Industrial experiences with augmented reality mostly show an increase in precision, faster tasks, less operator fatigue and, above all, the virtual disappearance of human error.
En pleno siglo XXI, la tecnología avanza a pasos agigantados, convirtiendo en muchas ocasiones la ficción en realidad de la noche a la mañana. El manejo de una pizarra virtual llena de información como aparece en algunas películas (Ironman, Avatar…) es uno de estos casos. Es lo que se denomina, según qué casos, augmented reality and mixed realityBut for the moment... we need glasses to be able to do it.
Augmented reality and mixed reality glasses are an interface, through which augmented and mixed reality glasses can be visualising virtual elements on the physical reality around us. For example, in our work environment we could see how the installation of an object should look like before we install it. The work area would be the real world, while the installation is the virtual vision that is superimposed on it.
The process that allows us to do this is not simple, as there is programming to be done on the device that is required for each specific task. To do this, image recognition is usedThis can be a QR code placed in a strategic location, with the aim of having reference points that allow the virtual elements to be positioned correctly after determining their position through mathematical calculations. There is also the possibility of using augmented reality glasses without markers, but it is a more complex process that involves a higher error rate, for the moment.
It is a technology that has only been with us for a few years and is still being developed for different industries. In fact, there is a lot of interest in it in industry because of the advantages it brings to the task at hand, incrementando la precisión, la velocidad de ejecución de las tareas y, sobre todo, minimizando el error humano.
The technology company Microsoft is one of the pioneers in developing devices that allow access to augmented reality. To this end, a few years ago it launched a dispositivo holográfico autónomo bautizado como HoloLens. Its creator, Alex KipmanHe is cautious about the acceptance of these types of devices, stressing that just as with the advent of tablets, it takes time for humans to accept and adapt to these new and innovative devices. He also believes that once the time comes for their use to spread beyond industry, it will mean a turning point in the use of mobile phones and computers as we know them today.
In the aeronautical sector, the use of augmented reality or mixed reality glasses, such as HoloLens, could be a real revolution, according to the first experiences that have already been put into practice using them in some pilot projects. Their great contribution in the coming years could be to replace a large part of the documentation generated when carrying out aircraft manufacturing or maintenance tasks. Not only that, but the information will become available in the same working environment, on the surface or element on which the task is to be carried out and, above all, in the same place where it will be used, in a contextualised way.
Aircraft manufacturers, including Airbus, continue to develop "TIs" or "technical instructions" to document the work to be performed on aircraft. Relatively recently, the methodology was revolutionised by the implementation of three-dimensional models that assist the operator in executing each task. However, the opportunity presented by the implementation of augmented reality goggles is provide more contextualised information about one's own working environmentThe Commission's work on this issue has been carried out by the European Parliament and the Council, while facilitating greater interaction.
Augmented reality offers a virtual image that is projected onto the real one (in this case the aircraft), providing specific visual information on all the elements affecting the taskThe aim is clear: to reduce task execution times, reduce the operator's accumulated mental fatigue and, consequently, minimise human error. The objective is clear: to reduce task execution times, reduce the mental fatigue accumulated by the operator and, consequently, minimise human error.
For example, the installation of wiring harnesses is often a complex task, as they are fitted with cable ties in specific locations and a specific routing that must be scrupulously followed. The use of these glasses would allow the operator to visualise the correct routing of the wiring, as well as the exact location of each of the fasteners. But before reading on, let us pause for a moment to understand this last point...
Imagine an area where a cable is to be installed. It is possible at a given moment, after many hours of accumulated time, or by paying momentary attention to an external agent, to make a mistake in understanding the documentation and carry out the incorrect installation. It is important to bear in mind that in a small space in an aircraft there are different systems and equipment that can easily be confused when it comes to installation. Fortunately, with HoloLens we would have a clear view of the work area and the visual indications of what we have to do, having only to imitate what our eyes are seeing. With this method, both the installation and the review of the work can be done at the same time.
However, not everything is rosy with this new tool. According to experts, it could generate visual fatigue similar to working with screens, making it necessary to take a break after every certain period of use.
On the other hand, the software continues to be improved to make the user interface more intuitive and easier to use. For the time being, several menus have to be navigated before the task can be performed and the navigation still requires some fine-tuning in terms of usability. In fact, the use of these devices requires prior training of staff in order to get the most out of them in the work areas. Moreover, from an occupational prevention point of view, the use of these glasses can distract from the real environment in which they are used, which requires training to minimise knocks or even falls.
Many of the companies working in the aerospace sector are already working with this type of devices and implementing this technology in aeronautical projects, helping to mature the technology and to understand its usability properly.
Indeed, as with other innovations in the past, the future may offer us a new way of performing technical tasks more efficiently, in every sense of the word. The use of augmented reality is still some time away, but there are industrial environments where, far from being a question of the future, it is already very much a reality.
