CMPC is a multinational corporation that produces and markets wood, pulp, packaging products and household and personal use products. “We implemented the use of Vuzix Smart Glasses in our company because we cannot travel sporadically to the more than 40 countries where we sell our products.

The objective of implementing this cutting-edge technology is to have greater access to our clients and take immediate resolutions,” explained Pedro Silva, Cardboard Technical Assistance Supervisor of CMPC’s Technical Deputy Manager.

Statkraft is an international energy producer of hydropower, wind power, solar power and gas-fired power and supplier of district heating. “Our plant is 45 minutes away, and each specialist has to constantly be traveling to operations.

Benefits of Smart glasses

With the implementation of Vuzix Smart Glasses in our facilities, we were able to realize a reduction of trips and travel costs. Recently, we were able to remotely obtain the advice of an expert in Brazil thanks to these glasses,” stated Mirko Ojeda, Dispatch Coordinator at Statkraft Chile.

Read more at https://www.vuzix.eu/News

For several hospitals, disruption led to innovation. Vuzix Smart Glasses allowed medical instructors to stream their first-person view to off-site students. Meanwhile, caregivers could provide doctors with a real-time view of patients.

Even though much of the developed world has now been vaccinated, healthcare administrations are doubling-down on this technology.

And with lower latency, higher capacity, and increased bandwidth, expect 5G to trigger a hands-free revolution in the healthcare space.

5G networks offer lower latency, higher capacity, and increased bandwidth, meaning wearable displays can more seamlessly assist healthcare workers. As a result, more lives will be saved.

As providers like Verizon (Vuzix Smart Glasses support BlueJeans by Verizon) roll-out 5G networks across North America and beyond, there’s more incentive for hospitals to equip staff with wearable displays.

And the motivation isn’t purely financial. Smart Glasses have a track record of making workers in several industries more efficient.

Smart Glasses enable medical practitioners to get real-time monitoring of a patient without the need for a face-to-face consultation.

This ability has value that extends far beyond the current public health crisis. Most notably, it allows experts to remotely treat patients. World-class practitioners are no longer required to travel to save lives.

Ultimately, wearable displays make healthcare workers more effective.

It’s time to ditch the clipboard. Hospitals are about to get a much-needed productivity boost.

See Vuzix’s AREA member profile.

Reinventing Intelligence Operations for the British Army

Masters of Pie was proud to showcase their work on the Digital Bird Table solution for the British Army at DSEI in London. The Digital Bird Table solution complements Project Hydra, a project about collating multiple data feeds and processing this information so that Command Centres are able to make better and more timely decisions.

The Masters of Pie’s software (Radical) has been integrated directly into multiple data sources such as SAP HANA and ESRI ArcGIS. The Radical real-time collaboration server pulls the Digital Bird Table experience together, synchronising Hololens and desktop users. The time-lapse video highlights how the solution was polling live data and tracking assets on the move. Watch Video

XR Collaboration for CAD/PLM and BIM Data

The XR collaboration for manufacturing and engineering consisted of a live demonstration of the Radical software integration into the CAD software application to enable the seamless transition to a single user or collaborative VR experience without the need for exporting complex and sensitive data into a standalone application. The solution is ideal for remote assistance, remote diagnostics, design review, design to manufacturing handover, design to supplier engagements, and engineering training purposes. Watch Video

DSEI was a great opportunity to showcase the Radical’s software ability to deliver such contrasting use cases, integrate into a wide array of data sources, deliver multiple end-user experiences (Hololens (AR), VR, and desktop), and support a range of deployment options (cloud, on-premise and stand-alone). Radical is the future of collaboration delivering any data securely to any device.

According to the report, PTC provides the leading AR platform for connected workers in the market today for three reasons.  First, PTC is the only vendor that offers a broad solution portfolio for different use cases and on different technical levels – deep code (Vuforia Engine™), low code (Vuforia Studio™), and no code (Vuforia Expert Capture™, Vuforia Instruct™, and Vuforia Chalk™).  Second, PTC is the only vendor that strongly pushes the integration of AR with emerging technologies such as IoT, AI, SaaS, and spatial computing.  Third, PTC has a strong vision for future AR integrations, bringing its Vuforia portfolio elements closer together to offer tightly integrated solutions for holistic work procedures.

In addition, the PAC Radar analysis recognizes PTC as the first vendor to integrate its AR and IoT capabilities – Vuforia and its ThingWorx® IIoT platform – acknowledging PTC’s ability to harness the digital thread to create a closed loop between the digital and physical worlds and transform how products are engineered, manufactured, and serviced.

“No other vendor offers a broader solution portfolio for different use cases and on different technical levels” said Arnold Vogt, Head of Digital Innovation and IoT at PAC.  “PTC has a clear vision and has already started to bring its Vuforia portfolio elements closer together to offer tightly integrated solutions for holistic work procedures.”

“PTC is proud to be recognized as the leading AR platform for connected workers for the third consecutive year by the PAC Radar analysis,” said Michael Campbell, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Augmented Reality Products, PTC.  “The achievement emphasizes our commitment to offering the best-in-class augmented reality solutions that empower industrial enterprises and complete the digital thread.”

When the stakes are high, the tools you use to communicate your point or value proposition will matter the most: Augmented reality has transformed how global engineering innovator Danfoss Climate Solutions has approached product presentations and trainings for its internal stakeholders and customers. The company uses the AR software AR 3S to visualize complex products in 3D to provide a captivating experience of learning and understanding.

Choosing the Right Augmented Reality Software and Partner~Keeping in line with the company’s DNA of “engineering tomorrow”, Danfoss Climate Solutions was looking to drive digital transformation by implementing augmented reality into its processes.

The company reached out to various AR suppliers, seeking high flexibility and a strong support culture. “We chose Holo-Light as our entryway to augmented reality engineering. It was easy to discuss use cases and solutions,” remarked Kabileshkumar Cheetancheri, Senior Project Manager at Danfoss.

Holo-Light’s software AR3S (Augmented Reality Engineering Space) is a new tool to improve and simplify workflows in planning, development, and presentation. It enables users to visualize, manipulate, and work collaboratively on 3D designs. “One part I was always interested in, is how we can add a new dimension to interacting with and explaining complex products – internally and externally for our customers,” said Cheetancheri. The product presentation and training use case emerged quickly as the AR software showed itself to be very easy and intuitive in use. With AR3S, Danfoss Climate Solutions was able to add real value to internal product demos with company stakeholders and help customers have a better understanding of its products.

Full original article on Holo-Light website

Find out more about Holo-Light on their AREA member profile 

MxD and its industry members are most interested in the development of technologies in the following key cutting-edge domain areas: Physical Process Knowledge and Improvement, Digital Process Knowledge and Improvement, and Cybersecurity. MxD anticipates awarding multiple projects for both the Emerging Technologies in Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Research in Manufacturing for $75,000, not inclusive of the expected cost share.

RFP responses are due on or before
Thursday, September 9, 2021, 5:00 p.m. CT

Note: All project work must be performed in the United States.

Proposals must be submitted by an academic institution. MxD membership is not required for submission but will be required prior to project award. For questions or more information, contact [email protected].

PTC, which employs over 200 people in the UK, has become a tier 2 member at the MTC and, as part of the agreement, will commit to providing the latest augmented reality, industrial internet of things platforms, product lifecycle management and CAD solutions to projects designed to equip OEMs and SMEs with more digital capability.

This means solutions including Vuforia, Thingworx, Windchill and Creo software, will all be available for experts at the Coventry-based centre to use to accelerate product and service innovation, improve operational efficiency, and increase workforce productivity.

It marks the latest step in a six-year relationship that has already seen the two organisations work closely together to deliver VIVAR (Virtual Instruction Inspection and Verification using Augmented Reality).

This focused on an enterprise integrated augmented reality work instruction delivery platform, leveraging PTC’s Vuforia tracking technologies to position contextual assembly, maintenance, repair and training operation instructions.

Dave Hughes, director of pre-sales at PTC, commented: “PTC has a long history of support for the High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres, and we’re delighted to be partnering with the MTC in a bid to strengthen the UK’s digital manufacturing capability.

“Our software solutions can make a real difference to manufacturers as they navigate the digital journey, and it is vital that all parts of the supply chain find new ways where they can adopt Industry 4.0 technologies.”

He continued: “The MTC provides a fantastic proving ground for our solutions, with its reach spanning over 100 OEMs and SMEs. This broad involvement on MTC projects will not only provide the UK with a competitive edge across many industrial sectors, but will also generate real-world feedback that we can use to develop our own technologies.”

Thomas Driscoll, technology manager, digital engineering at the MTC, added: “We have been collaborating with PTC for a number of years, so I’m really pleased to see the relationship reinforced via this membership.

“The link between the physical and digital world is key to so many of our industrial projects and this partnership can only further our ability to deliver innovation to UK manufacturing.”

The organisations are now planning collaboration across the MTC’s Core Research Programmes, thereby increasing access to PTC’s Industry 4.0 technologies for UK manufacturers via the Smart Factory Innovation Hub and other key initiatives.

Original news source can be read here 

.  The foodservice industry is navigating an unprecedented wave of change in the wake of COVID-19, pushing quality assurance front and center. A recent survey of more than 600 foodservice professionals revealed that nearly 90% of food safety managers, operations managers and franchise managers say COVID-19 has made it harder to recruit and retain employees, with almost 40% of respondents unsure if food in their restaurants consistently meets corporate standards1. NSF EyeSucceed is a transformational training modality that uses augmented reality (AR) paired with wearable smartglasses to improve employee training, consistency and operational efficiency, contributing to better experiences for employees and consumers.

NSF EyeSucceed co-founders Tom Chestnut and Jennifer Tong applied their more than 40 years of collective foodservice experience to develop a solution that addresses the growing demand for AR capabilities in the restaurant industry.

“The need for cost-effective smart solutions has been growing for years. Through the pandemic, the food industry is seeking even more ways to leverage new technologies to improve training and efficiency while maintaining quality and consistency,” said Chestnut. “NSF EyeSucceed provides foodservice businesses with a customized suite of applications, helping to keep pace with the rapid hiring and increased consumer demand that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The survey also revealed that 51% of quick service restaurant (QSR) brands say AR could make training faster, and 40% say AR could reduce human error.

“Our proof-of-concept testing and implementation in five global markets has proven that NSF EyeSucceed delivers transformational solutions,” said Tong. “We are encouraged by the wide use of applications for this technology to truly transform the foodservice industry–from decreasing the need for in-person visits to vastly improving employee training. For foodservice managers, this means reduced costs while also enhancing food quality and safety for both employees and consumers.”

Wendy’s® is a long-time leader in quality assurance and is focused on continuously evolving its programs to drive industry innovation. The company was among the first to investigate AR and pilot smartglasses using NSF EyeSucceed, initially piloting the technology in 2020.

“Since introducing NSF EyeSucceed to our suite of quality assurance tools, our team at Wendy’s has experienced greater efficiency in our food safety and supplier oversight practices, from product evaluations to audit improvements,” said Jorge Hernandez, Vice President of Quality Assurance at Wendy’s. “This hands-free solution has been especially useful throughout the pandemic, as it’s provided connectivity between sites and deepened supplier relationships, despite travel restrictions around the world. As a result, we’ve seen time and cost savings and positive feedback from our employees and supplier partners. We look forward to completing the pilot program, including testing the smartglasses for employee training and scaling up key learnings.”

Read more here.

University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) engineers worked with officers at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire to demonstrate how augmented reality (AR) headsets could revolutionise day-to-day MRO by streamlining inspections, providing access to remote expert assistance and rapidly upskilling the workforce.

“This could completely change the way we work,” said Squadron Leader Marcus Ramsden, Engineer Officer (AeroSystems) at RAF Leeming. “Because of its use in gaming, this is technology that new RAF recruits are completely familiar with; we need to grasp it and embody it in our operations.”

Since 2015, Microsoft HoloLens’ have been employed by astronauts on the International Space Station when they need hands-free, remote assistance from NASA scientists on Earth, who are able to see precisely what the astronaut is seeing and advise accordingly.

After identifying mixed reality, specifically the Microsoft HoloLens 2 AR headset, as having the potential to streamline inspections within the RAF, by replacing traditional pen-and-paper checklist work instructions with simple, step-by step holographic instructions displayed in an engineer’s field of view, a team from RAF Leeming visited the AMRC’s Factory 2050 in Sheffield.

Sqn Ldr Ramsden said: “At Factory 2050 we saw mixed reality devices being used to do MRO on a kit car and it set my mind into overload – if it could work on a car, why couldn’t it work on an aircraft?

“The University of Sheffield has a Hawk T Mk 1 on its campus, the AMRC has the expertise, and a relationship with Microsoft was already there. It was all perfectly aligned so we commissioned the AMRC to turn one of our paper-based systems into a mixed reality solution, to see what it could do.”

To demonstrate the technology, the AMRC chose to create a mixed reality solution for a wheel change and brake pack assembly on the Hawk T Mk 1, a two-seat training aircraft familiar to many as the aircraft of choice for the RAF’s aerobatic team, the Red Arrows. Developing the mixed reality solution involved learning the current manual method for the wheel change and brake pack assembly, reverse engineering the paper-based instructions and then measuring the individual components to create computer-aided design (CAD) assets.  Work instructions were created from those assets and generated in AR on the HoloLens 2 headset using the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides application.

Mike Lewis, Digital Theme Lead at the University of Sheffield AMRC, said: “The major element of the solution we demonstrated is the overlaying of the 3D CAD assets onto the aircraft to provide holographic instructions to the operator. On the headset, an engineer can see components superimposed in 3D on the workpiece and, using spatial perception on the HoloLens 2, be told exactly where they need to be working.

“An AR headset can store far more information than a paper instruction document and it reduces the margin for error considerably because there is a 3D representation of the instruction.”

Sqn Ldr Ramsden says the AMRC, part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, has demonstrated how the technology could be integral in three core areas of the RAF’s operations: remote assist, understanding data and training.

“Right now, when an aircraft is moved to the front line, a team of engineers with individual expertise and their many 400-page manuals move with it. Those paper-based systems not only use up valuable space and weight, they are susceptible to wear-and-tear and can be very cumbersome in the environments we work,” said Sqn Ldr Ramsden.

“Added to that, most of our processes were written down in the 1970s, which means they have been updated inconsistently, can be tough to understand and are hard to translate from the page into the real world.

“Mixed reality would completely change the way we work; one engineer can have the entire up-to-date dataset right in front of them and can be supervised remotely by subject matter experts potentially located on the other side of the world.

“Then, when we consider training, not only can our engineers learn in a safe environment where maintenance notes are flagged up in front of their eyes, they can be guided through simulations of different tasks before physically performing that process – all entirely hands-free. This technology has the potential to streamline our processes, boost our efficiency and improve our safety.”

In a competitive assessment of enterprise augmented reality platforms, ABI Research identifies which current AR vendors can deliver the most business value – now and in the future – using criteria such as:

• Customers, partnerships, and footprint
• Platform breadth
• Use case applicability
• Internet of Things synergy
• Machine vision capabilities
• Pricing and business models

Readers may download the full report and discover why ABI Research ranks PTC Vuforia as the “leader among AR platforms” with “high customer value” and “more capability than most competitors on offer.”

See here