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The Rising Role of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Industrial Automation
By Eric J. Halvorson, marketing technology manager – automation & control at DigiKey
O
ver the past couple of decades, we have seen an exponential rise in technological advances for industrial automation. The onset of Industry 4.0 has given rise to more machine-to-machine communication, machine learning, real- time data analysis, predictive maintenance, and more. We have seen the introduction of digital twin technology and the awesome power it wields in plant efficiency. Another exciting innovation is the incorporation of augmented reality and virtual reality. These aren’t just cool gaming experiences anymore. Now, we see these technologies being utilised throughout the industrial automation realm. From training to maintenance, these powerful tools are being deployed to efficiently and effectively provide a hands-on approach to maintain equipment and train new employees. Since the pandemic, employers have faced an unprecedented worldwide labour shortage. Quality, skilled workers are becoming harder and harder to employ in the factory setting. This has led to unprecedented growth in implementing automated solutions to meet production demands. In many ways, automation has become the key to manufacturers being successful in this climate. Coupled with environmental concerns, quality demands, and overall consumer demand, manufacturers must walk a very thin line to stay profitable.
While all this is instrumental to progress, it does, in some ways, exacerbate the labour shortage. As some jobs become obsolete, the need for new skilled labour increases. Being able to interact with robotics, troubleshoot cabinets, and perform maintenance on factory lines all become valuable skills. There will always be a need for the human component in any manufacturing process; however, the expectation of finding workers with the necessary skill sets to do the above and more is no longer sensible. In this new workforce climate, how can a manufacturer
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close the gap? The answer may very well be the adoption of augmented reality and virtual reality.
Recently, I attended a trade show where augmented reality was being employed by a manufacturer to help a worker troubleshoot and repair a control cabinet. The demonstration showed a worker armed with a pair of smart glasses who opened, diagnosed, and repaired the cabinet. Connected to a server, the glasses used a series of questions to diagnose issues and showed a step-by-step process for repairing the panel. It walked them through the entire process. The programme also demonstrated the highest safety concerns for both the worker and the system to avoid damage. It showed the worker how to safely diagnose the problem, de-energise the components, perform lockout-tagout, remove the bad component(s), install new components, and restart the system. While this is still rather new technology, the implications of this being employed in real-world situations are immense.
Employers are also beginning to introduce augmented reality and virtual reality into
APRIL 2024 | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS
training applications. Using these tools and platforms, employees are given access to valuable, powerful, and scalable training tools that are capable of meeting company training goals with repetition across their entire organisation, regardless of where they are in the world. Employees can interact with virtual equipment and processes they will see in the field, with a greater understanding of safe and efficient operation in their jobs. From new employees to experienced employees, manufacturers can ensure proper training guidelines are accurately met.
The value of augmented reality and virtual reality in industrial automation is incalculable when considering the real-world applications in which it can be employed. Improvements to training programmes can lead to fewer safety mishaps, more maintenance processes, efficiencies in production, better inventory management, maximised quality assurance, and more. Manufacturers using this technology can see higher optimisation of their workforce and increased life expectancy of their equipment.
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