Digital Manufacturing Design Innovation Institute Studies and Demonstrates Augmented Reality Use in Industry
UI Labs, a Chicago-based research and commercialization collaborative organization, bringing universities, industry and government together, is turning its attention to Augmented Reality. At the Digital Manufacturing Design Innovation Institute (DMDII), a manufacturing research laboratory within UI Labs, researchers are studying how Augmented Reality can support and improve heavy equipment design and service.
In an editorial on Equipment World blog, Wayne Grayson, online editor, describes what he was shown during a recent DMDII tour. He reports that Caterpillar is actively researching the use of Augmented Reality to train service technicians. A video published in conjunction with the release of the editorial illustrates the use cases and shows performance. Grayson was able to see virtual objects on screen in order to isolate the part of the machine in need of service, then to see an outline of parts for which the service technician is looking. Once located, a list of steps assist the technician with the workflow.