There is considerable scope for augmented reality in modern-day industrial applications. For instance, a head-mounted minicomputer could display all necessary information to service employees during maintenance work on intralogistic systems, simplifying their work, hands-free.
The BEUMER Group has now developed a new app for smart maintenance, allowing their customer support technicians to quickly access important data on their mobile devices.
It’s important for companies to repair their machines and systems quickly to avoid costly downtimes. However, the task is increasingly becoming difficult with the advent of more complex systems that require the expertise of highly qualified service technicians. But even the most skilled technicians sometimes have to read through heavy manuals, open up drawings or struggle with outdated plans, resulting in valuable time lost during a critical maintenance procedure.
Given how pervasive and indispensable tablets, smartphones and smartwatches have become in everyday life, the BEUMER Group has developed the new smart maintenance app based on the technological trend of complementing reality with digital information. Dr Andreas Werner, head of the BEUMER Group R&D department explains that the app will help facilitate maintenance work on intralogistic systems for BEUMER Customer Support employees.
App facilitates maintenance
Information on the particular intralogistic system element can be accessed through its AutoID characteristics. For instance, if a conveyor is being serviced, the smart maintenance app will display information about this element such as maintenance instructions or pin assignments on the mobile device. The service technician can look at the defective part and immediately call up every related manual or goods in stock.
Every process step is displayed by the app on the mobile device. In the event of very complex processes, the technician can refer the problem to a colleague using the smartglasses and solve it together via live stream. Measured values could be recorded at the same time and transferred to the backend system in real time. Video recordings and photos can document whether an order was carried out correctly and in compliance with safety regulations.
Smartglasses, tablet or mobile phone?
According to Dr Werner, the user has to consider aspects such as information security, ergonomic user interfaces and suitable IT structures before deciding on the most appropriate and efficient mobile device. The app can be used on smartphones and tablets as these devices offer the advantage of high computing capacity, allowing the user to process the large amount of data required for service tasks. Advantages of these mobile devices also include standardised interfaces; continuous direct access to the Internet; and intuitive and easy handling. One big advantage is that these devices are already accepted technologies at the workplace, having proven their indispensability in everyday life.
On the other hand, smartwatches have a low computing capacity, their interfaces are sometimes specific to the manufacturer, and the user requires additional devices. Smartglasses are also very easy to use with standardised interfaces; however, their availability is still too low for industrial applications. As with smartwatches, the smartglasses user requires additional devices. Though smartglasses have many operating advantages, they are still not developed enough to make industrial use possible.