Canadian eyewear maker Recon Instruments announced in a press release that it has begun integrating its Jet Smart smart glasses product with Augmented Reality-assisted mobile applications offered by SAP. The companies plan to take advantage of the Jet Smart’s highly ruggedized form factor to increase use of Augmented Reality in field service and environments that are unsuitable for lighter weight products on the market.
BKT Tires is one of the leading specialty tire suppliers, providing tires for industrial, mining and agricultural vehicles. This post on the company’s blog features how Augmented Reality could be useful to customers in the field needing to maintain or service their products, showing that even heavy machinery operators could have Augmented Reality-assisted information products in the future.
The Qatar Petrochemical Company has revealed that it is beginning to collaborate with the leading university in the region to research the development of use cases in which AR-assisted courseware for students studying to work in the oil and gas sector would be beneficial for learning and certification. An article on QatarIsBooming web site sheds light on the vision of the executives who approved the collaborative agreement. This could be the first such initiative in the world and would certainly be closely followed by other companies in the industry.
In January, DHL announced results of a trial in the Netherlands showing that picker performance could increased by 25% with the support of hands-free displays and Augmented Reality. This article in the Sydney Morning Herald reports that the DHL will continue its smart glasses trials in other facilities in order to study benefits to customers.
According to the article in WardsAuto, German auto supplier Continental Corporatoin has developed a diagnostic tool for mechanics enhanced by Augmented Reality.
The tablet-based Connected Technician connects wirelessly to a vehicle and guides a mechanic to solve problems. The application draws on service manuals to display augmented steps. Continental expects the product to appear in garages in late 2016.
The built environment has a great wealth of digital information associated with it so it is just a matter of time before architects and those with whom they work adopted AR for a variety of visualization purposes. In this feature story on Sourceable, Rana Abboud, a Sydney-based architect, and Rene Van Meeuwen, assistant professor of architecture at the University of Western Australia, share their views about how the field of architecture is going to be using Augmented Reality and the benefits to customers as well as those working on the new projects.
Magazines and journals are increasingly introducing Augmented Reality to their readers. We cover these introductions regularly, finding a lot of diversity in the approach, depth and accuracy of how the concept of AR is introduced. In this feature length article in 360-The Business Transformation Journal, the authors dedicate nearly 30% of their beautifully laid out space to the history and conceptual frameworks of Augmented Reality. And they get a “gold star” for quality in every respect.
The article then proceeds to explain the business value of Augmented Reality for industry in general and the specific projects that have been implemented in Marenco Swisshelicopter AG with the new SKYe SH09 model. Lessons learned and business analyses are worthy of a respected journal such as the one that invited these authors to contribute to its December 2014 issue. Recommended reading.
DHL is leading the charge to use of hands-free personal displays in logistics. In a trial involving 10 order pickers Vuzix M100 and Google Glass were worn by pickers and used with a customized application to support the fulfillment of over 9,000 orders. The research report indicates a 25 percent efficiency rise as a result of the AR-assisted procedures. Now DHL is indicating interest in expanding to other phases in supply chain. The article posted on the ATN for transportation and logistics managers portal cites DHL Supply Chain Benelux technology director Jan-Willem De Jong saying that there are plans for
The readers of Intelligent Utility Magazine are learning about Augmented Reality from EPRI, an AREA member, on the pages of the Spring 2015 issue. In this feature article, the introduction of AR is loosely tied to real time Computer Generated graphics on televisions. The benefits of Augmented Reality and the use cases for introduction in energy distribution are well documented and promising results reported.
Press Release: Augmented Reality applications specifically provide computer-assisted, additional information. For example, three-dimensional objects, explanatory texts, pictures or videos are overlaid onto the real environment on the user’s tablet or smart phone as soon as the user focuses the device’s camera on an area for which Augmented Reality information is available. A good example for this augmented presentation of reality is shown during the broadcast of a football game when the offside line is blended in as if it were part of the field.
Bosch will use this modern technology in the future to support vehicle workshops in repair and maintenance works. Augmented Reality solutions provide the mechatronics technician with three-dimensional work instructions, required tools or even training videos. As soon as the camera of the tablet scans a motor component, the contextual information is superimposed onto the physical object – exactly where it is needed. The mechatronics technician can control superimposed objects via the touchscreen and call up further information. The time-consuming consultation of service manuals is thus omitted. Also, components that are hidden behind panelings or the cabling below the dashboard can be depicted to scale with Augmented Reality. This clarifies the next work steps and unnecessary assembly works are omitted. Thus, Augmented Reality facilitates the repair process, improves the quality of the work results and minimizes the effort. Besides, the new technology allows even less experienced employees to carry out repair works that are more complex.
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Bosch uses a modern software platform that creates the applications using construction drawings, 3D data and animations for the creation of complex Augmented Reality solutions. Bosch sees the application possibilities of Augmented Reality in the support of diagnostic, maintenance and repair tasks, as well as in technical training and service information.
The Automotive Aftermarket division (AA) provides aftermarket and repair shops worldwide with a complete range of diagnostic and repair shop equipment and a wide range of spare parts – from new and exchange parts to repair solutions – for passenger cars and commercial vehicles. Its product portfolio includes products made as Bosch original equipment, as well as aftermarket products and services developed and manufactured in-house. More than 18,000 associates in 150 countries, as well as a global logistics network, ensure that some 650,000 different spare parts reach customers quickly and on time. In its “Automotive Service Solutions” operations, AA supplies testing and repair-shop technology, diagnostic software, service training, and information services. In addition, the division is responsible for the “Bosch Service” repair-shop franchise, one of the world’s largest independent chains of repair shops, with some 16,500 franchises. In addition, AA is responsible for more than 800 “AutoCrew” partners.
Additional information can be accessed at www.bosch-automotive.com.
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In 2013, its roughly 281,000 associates generated sales of 46.1 billion euros. (NB: Due to a change in accounting policies, the 2013 figures can only be compared to a limited extent with the 2012 figures). Its operations are divided into four business sectors: Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 360 subsidiaries and regional companies in some 50 countries. If its sales and service partners are included, Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. In 2013, the Bosch Group invested some 4.5 billion euros in research and development and applied for some 5,000 patents. This is an average of 20 patents per day. The Bosch Group’s products and services are designed to fascinate, and to improve quality of life by providing solutions which are both innovative and beneficial. In this way, the company offers technology worldwide that is “Invented for life.”
Further information is available online at www.bosch.com, www.bosch-press.com and twitter.com/BoschPresse.