Innovation specialists will assess value-added technology and provide advanced visibility into various efforts focused on testing potential supply chain management solutions and technological advances outside of a live operation. The announcement was featured in DC Velocity magazine.

Chattanooga, Tennessee-based 3PL Kenco will be opening up a dedicated 10,000 square-foot physical warehouse space, which will serve as an expansion of its Supply Chain Innovation Lab that was introduced by the company in 2015.

LogistiVIEW’s Connected Worker Platform, built on VIEW (Visual Input Enabled Wearable) technology, combines AR, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Computer Vision on smart glasses to transform complex data for workers to make better, more informed decisions across tasks.

LogistiVIEW technology improves workforce productivity and job satisfaction by making processes hands free and eyes focused – guiding workers with simple, highly-intuitive instructions. With visual-based cues that deliver only what is critical for that task, along with simultaneous voice instructions, LogistiVIEW simplifies the worker’s decision-making process to reduce errors, increase accuracy, and enable rapid training.

DC Velocity is the market leading multi-media magazine brand serving the specific informational needs of logistics and supply chain managers and executives. DC VELOCITY offers comprehensive logistics coverage at the hub of logistics as the leader.

Read LogistiView’s AREA member profile and follow them on Twitter @logistiview

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has deployed Microsoft’s mixed reality (MR) Hololens devices in a bid to speed production and improve training for new staff. Airbus is also teaming up with Microsoft to sell MR apps to other businesses in the airline industry.

The Netherlands-based company, which competes with the likes of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, aims to build 20,000 aircraft over the next two decades.

The full article can be read here.

The two companies have made it possible for somebody to drive a real car while wearing an augmented reality headset, seamlessly adding virtual elements that seem real to not just the driver, but the car’s sensors too. Their latest invention is called the Varjo XR-1, and it’s pretty impressive.

“With this mixed-reality approach, we can start evaluating designs and technologies while they are literally still on the drawing board,” said Volvo CTO, Henrik Green. “Instead of the usual static way of evaluating new products and ideas, we can test concepts on the road immediately. This approach offers considerable potential cost savings by identifiying priorities and clearing bottlenecks much earlier in the design and development process.”

The XR-1 also boasts highly accurate eye-tracking technology, making it easy to assess how drivers use a new functionality and whether or not they are distracted by the new features.

“From the very beginning, our vision has been to create a product that can seamlessly merge the real and the virtual together,” said Niko Eiden, founder and CEO of Varjo. “The incredibly advanced ways in which Volvo Cars uses the XR-1 show that Varjo’s technology enables things that have been previously impossible. Together with Volvo we have started a new era in professional mixed reality.”

Volvo will demonstrate the Varjo XR-1 headset at the Augmented Reality World Expo in Santa Clara, California, while a patent has already been filed for the technology.

The ABOM P3 Goggle design integrates display technology that feature stereoscopic dual displays with ultra-high brightness output with adjustable control and 1080p output. The P3 AR solution features 3D spatial mapping and tracking, extremely accurate tracking of orientation, velocity and positioning using IMU/GPS-GNSS/INS capability. ABOM also introduces the first augmented reality display solution optimized with Military Ballistics rated Lens (MIL-PRF 32432A) to the MCEP compliance meeting many challenging elements of the US ARMY’s IVAS specification (HUD 3.0). ABOM P3 features also include advanced thermal image sensors, advanced image and visual processing, and extremely accurate tracking capability of orientation, velocity and positioning using embedded GPS/GNSS/INS receiver technology. Embedded within the Goggle Chassis is an ultra-high performance Depth Camera supported by two Infrared (IR) cameras optimized for low-light conditions up to 10 meters. ABOM P3 AR goggle is field-use ready and designed for extreme environmental durability and cold-weather climate conditions where demanding ruggedized performance is critical. The P3 for Industrial applications also meets ANSI Z87.1+ high mass impact rating and IP-55 Ingress Protection for water and dust protection, which opens the door for supporting the National Safety Council technology initiatives and requirements for meeting extreme IP-67 rating compliance.

“ABOM P3 AR goggle solution is a purpose-built Augmented Reality eyewear system that incorporates ABOM’s patented ultra-low power thin-film technology, making it impossible for fog to survive on the inner surface of the eyewear,” said Kyle Cherry, CEO of VX Inc.

“ABOM’s award-winning heated goggle technology, now Military approved, has made integration and optimization with immersive, augmented reality display technology the perfect solution for highly ruggedized extreme use-cases that exceed industry standards for both quality and performance.

ABOM’s development partner for the P3 Goggle, VX Inc., has pushed the limits of mechanical and electrical engineering design performance,” said Jack Cornelius, ABOM CEO. “We are thrilled to have achieved this level of advanced embedded electronics and application integration based on ABOM’s goggle form factor requirement and ABOM’s goal to meet the majority of the challenging US ARMY IVAS HUD 3.0 specification.

This new level of advanced AR design and integration brings a vast amount of exciting new functionality, capability and applications for safety, industrial and military markets.

THE ABOM P3 will be demonstrated at AUGMENTED WORLD EXPO (AWE) 2019, SANTA CLARA, CA, BOOTH #814

Effective augmented reality applications can be straightforward to conceptualize, create, and implement. With modern authoring tools, developers can create immersive AR experiences. Likewise, easy-to-implement remote expert applications can have tremendous impact on maintenance and field service operations. However, these basic applications only represent a small step towards the transformational potential of industrial AR.

We can envision a future in which AR is used to orchestrate the operations of a manufacturing plant. With access to MES, EAM, and other manufacturing software applications, a connected, persona-based AR solution will contextualize and provide relevant information to the workforce on the plant floor.

Each operator’s, technician’s, and engineer’s augmented experience will be tailored to fit their role and continuously adjust to complement his or her level of knowledge.

Executing tasks will become harmonized and individuals will be able to focus their decisions on how best to achieve immediate goals. The AR market has reached a tipping point where even incremental changes in hardware technology can enable large expansions of addressable industrial applications.

The following is taken from a summary of a briefing with ARC Advisory Group, in which Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) shared several of its archetypal customer use-cases in the emerging augmented reality (AR) space.

The progress and future potential of the technology and some general AR-related trends include:

Software: AR solutions are becoming feasible to build and implement as organizations embrace digital strategies across their enterprises.

Hardware: AR hardware is maturing rapidly and by pairing with a holistic AR software platform is increasing the breadth of practical AR applications and rate of adoption.

Applications: AR adoption is finding good traction across both discrete and process industries with engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, and field service applications.

Effective augmented reality applications can be straightforward to conceptualize, create, and implement.  With modern authoring tools, developers can create immersive AR experiences.  Likewise, easy-to-implement remote expert applications can have tremendous impact on maintenance and field service operations.  However, these basic applications only represent a small step towards the transformational potential of industrial AR.

We can envision a future in which AR is used to orchestrate the operations of a manufacturing plant.  With access to MES, EAM, and other manufacturing software applications, a connected, persona-based AR solution will contextualize and provide relevant information to the workforce on the plant floor.  Each operator’s, technician’s, and engineer’s augmented experience will be tailored to fit their role and continuously adjust to complement his or her level of knowledge.  Executing tasks will become harmonized and individuals will be able to focus their decisions on how best to achieve immediate goals.

Source articles: Plant Services.com

ARC Advisory Group website.

AR employs displays, cameras, and various types of sensors to augment the user’s real-world environment with artificial perceptual experience. While AR is not a new concept, advancements in areas such as computer vision, sensing technologies, data storage, displays, and software technologies have now made AR a much more practical solution for consumer, commercial, and industrial adoption.

AR in Healthcare

The healthcare industry has been quick to realize the benefits of AR.  The industry has shown major interest in the technology and, as a result, many AR applications have already been developed for the healthcare world to address some of its major challenges, including staffing shortages. Below, we discuss some of the areas, where AR can help.

Using AR in Nursing – Vein Visualization

To name one common example of Nursing, finding a vein, to draw blood or give intravenous injections can be a challenging and time-consuming task.  Multiple attempts can cause comfort to the patient and also create frustration and anxiety for nurses. AccuVein, a medical imaging solutions company, has made the process easier for patients and nurses alike.  The company’s vein illumination devices use AR to allow healthcare professionals to see a map of peripheral veins on the skin’s surface.  According to the company, with AccuVein, it is 3.5 times more likely to find a vein on the first try.  Another company, VeinSeek, is also helping to visualize veins.  With VeinSeek, users do not need any special equipment, they can use their smartphone cameras.  The company’s application VeinSeek Pro and VeinSeek are available for iOS and Android devices.

Writing a Request for Proposal (RFP) can be tough – especially when you are seeking proposals on a new technology that you haven’t worked with before.

Recognizing this challenge, Atheer has designed – and made publicly available – a new RFP template designed specifically to help enterprises that have identified a need for an Augmented Reality platform to improve the productivity, effectiveness, accuracy and safety of their work forces, customers, and supply chains.

The template is designed to ask many of the key questions your organization is likely to need answers for when developing a plan to procure and implement an AR solution. It is made available in Microsoft Word format so that it can be easily customized for your enterprise.

Please see the Atheer Blog to download your copy.

Companies mentioned in the article include RealWear Inc (AREA member), Tacit, Chevron, Microsoft, Honeywell and Trimble.

The equipment attaches to a hard hat or directly to the wearer’s head, allowing navigation of critical repair data by voice, even when the wind sounds like a jet engine. Unlike wearable devices that might be used in gaming applications, these wearables are hardened to meet the rigors of industrial environments.

They are still generally affordable—typically ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 per device before discounts—especially when you consider the potential ROI they can bring to industry.

“When the machine is down, the company is losing money,” says Andy Lowery, CEO of RealWear, which makes ruggedized wearables. Being able to make quicker repairs is a huge benefit, he adds, and so is increased worker safety.

Key points mentioned in the article:

• Return on investment
• Knowledge transfer from retiring workers to younger generation
• Remote assistance
• Training
• Ruggedized wearables that work in the most punishing of environments
• On call experts
• Remote assistance saves time and money

Read the full article here.

According to a report from the Capgemini Research Institute, 82 percent of companies currently implementing XR say the benefits are either meeting or exceeding their expectations. This is laying a positive foundation for the widespread business adoption of XR.

The topics of training, return on investment and operations are covered in the article.

These use cases are compelling and show that XR can positively impact businesses, improve operations and ultimately cut costs. Some 46 percent of companies believe the technology will become mainstream in their organization within the next three years, while a further 38 percent think it will become mainstream in their organization in the next three to five years.

The author argues that the major barriers to this adoption will be a shortage of in-house expertise and insufficient back-end infrastructures.

In terms of expertise, the AREA’s mission is to gather thought leaders in this space to help advance the adoption of enterprise AR specifically, including providing expertise across a range of services, consultancy, software and hardware via our dedicated alliance members.

Augmented Reality can change brain surgery thanks to powerful diagnostic platforms, revolutionize radiology, and open new doors to reconstructive surgery.

The article starts by talking over the history of AR and VR before noting specific areas in medicine and healthcare where the technology is being used:

Providing augmented information for the physician and the surgeon during interventional procedures such as Computerized Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) visualization paths.

AR is used in education for students and teachers. The main applications in medical education include representation of mechanisms in space and time dimensions in physiology, or 4D; and 3D visualizations of difficult structures in anatomy.

The article goes on to discuss augmentation of surgeon’s skills.  Magic Leap and Brainlab’s partnership are working on surgical procedures.  Another application is project DR, the capacity to present segmented images to see through tissues and connect blood vessels.

The article includes links to a number of videos where AR in healthcare is explored.

Read the original article in full here.