Augmented reality application to monitor wireless data process in manufacturing operation

Advancements are ongoing in digital manufacturing, Human-Machine interfaces are being developed using augmented and virtual reality environments. Manufacturing engineers soon became aware of the use of 3D modelling software and proposed this technique to envisage a virtual representation of machinery and tools being developed for their particular applications. Human visualisation is considered to play an important role in manufacturing. These techniques enable manufacturing engineers to analyse the progress of particular processes and allow them to investigate methods to increase production efficiency. Therefore, particular attention should be focused on the Human-Machine interface to improve its data reliability and productivity, thereby creating a more attractive workplace for future generations. This research presents a review of the different interactions using these types of manufacturing machines with augmented and virtual reality; with simulation and wireless data processing. A brief of statistical study is presented to show the utilisation of these aspects of the technology. A classification of previous related applications is also given pertaining to the tools used and the methods employed. In this review, the different permutations regarding augmented reality and wireless technologies are discussed, it aims to provide a benchmark for potential for manufacturing machine applications and proposes the additional investigation techniques required to improve reliability, faults prediction, power consumption and data processing speed. Further comparisons are discussed to address the gaps that need to be studied too

Digital Factory and Virtual Reality: Teaching Virtual Reality Principles with Game Engines

Virtual reality (VR) is widely used in various industrial applications. All leading industrial manufacturing companies today have a strategy called the ‘concept of a digital factory’ where all aspects of manufacturing are digitally verified on digital mock-ups prior to physical manufacturing. Other than that, it is a rapidly developing new medium and further development of VR and IT will open up new possibilities. The new concept of Industry 4.0 is based on using approaches like the Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, Cyber-Physical Systems and Virtual Reality. With the decreasing cost of VR devices, even smaller businesses are able to implement such technologies. It is therefore crucial that mechanical engineering graduates are familiar with these new technologies and trends. We had to use unconventional methods to educate mechanical engineering students in the latest trends in IT and VR. Back in 2010, there were almost no tools available for teaching how to create industry-themed VR environments, which did not require complicated coding, so we decided to make our own. To simplify the development, we used Source Engine as the core and enhanced it with a library of textures, models and scripts we called DigiTov. Although Source Engine is a game engine, the master logic of VR development is the same as for professional SW products. In autumn 2015, a group of 10 students modified the DigiTov for Unity3D, forming a team made up of different roles

Development of VR-simulator software for manufacturing systems as a decision making and simulation tool

Modern manufacturing is characterised by high levels of automation and integration, complex interactions among system elements, and high capital costs. Simulation and Virtual Reality technologies hold tremendous promise for reducing costs, improving quality, process data management, enhancing control over operations and shortening the time-to-market for manufactured goods. Unfortunately, these technologies still remains largely underutilised by industry today due to the requirement for a high standard of skills in programming and modelling methodologies. Visualisation has become a critical component of simulation technology in manufacturing applications. It provides the simulation practitioners with an environment to discuss and get a better understanding of the simulation model’s behaviour. Graphical presentation and animation can be a significant tool to communicate the outcome of simulation models for the non-technical audience. Decision makers often do not have the technical knowledge to understand the statistical results of a simulation model. But when the outcome can be expressed using animation, a better level of understanding becomes possible. This thesis presents a VR-Simulator software developed entirely by the author to overcome some of the limitations of simulation packages to allow users (who are not specialists in simulation and virtual reality techniques, or have no programming skills) to develop simulation and virtual models of manufacturing systems automatically without any need for excessive training on modelling techniques or programming. The users can interact with the generated models using voice commands and virtual reality devices (e.g. HMD). The VR-Simulator can be used as an operational décision-support tool to enable decision makers to model and analyse manufacturing systems

Discrete event simulation and virtual reality use in industry: new opportunities and future trends

This paper reviews the area of combined discrete event simulation (DES) and virtual reality (VR) use within industry. While establishing a state of the art for progress in this area, this paper makes the case for VR DES as the vehicle of choice for complex data analysis through interactive simulation models, highlighting both its advantages and current limitations. This paper reviews active research topics such as VR and DES real-time integration, communication protocols, system design considerations, model validation, and applications of VR and DES. While summarizing future research directions for this technology combination, the case is made for smart factory adoption of VR DES as a new platform for scenario testing and decision making. It is put that in order for VR DES to fully meet the visualization requirements of both Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet visions of digital manufacturing, further research is required in the areas of lower latency image processing, DES delivery as a service, gesture recognition for VR DES interaction, and linkage of DES to real-time data streams and Big Data sets

Virtual Reality Interactive Learning Environment

Open Building Manufacturing (ManuBuild) aims to promote the European construction industry beyond the state of the art. However, this requires the different stakeholders to be well informed of what ‘Open Building Manufacturing’ actually entails with respect to understanding the underlying concepts, benefits and risks. This is further challenged by the ‘traditional ways of learning’ which have been predominantly criticised for being entrenched in theories with little or no emphasis on practical issues. Experiential learning has long been suggested to overcome the problems associated with the traditional ways of learning. In this respect, it has the dual benefit of appealing to adult learner's experience base, as well as increasing the likelihood of performance change through training. On-the-job-training (OJT) is usually sought to enable ‘experiential’ learning; and it is argued to be particularly effective in complex tasks, where a great deal of independence is granted to the task performer. However, OJT has been criticised for being expensive, limited, and devoid of the actual training context. Consequently, in order to address the problems encountered with OJT, virtual reality (VR) solutions have been proposed to provide a risk free environment for learning without the ‘do-or-die’ consequences often faced on real construction projects. Since ManuBuild aims to promote the EU construction industry beyond the state of the art; training and education therefore needs also to go beyond the state of the art in order to meet future industry needs and expectations. Hence, a VR interactive learning environment was suggested for Open Building Manufacturing training to allow experiential learning to take place in a risk free environment, and consequently overcome the problems associated with OJT. This chapter discusses the development, testing, and validation of this prototype

Continuous maintenance and the future – Foundations and technological challenges

High value and long life products require continuous maintenance throughout their life cycle to achieve required performance with optimum through-life cost. This paper presents foundations and technologies required to offer the maintenance service. Component and system level degradation science, assessment and modelling along with life cycle ‘big data’ analytics are the two most important knowledge and skill base required for the continuous maintenance. Advanced computing and visualisation technologies will improve efficiency of the maintenance and reduce through-life cost of the product. Future of continuous maintenance within the Industry 4.0 context also identifies the role of IoT, standards and cyber security

Taking time to understand: articulating relationships between technologies and organizations

Dynamic relationships between technologies and organizations are investigated through research on digital visualization technologies and their use in the construction sector. Theoretical work highlights mutual adaptation between technologies and organizations but does not explain instances of sustained, sudden, or increasing maladaptation. By focusing on the technological field, I draw attention to hierarchical structuring around inter-dependent levels of technology; technological priorities of diverse groups; power asymmetries and disjunctures between contexts of development and use. For complex technologies, such as digital technologies, I argue these field-level features explain why organizations peripheral to the field may experience difficulty using emerging technology

A 3D immersive discrete event simulator for enabling prototyping of factory layouts

There is an increasing need to eliminate wasted time and money during factory layout design and subsequent construction. It is presently difficult for engineers to foresee if a certain layout is optimal for work and material flows. By exploiting modelling, simulation and visualisation techniques, this paper presents a tool concept called immersive WITNESS that combines the modelling strengths of Discrete Event Simulation (DES) with the 3D visualisation strengths of recent 3D low cost gaming technology to enable decision makers make informed design choices for future factories layouts. The tool enables engineers to receive immediate feedback on their design choices. Our results show that this tool has the potential to reduce rework as well as the associated costs of making physical prototypes

A review of data visualization: opportunities in manufacturing sequence management.

Data visualization now benefits from developments in technologies that offer innovative ways of presenting complex data. Potentially these have widespread application in communicating the complex information domains typical of manufacturing sequence management environments for global enterprises. In this paper the authors review the visualization functionalities, techniques and applications reported in literature, map these to manufacturing sequence information presentation requirements and identify the opportunities available and likely development paths. Current leading-edge practice in dynamic updating and communication with suppliers is not being exploited in manufacturing sequence management; it could provide significant benefits to manufacturing business. In the context of global manufacturing operations and broad-based user communities with differing needs served by common data sets, tool functionality is generally ahead of user application

Special Session on Industry 4.0

No abstract available