VIRTUAL REALITY | REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
control room. Each has their specific task in the executing a complex procedure, and AR platforms can help guide each individual while keeping other team members apprised of status and progress in real time. The ability to enable two-way video, real-time remote
guidance, and on-site access to repositories of knowledge, helps remove ambiguity from the communication process and empowers workers to complete complex tasks at the machine.
Leverage the power of 5G Nuclear facilities are considering adoption of 5G, driven by the edge-computing capabilities, support for remote operations and improved security and reliability. With 5G, the capabilities and value of AR applications increase, as 5G makes data more portable and AR systems faster, more secure and more resilient. Maximising expertise within organisations is also a
supported by AR and optimised by 5G. AR platforms can capture and disseminate knowledge from experts and distribute it to other staff, regardless of location, making employees more productive more quickly, with reduced classroom time. The integration of AR with IIoT technologies will be
greatly enhanced by 5G and the incorporation of sensors into legacy equipment. It will providing transparent information on demand, right at the location of frontline workers, enabling them to directly and securely access critical data. 5G also reduces latency, increases throughput and enables the deployment and connection of more sensors, providing more data for machine learning to help inform maintenance tasks. Meanwhile advances in measures for device authentication, encryption of user traffic between devices and the network, and additional security protocols provide a new level of security required by utilities.
The Manifest AR solution The Manifest platform is an end-to-end augmented work instruction platform that allows nuclear utilities to capture knowledge that enables interactive work instructions, and deliver ‘over-the-shoulder’ support when needed. The platform functions like an advanced help centre for
frontline workers. Benefits include increased staff efficiency and accuracy during complex operations and maintenance tasks. Real-time interactions between remote experts and field operators have traditionally been limited to simple audio
communication. Manifest changes that by fully leveraging the power of AR, sharing the complete experience of the onsite operator with the remote expert through enhanced AR communication on most popular AR-enabled devices – HoloLens, Magic Leap, iPad, Trimble XR10, and Android phones. For example, an expert working from a PC or tablet in a remote location can follow the operator through a first- person view of a valve line up verification in containment, seeing precisely where operators are looking with tracked eye movement. This capability mitigates the risk of mispositions and human error. By tracking the operator’s view, a remote expert is able to guide the operator with real-time instruction, including annotating directly in the operator’s environment, using directional arrows or highlights to guide the operator. Help-centre-like interactions available via the Manifest platform between remote expert and frontline worker
enhance the capabilities and efficiency of all staff: ● Virtual ink – Experts can draw and place targets over the operator’s field of view, and incorporate spatial audio, producing sounds that emanate from a position within the operator’s environment for easier location finding.
● Hologram sharing – In addition to the video feed delivered from the headset, operators can share holograms, including any Manifest user interface or 3D models in their view.
● Wayfinding – Remote experts can render holographic directional arrows in the operator’s field of view to guide them within the onsite environment.
● Eye tracking – By tracking the operator’s eye position and projecting a directional image to the expert’s desktop, the expert can follow what the operator is looking at, enabling more accurate remote assistance.
For example, Taqtile industrial customers have experienced remarkable improvements in trainee performance, with some companies decreasing training times by 700 percent. Simultaneously, it has helped increase accuracy, reducing operator errors to zero in some cases. Manifest can also capture evidence and operational
data as part of regular inspections and preventative maintenance, supporting regulatory requirements and meeting audit and related oversight needs. From improving training performance to upskilling
frontline workers on new technologies, AR will enable utilities to capture the knowledge of their most seasoned operators and share that knowledge in-real-time across the organisation. ■
www.neimagazine.com | August 2021 | 39
Above (from left to right): In-situ authoring of augmented work instructions over real- world equipment
Operator uses augmented reality software and headset to properly reset equipment
Operator reviews digital twin in augmented reality with an iPad
Photo credits: Taqtile
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