Per the agreement, Verizon Sourcing, the subsidiary that handles procurement of the inventory that Verizon sells, will offer the Vuzix Blade, M300XL, and M-Series smartglasses and accessories, as well as the Vuzix Basics Video software.

Vuzix will deliver inventory to Verizon based on purchase orders, with the initial agreement set for a three-year term. The filing states that orders are expected to commence in the second quarter of 2019.

While AT&T’s strategic partnership with Magic Leap is consumer-facing, Verizon Sourcing’s agreement with Vuzix targets the enterprise sector.

“The initial focus is on business, government, and education to deliver a turnkey solution to Verizon’s largest enterprise customers,” said Paul Travers, CEO of Vuzix, in a statement to Next Reality. “There is a tremendous amount of value that could be delivered through 5G connectivity and smart glasses and as we could see how this relationship could expand to consumers and across the board with 5G.”

So, while augmented reality remains entrenched in the enterprise arena, hardware makers and the mobile carriers who stand to benefit from delivering 3D content and AR experiences to users have their eyes set on the potentially more lucrative consumer realm.

Watch Vuzix video

Component inspections

Customers of a large industrial equipment distributor have to make regular trips to the service center for component inspection of their equipment. These visits often require long drives to, and wait times at, the service center which increases downtime of the equipment. Using Remote AR, customers can call in to the service center and do the component inspection without leaving their office, saving time and money, and enhancing component failure discussions and analysis.

Expert diagnosis and guidance

Broken parts are shipped into a repair center for a manufacturing equipment supplier. Often, the technicians onsite are not capable of diagnosing and fixing the problem, requiring an expert to come in to do the repair. Using Remote AR, the technician now calls the expert to diagnose and provide guidance on the problem, even if it is afterhours, saving the company travel costs and labor time of the expert, and significantly decreasing repair downtime for customers.

Industrial HVAC Maintenance

Field service technicians for an industrial HVAC manufacturer are inexperienced and costly to train. Using WorkLink, the company can train the technicians on the job by having them follow smart instructions for regularly scheduled maintenance procedures. In addition, they can use Remote AR to call an expert for help whenever they run into a new or complex problem, decreasing mean time to resolution and minimizing repeat service visits.

Read more on Scope AR’s website and member profile.

In a recently executed field study it has been confirmed that 84% of users prefer the XMReality AR- solution compared to standard video chats when problem solving.

“We want to enable communication, not restrict it”

The system enables immediate service so that companies can save both time and resources and initiate new revenue streams. The hardware independent system can be used both through a downloaded application or by a direct link, not requiring any pre-installation.

The functional design can easily be applied on B2B, B2C and B2BC. It doesn’t matter if you have the world’s best tools to solve problems if it can’t be integrated with the process stream as a whole. Our system is not dependent on our costumers having a certain infrastructure or using a certain type of hardware. “It works everywhere”, says Marcin Szymanski, Chief Sales Officer at XMReality.

The unique system has had a great impact on some of the world’s largest companies such as ABB, Siemens and the Haas Group, where simplicity and availability play an important role in service, maintenance, practice and documentation.

Simplicity is one of the major factors when choosing a system for remote guidance. Instead of getting help through a video chat, the user is are shuttled through our system straight through the eyes of the expert who can see how the problem should be solved. “It’s just like having an expert next to you”, says Marcin Szymanski.

XMReality takes the lead when it comes to adapting a new approach in the Swedish industry. It changes the line of business and the way we look at how different actors are dependent on each other’s competence and technology to have a well-operating process stream.

“The technological possibilities are many, but first you have to dare to improve and realise the value of the technology, not just follow it. By accepting that we can improve the technological innovation, we will achieve a smarter and more efficient industry through creating integration and collaborating with each other. We are a small piece of a greater context”, says Marcin Szymanski.

The Philips and Microsoft augmented reality concept, built for HoloLens 2, brings live imaging and other sources of vital data currently displayed on large 2D screens into a 3D holographic augmented reality environment that can be ergonomically, easily and intuitively controlled by the physician. The concept is being used to gather further clinical insights to support the development of future commercially-available augmented reality solutions for use in image-guided procedures.

“The transition from open surgery to image-guided procedures has driven a seismic shift in improving patient outcomes and reducing costs—not least by dramatically reducing the length of time a patient stays in a hospital after their procedure,” said Atul Gupta, chief medical officer for Image Guided Therapy at Philips and a practicing interventional and diagnostic radiologist. “On our Azurion platform we seamlessly integrate a range of data sources in a way that is intuitive to understand and control. By collaborating with Microsoft and HoloLens 2 we can take it to the next level, immersing the physician in a tailored augmented reality environment. This concept allows me to see the real world superimposed with the live data and 3D medical imagery needed to guide our precision therapy, and importantly also lets me control Azurion with voice recognition, eye tracking and advanced gestures. It is all about keeping our focus on the patient.”

“Mixed reality is giving people new ways to interact with the digital and physical world, bringing the benefits of the digital revolution to entirely new experiences across the globe,” said Alex Kipman, technical fellow, AI and Mixed Reality at Microsoft. “I am thrilled to see companies in a broad range of industries achieve more using the products that we build with our partners and ecosystem. Mixed reality holds great potential in healthcare, and our collaboration with Philips shows how that potential is already beginning to be realised.”

Microsoft unveiled HoloLens 2 during the previous day of the conference. HoloLens is a self-contained holographic computer that enables hands-free, heads-up interaction with three-dimensional digital objects.

Since its global launch in February 2017, over half a million patients have been treated in more than 80 countries using the Azurion platform, which is powered by Philips’ proprietary ConnectOS and combines technical innovations in both software and hardware. ConnectOS allows the integration of advanced digital innovations on the Azurion platform.

The main points can be summarised as follows:

An Electric Power Research Institute-led collaborative utility project, called I4Gen (Insight through the Integration of Information for Intelligent Generation), is exploring new technologies for digitally connecting assets and optimizing plant operations and maintenance.

The power plant of the future will leverage a digital platform in which information produced in near-real-time is used to estimate equipment condition, and algorithms are employed to forecast a set of operating conditions. The connected and integrated information networks will automatically integrate data and produce practical information for various systems, functions, analysis, personnel, and actions.

The computation, communication, and linking of systems will be embedded with interfaces that are easy to use, but secured at various levels within the network. An open-architecture modular system will allow for “plug-and-play” of new devices, software, and other algorithms regardless of developer or vendor.

Information about the I4Gen project are discussed including the benefits and challenges of optimizing relevant information.  The I4Gen concept consists of five application areas that, when integrated and applied, can lead to advances in plant performance, operation, and maintenance.

The application areas are:

1. Sensor and emerging measurement technologies.
2. Data analytics, integration, and visualization.
3. Digital worker technologies.
4. Advanced M&D
5. Process control and automation.

For the full article see Power Mag.

Tunnel vision—focusing on a single objective while remaining blind to peripheral risks and opportunities—can make even the steadiest projects sway. Especially when those projects take place in, well, tunnels, where tunnel vision is as literal as it is figurative.

Aviation firm Corgan discovered this firsthand at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as the lead design firm creating the new Midfield Satellite Concourse (MSC) for the international terminal. The construction of the $1.6 billion project, which began in early 2017, includes a 750,000-square-foot concourse, utility tunnel, and passenger tunnel connecting the existing Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT). The tunnels span about a quarter mile and also house a new baggage-handling system.

Project manager Monica Sosa felt that Corgan would benefit from using DAQRI Smart Glasses, portable augmented-reality (AR) glasses that layer digital information on top of the physical environment, to visualize 3D models alongside the build construction. The glasses also provide remote work assistance, which benefits the architect, owner, consultants, and stakeholders who are not available to walk the site.

Sosa obtained funding from Corgan Create, an internal committee tasked with seeding the company’s innovation. She also acquired a Matterport 3D camera, which captures 360-degree scans at 4K resolution and overlays them onto geometric information to create high-resolution 3D models.

This article explains the process of how the new technologies were used to help the construction project by using AR smart glasses, presenting each step of the construction process.

The smart glasses provide visual displays of order picking instructions along with information on where items are located and where they need to be placed on a cart, freeing pickers’ hands of paper instructions and allowing them to work more efficiently and comfortably. The international trials have shown an average improvement of productivity by 15 percent and higher accuracy rates. The user-friendly and intuitive solution has also halved onboarding and training times.

“Digitalization is not just a vision or program for us at DHL Supply Chain, it’s a reality for us and our customers, and is adding value to our operations on the ground. Customers have been very happy about the productivity gains and are equally excited about using innovative technology at their warehouses,” says Markus Voss, Chief Information Officer & Chief Operating Officer, DHL Supply Chain.

After having completed a pilot program across the U.S., Mainland Europe and the UK throughout different industries such as technology, retail and consumer, DHL has now established the Vision Picking solution for the long run. The technology has matured to become a standard, replicable solution for customers, allowing faster and easier implementation in their operations, helping them to benefit from productivity gains with increased speed of operations and better picking accuracy.

Employees have been enthusiastic about being able to use state-of-the-art technology and are pleased with how light the smart glasses are, and how much more comfortable the process is now with hands-free picking. “We are very satisfied and happy that the pilot phase went so well and that we can now say augmented reality technology is one of our standard offerings at DHL Supply Chain,” Voss adds. “As one of the first logistics companies using the technology, we have truly established a new way of order picking in the industry.”

DHL has been working alongside three partners in the pilot phase. Ubimax provided the augmented reality software xPick, whereas the recently announced Glass Enterprise Edition and Vuzix M100 and M300 glasses were used as hardware. Further proofs of concept running in Asia and Australia with other partners show similar promising benefits. Following the success of its Vision Picking program, DHL is looking into additional applications for augmented and virtual reality such as trainings, maintenance, dimension calculations and more.

The MTC has been officially named as a Microsoft Mixed Reality Partner.

They will now work together to create apps and teach more companies how to use technology such as HoloLens, Microsoft’s mixed reality headset, to save time and money, and improve quality and customer service.

“The MTC supports large and small companies across the UK,” said David Varela, Technology Manager at the MTC. “Our mission is to help manufacturers in the UK compete on the global stage. One way we do that is by using HoloLens, and two Microsoft tools in particular – Remote Assist and Layout. By sending our members a HoloLens, we are able to remotely work with companies to solve their problems and help them achieve their goals. It is much easier and cheaper for everyone.”

Rather than put users in a fully computer-generated world, as virtual reality does, HoloLens allows users to place 3D digital models in the room alongside them. As the Windows-10-based product does not have wires or external cameras, or require a phone or PC connection, users can walk around the objects they create and interact with them using gestures, gaze and voice.

Remote Assist lets people collaborate remotely with heads-up, hands-free video calling, image sharing and mixed-reality annotations. With Layout, you can import 3D models to easily create and edit room layouts in real-world scale. The MTC has previously worked with customers on hundreds of scenarios, showing them the value of the technology.

The MTC built on those programs to offer their own services, including Remote Line Walk. “What would usually happen is an engineer would visit an SME, walk around the workshop and suggest technologies and processes to make them more efficient or help them overcome a challenge,” Varela said. “Now, instead of us sending a person to the site, we just ship a HoloLens to them, they put on the headset and we can deliver the same process remotely. Someone who used to need three days to do a couple of visits is now able to do three visits in one day. We can give them an expert on demand.”

HoloLens is already being used by large manufacturers and industrial customers such as Chevron and can have huge benefits for other firms in the sector, which is a major part of the UK economy.

Manufacturing makes up 10% of the economy, employs 2.6 million people and is responsible for 45% of exports, totalling £275 billion. The importance of technology to helping growth in the sector was reflected in research from the EEF, the trade body for the UK’s manufacturing sector, which found that 80% of firms believe Industry 4.0 – the blending of industrial practices and technology – will be a reality by 2025.

“We tried every device in the market and the HoloLens was the best by a good distance, and it still is,” Varela said. “The beauty of HoloLens is it’s Windows-based, so developing is far easier than for other devices. There are also integrations with Azure services, and that makes it so powerful.”

This is just the beginning of the MTC’s work with HoloLens and mixed reality. Over the past two years, it has been working with the Advanced Visualization steering committee, including large aerospace manufacturing companies to create an Azure cloud-based platform called VIVAR. VIVAR is a guided instructions platform that can be used across the manufacturing process in order to advance workplace visualisations.

On top of this, there is a vast variety of versions for each vehicle model and type. Quite frequently, the first challenge for the service technicians is to locate the component in question in first place. Bosch supports service technicians by means of innovative Augmented Reality applications thus enabling them to perform service and repair tasks at an increasingly sophisticated working environment both efficiently and with high quality.

The advantage: Important and individual vehicle information is provided quickly and at the right place. Combining Augmented Reality applications with the ActiveSchematics technology, vehicle-specific wiring and block diagrams can now be visualized case specific and in real time. For service technicians, this results in faster repairs and prevention of mistakes during the specific tasks.

Average time savings of 15 percent per step taken

Bosch performed a field study in order to analyze the benefits of using Augmented Reality applications in everyday workshop life. Augmented Reality allows time savings of 15 percent in average per step taken – even on common vehicles and in case of less sophisticated repair tasks such as e.g. removing specific components. Once the service technician points his tablet computer or smart glasses onto an area on the vehicle’s engine compartment featuring AR information, useful information is added to the real image. In this manner, even the location of components hidden behind panels can be displayed visually.

Two powerful tools: Augmented Reality and ActiveSchematics

Once the service technician identified the vehicle, its equipment and its technical peculiarities by means of the VIN number, he will only receive the information required for the specific vehicle as he continues with the following steps. For this purpose, Bosch combines two of its solutions: ActiveSchematics and its Augmented Reality Platform (CAP).

Once the error pattern has been read out of the fault memory, ActiveSchematics creates the relevant wiring diagrams for the specific error pattern. Doing so, it only takes those components into consideration that are actually installed at the vehicle. This allows displaying a case specific overview while the Augmented Reality application shows the information right at the place where it is needed by the service technician.

For straightforward content generation, Bosch imports the data directly from engineering. This reduces the creation efforts and allows immediate and flexible implementation and release of technical advancements.

Efficient workflow cuts expenses

It eases both the fault isolation and the identification of the components affected. In addition, it saves time as service technicians don’t have to go through various manuals to find the problem resolution, but can start repairing right away. Therefore, focusing on information relevant for the specific vehicle and error pattern, the combined use of Augmented Reality applications and ActiveSchematics also help avoiding unnecessary repair steps, mistakes and thus save costs.

Automation Fair featured about 150 Rockwell Automation and partner exhibits, 95 technical sessions, 22 labs, and nine industry-focused forums. Attendance was estimated at over 8,000 customers, up 21 percent over last year, a record for an Automation Fair not held in Chicago.

Automation Perspectives: Expanding the Human Possibility and PTC Partnership.

Rockwell Automation’s Chairman and CEO, Blake Moret, opened Automation Fair for the global press and analyst community at the Automation Perspectives media/analyst event. Mr. Moret discussed the company’s strategy for expanding the human possibility by combining the imagination of people with the power of machines, which he believes makes anything possible. He also discussed trends and technologies that are bringing The Connected Enterprise to life.

Jim Heppelmann, President and CEO of PTC, then joined Mr. Moret to announce that Rockwell Automation and PTC have jointly launched FactoryTalk InnovationSuite powered by PTC, the first collaborative offering to integrate technologies from both companies following the strategic partnership announcement in June 2018.  They discussed that the driving force for the partnership was to provide the ability to connect and bring intelligence to people, processes, and products.

Mr. Heppelmann then explained how companies are transforming their physical operations with digital technology, the benefits of an integrated information platform, and how combining accelerated IIoT application deployment, advanced analytics, and augmented reality (AR) puts the user in charge of innovation and eliminates individual system barriers.

ConnectedProduction, Cybersecurity, and Veterans

Automation Perspectives continued with Allan Rentcome, Director, Global Solutions Technology for Rockwell Automation, discussing the company’s “ConnectedProduction” solution for digital transformation from the wellhead to transportation to terminals. This solution was designed to help oil & gas industry participants overcome operational challenges.  These include connectivity to multiple or disparate systems, data cleansing, and converting data into meaningful, actionable information. He stressed that with 2019 shaping up to be a volatile year in which oil prices could go in either direction, users must take steps now to ensure that all manufacturing solutions are connected, monitored, managed and controlled, and operations optimized.

Next, Nadav Zafrir, President of Claroty, a key Rockwell Automation cybersecurity partner, discussed hidden risks for manufacturers and how when these involve cybersecurity, “you can’t defend against what you can’t see.”  Mr. Zafrir emphasized that companies must be proactive to get and stay ahead of the curve and “it takes a village” to fight cyber-attacks.  As IT and OT continue to converge, IT and OT groups must work together to help ensure cybersecurity. Manufacturers must understand the current threat landscape, emerging risks, and what steps need to be taken to protect multiple generations of automation and enterprise systems throughout all levels of a manufacturing organization.

Joe Allie, Director of Global Competency at Rockwell Automation moderated the final session. This highlighted the company’s support of the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing, which trains veterans for manufacturing careers.  Nearly 100 veterans graduated from the academy in its first year, with a goal to graduate 1,000 veterans by 2020.

The article goes on to discuss:

• PSUG: Big Impact from Digital-driven Smart Production
• FactoryTalk InnovationSuite Powered by PTC

The full article can be viewed here on ARC.