The coronavirus pandemic has forced many organizations to reconsider how well-equipped they are to deal with business disruptions that require more remote work. That’s especially true for industrial companies that succeeded pre-COVID through optimized supply chains and manufacturing processes and specialized employee skill sets.

AREA Executive Director Mark Sage recently spoke with Umar Arshad, Head of Growth for AR Products at PTC, to discuss how more organizations will now leverage AR to maintain business continuity and build resiliency.

Watch the discussion in the Video below:

In the years since Vuzix Chief Executive Paul Travers studied computer and electrical engineering in the 1980s, there have been many paradigm shifts in technology. He believes that AR and smart glasses will create a profound shift, even “completely change the paradigm of the phone”.

Vuzix began with a focus on military use cases for AR, working with Six15 Technologies in 2014 to integrate AR technology with goggles for the Navy. Innovations for military clients are still being developed now, but the Vuzix NGSG is focused on enterprise and consumer markets.

The hardware involved in the Vuzix NGSG includes binocular micro-LED projectors, with one of the highest density pixel arrays. This provides extremely bright images with low power demands and excellent contrast. Other features include:

• Noise-cancelling microphones
• Speakers integrated into the glasses’ temples
• Wireless communication with mobile devices
• Built-in LTE cellular option
• Potential future “advanced gesture control” (not yet confirmed by Travers)

Potential use cases for the Vuzix NGSG mentioned in the article include:

• Mapping: AR can give on-screen directions and other useful tags overlaid onto streets and buildings nearby
• Medical: During unfamiliar operations, doctors can get remote guidance from experts to support them
• Shared experiences: Family members can share a view of an event and watch it together

Despite limitless possible applications, AR, like every technology, requires early adopters to popularise it. In response to this, Vuzix is creating developer tools to make app development (or porting across existing apps) easier for users. Matt Margolis, Vuzix’s Director of Business Development and Strategic Relationships, states that porting a mobile app over to a smart glasses app doesn’t require much extra work, and maintains accessibility.

Travers believes that making smart glasses easy to wear in public will ultimately make the technology widely successful. The Vuzix NGSG are closer to this, and pricing is expected to be similar to current smartphones and smartwatches.

To conclude, Travers states that he is anticipating that smart glasses will really come to fruition in the next three years.

Read the full article here, and see Vuzix’s AREA member profile here.

According to RealWear, Fugro were seeking a wearable solution for maintaining collaboration while reducing on-site visits. They soon chose RealWear’s technology after consulting partner VR Expert to support requirements for connectivity, safety, and ruggedness.

Since 2019, Fugro have adopted the HMT-1, gradually increasing the number following potential scale, user feedback, and connectivity and durability tests. VR Expert adapted their software to optimise settings based on current bandwidth and latency due to low connectivity in extreme weather conditions. After validation of the use case, VR Expert provided kits for Fugro with the RealWear headset in them, now to be found on almost every vessel.

Hannes Swiegers, Global Director Remote Operations and Support Services at Fugro, has said that they are “proud” of their teamwork with VR Expert and RealWear. Since the deployment, the following benefits have occurred:

• Reduced on-site visits; increased safety
• Optimised resources due to removal of travel
• Instant access to expertise via Remote Expert functionality; quicker operation

Sanjay Jhawar, President and Co-Founder of RealWear, has said that they appreciate the opportunity to work with Fugro, allowing for empowerment and elevation.

CEO of VR Expert, Tim Nijland, has also added that RealWear’s reliable HMT-1s enhanced the “vision to validation” with Fugro. The wearable solution is being used to “great effect” internationally.

Read the full article here, and see RealWear’s AREA member profile here.

One of their open architecture, cloud-based XR platforms leverages the following advantageous technologies: low-latency remote rendering, 3D Artificial Intelligence-based Spatial Mapping, and distributed computing. These features allow for high precision, high quality, and high performance in scalable immersive experiences. Seamless integration with any device or application makes it a cross-platform solution that reduces costs, increases revenue, and improves productivity.

During a combined 60 years of experience, co-founders Rishi Ranjan, Dijam Panigrahi and Venkat R. Dass have worked in building, deploying, and marketing leading technologies, including ones at AREA member Qualcomm. As a result of this work in supporting AR/VR applications, they were aware of how to enable high quality AR/VR experiences on any device. Their platforms have been supporting companies in construction, automotive, and aerospace since 2018.

What Can AR and MR Do?

• Assist computer-aided design capabilities
• Help engineers to compare correctness of a design faster
• Power real-time remote augmentation, allowing complex models to run on mobile devices
• Enable realistic product visualisation and remote collaboration
• Create a virtual environment for remote training, repair, and maintenance
• Assist product design by providing data on how, where, and when customers use the product

Panigrahi has said that AR/VR has become even more vital for business continuity, productivity, and efficiency due to the pandemic. The technology allows for remote collaboration, remote training, visualisation of construction vehicles, remote maintenance and repair, and remote customer support.

Benefits of Grid Raster’s Platform in Construction:

• High performance: supports large, high-fidelity AR/VR/MR environments without 3D asset optimisation, which saves money and time.
• Highly scalable: scales seamlessly based on usage, location, and asset.
• Highly secure: provides multi-level security involving access, authorisation, and encryption.
• Device agnostic: provides support across devices and offers multi/cross-platform support.
• API-based integration: easily integrates with CAD/CAM and 3D assets, allowing reuse of the latter.

Further benefits mentioned in the article include:

• Increased productivity
• Saving time and money
• Better sharing and collaboration
• Almost one-third of companies reported a 25% increase in productivity, with 61% seeing 20% cost savings (according to Grid Raster)
• 40% increase in productivity in manufacturing process, repair and maintenance
• Increased safety
• Increased accuracy, effectiveness, and efficiency

Many entry-level technicians can perform at expert level with AR-assisted instructions, which would usually take years to achieve. Despite initial reluctance to use the technology from more experienced engineers, once they begin, the value of AR/VR encourages them to continue using it.

Current challenges to overcome with integrating the technology include:

• Device display (e.g. resolution)
• Network bandwidth
• Connection quality

Panigrahi further states that cloud-based immersive experiences will be key for widespread AR/VR adoption in not only construction, but across most industries. Grid Raster will continue to push the boundaries of innovation.

The AREA seeks to receive proposals for a funded research project that will examine and capture in a report the current status of 5G in enterprise environments, assessments of the risks and opportunities of using 5G technologies for AR use cases, and areas for future research and potential investment for AREA members. The project will also deliver tables containing objective, vendor-neutral information about current component costs, product and service offerings, past and current trials, proof of concept projects and guidelines for AREA members. 

Organizations with relevant expertise in the research topic may respond to the invitation on or before 12 PM Eastern Daylight Time on February 10^th. 

Industry Context for the Research

Investments in 5G are fueled by the potential for new low-latency, high-throughput network technologies to reduce or remove barriers to implementation of new and powerful use cases. By providing connected devices and machines access to high performance computing and other limited and costly resources, 5G networks will significantly expand and lower the cost of use of powerful computing hardware and software, data sets and other services (e.g., privacy, security, localization and other artificial intelligence-based platforms). 

Telecommunications companies around the world are heavily promoting 5G technology for delivering AR for entertainment and other consumer-facing services. The 5G-based services will be provided by network operators, some of whom are partnering with AR device and software providers to offer solutions to enterprise customers.  

Managers of large enterprise IT organizations are aware of the emerging 5G networks and components, including 5G-ready wearable and mobile devices, but many questions remain to be answered prior to the introduction of these in an enterprise infrastructure.  Before AREA customer segment members begin testing AR over 5G in their facilities, they need deeper understanding of key concepts of 5G, and the requirements, opportunities or benefits 5G could bring.   

Before AREA provider segment members begin evaluating and planning for 5G-enabled product or services to offer to their customers, they must build out 5G expertise internally or partner with companies that have 5G offerings.  

Project Goal

The AREA seeks to provide its members with knowledge about the current status of AR and 5G for enterprise, and actionable information which members can use when planning their AR and 5G strategies. 

Fixed Fee Project

The AREA Research Committee budget for this project is $15,000. Organizations interested in conducting this research for the fixed fee are invited to submit proposals.  

More information

Full information on the project needs, desired outcomes and required components of a winning proposal, including a submission form, can be found here.

If you have any questions concerning this project and the AREA Research Committee, please send an email to the Research Committee.

The packaging company, which plays a prominent role in the pharma supply chain for COVID-19-related drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines, has deployed both the pre-packaged solution Dynamics 365 Remote Assist and other HoloLens 2-based applications alongside data management, CRM, AI, and other Microsoft cloud services.

Stevanato Group have instituted two key mixed reality use cases, both aimed at accelerating remote acceptance of their equipment.

They have introduced a Virtual Audit plan that relies on Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, Microsoft’s pre-built application that works with HoloLens 2 to allow a remote worker to communicate and collaborate with another person doing work on-site with equipment or goods. For Stevanato, Remote Assist serves to allow customers working remotely to observe and verify production processes for quality purposes.

Microsoft is an AREA member. Read the Microsoft AREA member profile about their work in enterprise Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality.

“As increasingly distributed workforces and hybrid work models become the reality of a new normal, small and large businesses around the world are looking to adopt new technologies for smart collaboration, increased efficiency, and lower downtimes,” Lenovo wrote in its announcement.

The company will also provide a PC edition for virtual monitors. The ThinkReality A3 PC Edition enables users to see large monitors in their field of view and to use Windows software tools apps. The glasses tether can tether to a PC or certain Motorola smartphones via a USB-C cable, the company explained.

The glasses can also be used in more complex environments such as factory floors, labs, retail, and hospitality spaces with an industrial edition. Because the Industrial Edition is supported by the ThinkReality software platform, customers can build, deploy, and manage mixed reality applications on a global scale, according to Lenovo in a post.

“The A3 is a next generation augmented reality solution – light, powerful and versatile. The smart glasses are part of a comprehensive integrated digital solution from Lenovo that includes the advanced AR device, ThinkReality software, and Motorola mobile phones. Whether working in virtual spaces or supporting remote assistance, the ThinkReality A3 enhances workers’ abilities to do more wherever they are,” said Jon Pershke, Lenovo’s vice president of strategy and emerging business at Intelligent Device Group.

The new solution is also part of Lenovo’s efforts to “accelerate adoption of the next generation of wearable computing” within the enterprise.

In addition to the A3 smart glasses, Lenovo also produces the A6 headset as well as the mirage VR S3 for enterprises that want to take it a step further into total VR immersion for use cases such as soft-skill training.

Congratulations to Lenovo on this announcmenet. You can read more about Lenovo’s work in Enterprise AR in their AREA member profile.

Vuzix Chief Executive Officer and President Paul Travers is scheduled to present on Friday, January 15, 2021 at 12:30 PM EST.  The presentation will be webcast live and available for replay and can be accessed in the Investors section of the Company’s website

The company will also be available for one-on-one meetings at the conference and qualified institutional investors are welcome to schedule a meeting with management by contacting their Needham Sales Representative or [email protected].

Read Vuzix AREA member profile.

A press release on Jan 7 2021 reveals that AREA member Iristick, a provider of augmented reality (AR) smart glasses developed for industry, and Harvest Technology Group Limited, a provider of remote communication technologies, have announced that they have entered into an agreement to commence proof of concept trials for integration of Harvest’s Infinity Nodestream and Wearwolf technology into Iristick’s industrial smart glasses.

Harvest Technology Group Limited is an Australian operated group of companies whose portfolio includes Harvest Technology Pty Ltd and Harvest Infinity Pty Ltd. Harvest Technology is a bespoke subsea technology solutions provider for the energy, resources, and renewables sectors. Harvest Infinity is an innovation company developing remote control, communication, automation and monitoring solutions.

The initial agreement will continue development of the integration of the Company’s Infinity Wearwolf application into Iristick smart glasses, embedding them with the Infinity Nodestream video encryption and streaming protocols.

Wearwolf is a software application version of the Infinity Nodestream encoding platform designed to run on wearable and smartphone mobile devices. According to Harvest, Wearwolf enables live secure point-to-point video and communications at ultra-low bandwidths and over poor quality or congested networks. Video and audio can be transferred as low as 32 kbps, allowing users to communicate directly to a Nodestream decoding device.

Prototype testing was completed during December 2020 where the Wearwolf application was successfully combined with the Iristick software development kit (SDK) on a smartphone and proved to work with the cameras, microphone and screen on the Iristick smart glasses. The companies stated that trial communications were successfully made and maintained between Perth, Australia and Brussels, Belgium at 128kbps.

Iristick’s Z1 Premium AR smart glasses

Harvest states that a final commercial product is planned for launch during the first quarter of 2021 and will communicate point-to-point with Nodestream mini decoding devices and the soon-to-be released Nodestream downloadable decoder software application, which will run on laptops and desktop computers.

“We are very excited to be involved in a relationship with Iristick and look forward to our joint opportunities in the future. The synergies between our two companies are synonymous with a motivation to deliver high-quality remote communications and assistance from anywhere in the world”, said Paul Guilfoyle, Company Group Managing Director at Harvest Technology Group. “We have successfully proven our Wearwolf application on multiple wearable platforms and we are confident it can be quickly adapted for use across other wearable devices. Given the expected growth in the wearables market, we are forecasting more than 1,000 new Wearwolf licenses in 2021.”

Johan De Geyter, Iristick CEO, commented: “The global pandemic kickstarted the use of remote assistance via smart glasses as a solution to keep enterprise operations running under strict travel bans and contact restrictions. As field workers are sometimes confronted with low or no Wi-Fi connection, this collaboration can overcome that issue and make remote assistance available over low bandwidth, at any possible location, ensuring workers stay connected at any time.”

Visit Iristick website

Visit Iristick’s AREA member profile to read more about their work in Augmented Reality.

Interested in becoming a member? See AREA membership information. 

The ways in which frontline workers can benefit from AR digital twins mentioned in the article are:

• Navigating and monitoring
• Conducting assisted maintenance operations
• Reviewing complex machinery
• Planning industrial plants and facilities
• Product development
• Inspections
• Visualising and interpreting data (on-site and remotely)

The Arvizio XR Platform enables user to visualise digital twins at table-top or life size scale. It also supports remote 3D collaboration across XR devices such as iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Magic Leap, and HoloLens 2. Users can also import 3D BIM, LiDAR, CAD, and photogrammetry assets for integration with Autodesk cloud services, such as Fusion 360 and BIM 360. Reality captures and 3D models acts as a “digital canvas” for arranging AR data with the digital twin. It operates as follows:

• A graphical user interface tool associates documents, images, workflow items, and IoT data with objects in the model
• Models and scans are aligned on-site, overlaying AR data on top of real-world objects
• The XR Platform interfaces on IoT data hubs or the cloud, providing integration of live IoT data with 3D objects

Jonathan Reeves, CEO at Arvizio, is quoted to have said that the pandemic has led to increased Industry 4.0 adoption in enterprises, who are “seeking innovative technologies” to improve ROI and productivity. Using their XR Platform, customers can incorporate digital twins and AR to enhance efficiency.

Key feature updates for the Arvizio XR Platform for digital twins listed in the article are:

• XR Connect: collaboration services with shared video, allowing for expert assistance and remote inspection
• Expanded device support: now includes iPhone 12 Pro, iPad Pro with LiDAR, and Oculus Quest
• Arvizio’s advanced hybrid rendering: allows visualisation of large-scale point clouds and models
• IoT data integration and custom integration services: provides customer assistance with AR and digital twin migrations

The article concludes by stating that these new capabilities will be entering Beta this month, with availability expected next month. For information on Arvizio’s website, visit here.