status behind and are now part of the repertoire of some companies. They combine the real and digital worlds and thus achieve a whole new level of productivity. The drivers of this development include the ongoing shortage of skilled workers and the associated need to deploy less qualified employees. At the same time, the pressure for greater efficiency and the increasing complexity within manufacturing are motivating companies to rely on new technologies.

In an international comparison, however, German industrial companies are rather reluctant to introduce IT trends. This is shown by figures from a Bitkom study. The most frequently cited obstacles to the use of artificial intelligence (68% of respondents), 3D printing (48%), blockchain (47%) and robotics (45%) are data protection, security requirements and a shortage of skilled workers. At the same time, however, lengthy decision-making processes, time and budget constraints and uncertainty about the specific benefits stand in the way of implementation. It is important to ensure clarity here. Because as soon as companies have an AR/VR solution in place, the benefits speak for themselves.

This is proven by another study by PTC: according to the study, almost 75% of German companies are already using virtual or augmented reality or are at least planning to use it. In other words, although the benefits are seen, digitalization projects often fall by the wayside during the selection and test phase. This makes it all the more important to demonstrate the added value of these innovative technologies to hesitant German companies.

What is behind the terminology?

Data-supported view of the workflow - for greater efficiency on the assembly line.

© Dynabook

In order to create an understanding of IT solutions and their potential for use in industry, it is important to first clarify the terminology. Virtual reality is the simulation of reality. For example, a planner puts on VR glasses in the office and suddenly finds himself standing in an imaginary factory hall. The employee's entire field of vision is replaced by the new image - they see what the goggles show them. Without actually being on site, the planner can move around in an imaginary room and check processes. This technology also helps with the development of prototypes.

Augmented reality overlays the real world with digital information. Using a tablet, smartphone or smart data glasses, graphics, images, text or videos can be superimposed on the user's field of vision. It is crucial that there is a spatially assigned overlay with reality. This is why augmented reality requires devices that independently recognize the environment based on features such as edges or corners. Assisted reality is when the real world is augmented by additional computer-generated information.

AR solutions offer a number of advantages, particularly in the field of automation: They are easy to implement and cost-efficient. However, in order to benefit from AR, the user needs a wearable. These include smart glasses, for example.

Assisted reality in practice

All the information you need is always to hand - for the highest quality at every step of the process.

© Dynabook

All the required information appears on the display of the glasses. This not only has the advantage that additional information ensures an improved workflow, but also that the wearer's hands are free. For example, the employee can view their production plan again without interruption and without having to take their hands off the workpiece.

Until recently, AR/VR applications were mainly used in the automotive industry, logistics companies or large technology companies, but their areas of application have expanded significantly in recent years. Today, medium-sized companies across all sectors as well as companies from the manufacturing or process industry benefit from these solutions. There are very different application scenarios along the entire value chain.

One example: assembly line workers and production employees often do their job in an analog way, as they usually have their hands full.
The implementation of AR solutions with smart data glasses is suitable here. This allows employees to call up data on the display of the glasses at any time to make their tasks easier. An extra plus: new and unskilled workers can be trained more quickly. With simple step-by-step instructions shown on the display of the data glasses, the wearer knows exactly what to do.

In addition, remote support can be provided effortlessly with such a solution. If an unforeseen problem occurs, the wearer of the glasses receives immediate, tailored assistance from a distance, for example via the integrated hands-free function. They can use voice control to contact their supervisor or a more experienced colleague. The expert on call can see exactly what the employee on the production line is looking at through the smart glasses' camera and can immediately help them decide how to proceed without having to be on site themselves. This is also particularly helpful when remote maintenance is required, for example because a company operates plants at different locations.

Another example of how AR can be used is in quality assurance. A
consistently high quality is one of the most important criteria that a company must fulfill. An AR solution eliminates the error-prone ticking off of checklists, for example. Thanks to the integrated voice control, employees have their hands free and can keep a constant eye on the conveyor belt. In addition, the integrated video function in the smart glasses allows processes to be documented in detail, thus avoiding follow-up questions or ambiguities.

Impediment to implementation?

Remote support from experts - effortlessly and without interrupting work.

© Dynabook

Even if the advantages of assisted reality solutions are obvious, their actual introduction can sometimes prove to be an obstacle. On the one hand, users need powerful hardware with fast processors and sufficient RAM.
Secondly, additional devices, such as smart glasses, need to be seamlessly integrated into the existing company infrastructure. In this context, the operating system is often the stumbling block, as many smart glasses are based on Android, while corporate IT is based on Windows.
For companies that rely on assisted reality, it is therefore advisable to use Windows-based hardware. One example is the DynaEdge from Dynabook, which - depending on the model - works with the Windows 10 or Windows 10 IoT operating system. This solution can be easily integrated into an existing network as an additional client.
While two different systems may expose vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers, a standardized Windows solution creates a closed IT structure in the company.

Determine the business case

In order to decide as the IT manager in the company whether and which
AR solution is the right one, the first step should be to review your own value chain. This includes answering the following questions:

- Are there any tasks that tend to have a high error rate?
- Can areas be identified that stand out negatively due to excessive costs?
- Could they reduce costs by optimizing work steps
- for example by reducing machine downtimes or the unnecessary production of different prototypes?
- Do the employees still work analog?

Together with an appropriate technology partner, the strategy for the AR solution and the necessary hardware and software components can be drawn up to ensure perfect processes within the company. With the new 5G mobile communications standard, the topic of AR/VR will experience an additional boost and take on a central role within the smart factory of tomorrow.