Make maintenance and service easier with augmented reality
The bitnamic CONNECT smart glasses guide
Augmented reality is the next stage of digital maintenance processes. Our smart glasses guide explains how augmented reality can be used in the industry sector and presents proven models.
Expand reality
What is augmented reality?
Flexibility
Both hands free for working on complex machines
Augmented reality can be used via different hardware. In the industry sector, smart glasses are particularly recommended. Smart glasses display context-relevant information in the user’s field of vision. Smartphones or tablets are therefore no longer necessary and both hands remain free.
Smart glasses
Smart glasses as an ideal introduction to augmented reality
Smart glasses promote efficient problem solving: Since the camera is located in the immediate vicinity of the eye, the expert can more quickly see which component the service technician is focusing on and give appropriate instructions. Triggered functions such as annotations or laser pointers, which characterize our remote maintenance software, are transferred directly to the screen of the smart glasses.
HoloLens
The Microsoft HoloLens offers the full augmented reality program
Integrate and place any 3D objects and benefit from significantly more placement options due to the representation of virtual elements in the entire real space – in contrast to the limitations of classic 2D displays. Due to the positioning in the complete field of view including spatial anchoring, the virtual objects always remain in their original physical location, even if you as the carrier change your position.
With the Microsoft HoloLens you merge reality with virtual content and facilitate all workflows in maintenance processes thanks to the spatially matching overlays.
Recommended smart glasses
The following reference models are officially supported by bitnamic CONNECT:
VUZIX M400
- Android 9 platform
- OLED screen > 10.000:1 contrast ratio
- 12.8 MP camera, 4K video
- Phase Detect Autofocus (PDAF), optical stabilization
- Language control (personalizable, supports multiple languages)
- 3 control buttons and a 2-axis touchpad with multi-finger support
- IP67-certified
- safety against falling up to 2 meters
- Hot-swap capable 2-12 hours battery life (depending on the choice of external battery)
RealWear HMT-1
- Android 8.1 Platform
- 854 x 480 Pixel MicroDisplay
- 16 MP camera
- pure voice control (can also be used offline, available in 12 languages)
- IP66 MIL-STD 810 G certified
- 8 hours battery life
- Additional Micro SD card slot for sufficient storage space
- Compatible with safety equipment
Microsoft HoloLens 1
- Windows Holographic Operating System
- transparent holographic lenses (waveguide)
- 4 cameras, 1 depth camera
- 12 MP camera, HD video
- real-time tracking (eye tracking)
- voice control
- 2-3 hours battery life (active use)
Microsoft HoloLens 2
- Windows Holographic Operating System
- transparent holographic lenses (waveguide)
- 2k 3:2 Light generator resolution
- 4 cameras for visible light, 2 IR cameras
- 8 MP camera, 1080p30 Video
- real-time tracking (eye tracking)
- voice control (commands and control on the device, natural language with Internet connection)
- Environmental integration in real time
- 2-3 hours battery life (active use)
You have different smart glasses?
On request, we will check the direct compatibility or a possible porting to smart glasses from your stock.
Example scenarios
Augmented reality in use
Ultrasonic measurement in aviation
A component from aircraft construction is to be examined for material defects. An ultrasonic measuring device is used for so-called non-destructive material testing: This method makes it possible to perform the material testing without causing damage to the component. The application is a step-by-step guide for the user, which leads him through the complete testing process. Textual explanations and images are displayed to show the user, for example, which action is required in the current step or how this action should be performed.
During the course of the scenario, possible defect areas are indicated by animated markings, which are then to be inspected by the user with the ultrasonic measuring device. After a measurement process, the result is displayed directly above the inspected area on the component.
Usually the technician has to look at the screen of the device to which the measuring device is connected (e.g. to a laptop). This necessity is eliminated with the use of the Microsoft HoloLens, thus ensuring more efficient work.
The application example shows that AR support during the measurement process makes work much easier. The HoloLens enables the task to be completed quickly without the use of additional devices. The operation can be carried out completely without the use of hands. This scenario has already been subjected to a large number of user tests and showed a consistently positive result.
IoT-Integration
An industrial robot is visualized three-dimensionally in space (provided by Salt and Pepper). The industrial robot is part of a production plant and equipped with various sensors. Existing sensor values of the industrial robot are transmitted by the Beat Monitoring System (BMS) to our servers and visualized live on display elements on the model.
If an error occurs on the industrial robot within the production plant, the error data is synchronised with our servers. Accordingly, the HoloLens user is also informed of this. Depending on the affected component of the robot, it is highlighted in colour and the corresponding error text appears.
Since fault clearance is only possible with the support of an expert, the user can then set up a remote maintenance session and transfer his own camera image to the external expert. Due to the complete integration, the external expert sees the video image, the sensor data and the error message of the faulty component. With the help of the expert, the error can be corrected and the industrial robot can be returned to a fault-free state.
The networking of machine data and the infrastructure of our solution enables fast and efficient assistance with fault clearance tasks. For this application example, the virtual representation of a machine was chosen. In real use, a direct visualization of the sensor data on the actually existing machine would take place instead (see ultrasonic scenario above).