How does Augmented Reality help the Manufacturing Industry?

Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the most popular technology trends right now, and as AR-capable smartphones and other devices become more widely available, it will only grow in popularity.

 

We could see the real-world environment right in front of us—trees swaying in the park, dogs chasing balls, kids playing soccer—with a digital augmentation overlaid on top of it.

 

Children kicking past an alien spacecraft on their way to score a goal, for example, could be seen landing in the trees, dogs mingling with their cartoon counterparts, and pterodactyls landing in the trees. Because of advancements in AR technology, these examples are not that dissimilar to what might already be available for your smartphone. 

 

In fact, augmented reality is widely available and being used in a variety of applications, such as Snapchat lenses, apps that help you find your car in a crowded parking lot, and a variety of shopping apps that let you try on clothes without leaving your house.

 

Also Read | How Snapchat uses technology for Marketing

 

What is Augmented Reality?

 

The real-time integration of digital information with the user's environment is known as Augmented Reality. Unlike virtual reality, which creates an entirely artificial environment, augmented reality works with what is already present and overlays new information on top of it.

 

AR is defined as a system that combines real and virtual worlds, allows for real-time interaction, and allows for accurate 3D registration of virtual and real objects.

 

Because it can be accessed by almost anyone with a smartphone, augmented reality is more effective as a branding and gaming tool than virtual reality. 

 

AR transforms the mundane, physical world into a colorful, visual one by projecting virtual pictures and characters through a phone's camera or video viewer. Augmented reality simply enhances the user's real-life experience.

 

 

Examples of Augmented Reality

 

1. Ikea Mobile App

 

IKEA is known in the tech world for being one of the first companies to successfully use augmented reality. Aside from fun-sounding furniture that you have to put together yourself and cheap Swedish meatballs, IKEA is also known in the tech world for being one of the first companies to successfully use augmented reality. 

 

The retailer began experimenting with augmented reality in 2012, allowing customers to use an app to see how tables and shelves would look in various locations throughout the home.

 

You can now select any item from the IKEA catalogue and see how it will look to scale anywhere in your home using the IKEA Place app. This is a fantastic tool for people who want to know if a piece of furniture will fit in a small space or if the colour of their potential purchase will match the room's theme.

 

2. Weather channel studio effect

 

For years, television news has used special effects to improve the quality of its programming. For years, weathermen, for example, have delivered their forecasts in front of green screens that appear to viewers as maps. The Weather Channel is now taking technology to the next level by displaying the effects of extreme weather.

 

The broadcaster has used augmented reality to show the height of flooding during storm surges and hurricanes, as well as driving a virtual car through the studio to demonstrate how vehicles lose control on snowy or icy roads. Expect news, weather, and sports programming to continue to experiment with augmented reality as a way to improve the viewing experience for viewers.

 

Also Read | Augmented Reality in Education

 

 

Advantages of Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

 

Earlier, augmented reality in manufacturing was merely a pipe dream. Many industries, including one in manufacturing, now have the potential for both Augmented and Virtual Reality.

 

On the factory floor of industrial manufacturing plants, AR technology is already making waves. AR aims to make operations more efficient by reducing production downtime, quickly identifying problems, and keeping all services and processes operational.

 

Let's look at some of the ways that AR can help the manufacturing industry become the best it's been in years.

 

1. Easy Access to Data

 

Service engineers and manufacturers can walk up to any IoT-enabled item and identify any object to help you get any information from a company's back-end ERP system. As a result, they'll have access to the object's specifications, location, inventory, and lead times.

 

Your team can scan QR codes with an AR-enabled mobile app to view live video feeds, graphics, and images, as well as use it to repair machines.

 

2. Logistics

 

Employee mobility can be reduced with augmented reality technology, allowing them to remain in one location while overseeing all critical logistics processes. They could use an AR system with order-tracking features to track products, personnel, and transportation.

 

DHL is already experimenting with smart AR glasses and an AR application that will allow employees to follow logistics workflow, reduce manual work, and reduce the risk of error.

 

3. Product designing

 

The traditional product design process is extremely time-consuming and exhausting. Every new product is thoroughly discussed by all parties involved, and it must undergo multiple revisions. Some of the tasks in this process can be completed in less time using AR. 

 

AR glasses or apps, for example, can show directors or executives the product design process in real-time. Concerned teams would receive and act on feedback almost immediately, accelerating the entire process.

 

4. Prevent errors

 

Since 2011, Airbus has used augmented reality in manufacturing for a variety of purposes under the Smart Augmented Reality Tool (SART) brand. 

 

Although this technology is applicable to a wide range of applications, it is most commonly used in aircraft development. Thousands of employees use SART on a daily basis.

 

An excellent example of this is the inspection of bracket installation in fuselage assembly, which uses a tablet camera to superimpose a virtual image of the as-designed assembly over the actual as-built product. This technology enables the engineer to quickly detect any flaw.

 

Also Read | Augmented Reality in Healthcare

 

5. Streamlining Data Access

 

Every manufacturing process produces a large amount of data. As a result, this information comes from a variety of sources, including guides, schematics, manuals, and user programmes. Furthermore, all of the functions that run on the production floor have data that can be retrieved.

 

Running through, sorting, and categorising this data, on the other hand, is a time-consuming task. As a result, AR simplifies the data collection process. Furthermore, it provides real-time access to resolve issues. It also allows for a quick search for maintenance and repair manuals.

 

As a result, training and guiding newer employees and team members becomes much easier. It also gives them access to data about the materials and information in general.

 

6. Maintenance

 

While repairing components inside vehicles, where there are multiple hydraulic, electric, and mechanical components in a closed space, maintenance personnel must consult a technical manual on their laptop.
 

For testing purposes, Columbia University researchers developed an augmented reality headset for US Marine Corps mechanics. The findings suggest that it can assist mechanics in locating and starting a maintenance task in nearly half the time normally required.

 

7. Product Assembly

 

The assembly process necessitates meticulous work and the accurate assembly of hundreds of parts in a short amount of time. Typically, this information is provided in the form of a technical document pdf, which is long, static, and monotonous. In a textual format, it is difficult to read and comprehend the dos and don'ts of various assembly processes. 

 

Individuals who can interpret and write such documents are frequently required by businesses. All of this can be made simple and interactive with the help of augmented reality. 

 

Longer pieces of information can be presented in a more vivid way than AR representations usually do, allowing employees to better engage with and comprehend the critical assembly process.

 

An AR headset can deliver step-by-step instructions, allowing the assembly process to operate faster and effectively respond with the latest information.

 

8. Employee Training

 

AR can be extremely beneficial when it comes to training new employees on the necessary procedures, protocols, and equipment. Compromising on these factors will result in workplace safety issues. 

 

New personnel can be trained through all of the critical procedures using augmented reality devices and apps, resulting in safer working conditions.

 

Businesses face a significant challenge when it comes to technical training because they must walk new employees through expensive and complex machines or potentially dangerous equipment. 

 

Manufacturing companies can use AR to provide complex technical training for new employees as well as upskilling opportunities for existing employees. In the manufacturing industry, the use of augmented reality allows companies to accomplish two main goals. 

 

1. To begin, you can improve product quality by eliminating miscommunication during production, enhancing employee qualifications through AR training, and focusing efforts on innovation rather than addressing logistical issues. 

 

2. Second, it's a way to shorten the time it takes to make a product, boost the productivity of the team and cut repair costs.

 

Also Read | Augmented Reality Trends

 

Augmented Reality is here to stay, even if it has yet to be widely adopted. With the rise of smart devices and wearables for business, AR applications for industries will become more accessible, and with the benefits it offers, such as lower costs, increased productivity, and reduced downtime, more businesses will need to shift from traditional production methods to cutting-edge AR technologies.