Simple Solutions That Work! Issue 5

54 AR/VR: THEN ANDNOW The advent of new technology can revolutionize an industry. Computer AidedDesign (CAD) has already rev- olutionized engineering and design, and the effects of 3D printing are rippling through the manufacturing world. NowAugmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) technolo- gies are emerging as the next major change-agent in many sectors. Industry analysts are predicting that the AR/VRmarket will be huge; $8.8 billion since 2012, with $2.2 billion in 2016 alone. It’s expected that by 2020, AR and VR combined will be a $120 billion industry. Heads-UpDisplays (HUDs), forerun- ners of modern augmented reality systems, were developed for use in militaryaircraft as earlyas 1942. Since the introduction of smartphones, basic forms of AR have become widely available in the form of apps likeGoogle Translate, Layar or Yelp’s Monocle feature. New applications for AR and VR are emerging almost daily. TheUSNavy is usingAR toenhance the safety and mission effectiveness of deep sea diving operations. The US Air Force has gone even further; the F-35uses an AR system instead of a conven- tional HUD. Jurors are now able to virtuallyexperiencecrimescenesand doctorscanuseVRtoguideremotely controlled robotic surgeons. THE SPECTRUM: FROM FLAT SCREENS TO AUGMENTED REALITY TO IMMERSIVE VR Theessential concept behind ‘mixed reality’ is displaying computer gen- erated virtual content combined with or seamlessly replacing reality. Powerful extensions to this core concept allowusers to interact with the virtual, to share a virtual space with other users, and/or to move around in a virtual space freely. The simplest implementation of AR, widelyavailablecurrently, is todisplay virtual content overlaid on a camera feed from a smartphone or tablet. Flat-screen AR is low-cost, but also low-immersion. It allows a limited field of view into the virtual world, and the restricted computing capa- bilities of mobile devices limit detail and fidelity. This type of AR is useful as a visualization aid or training tool. An intermediate level ofmixed reality is the AR head-mounted display (HMD), withmotion andhand track- ing. This type of system consists of a helmet or goggle-like device with clear lenses or a visor, onwhich can be displayed virtual content. Users can also share a virtual space with each other, facilitating ‘virtual con- ferencing’ and collaboration. This level of AR is still in the early phases, but companies like Microsoft ® , MagicLeap ® , and Meta ® are devel- oping products that will allow full implementation of HMD-based AR. At the topof the spectrum is the fully immersiveVRheadsetconnectedtoa powerful computer systemorwork- station. This is a goggle-like display that completely covers users’ fieldof viewwithvirtual imagery, andoption- ally includes audio. Some systems allow ‘room-scale’ VR, which allows users to move freely within a delin- eated real space as they explore their virtual environment. These systems have the same basic capabilities as HMDAR, but they replaceperception of reality rather than combinewith it. MOVING FROM VIRTUAL TOREAL Foundriesareoneof themany indus- tries set to derive benefits from the mixed reality revolution. Foundry Lay-out and Design A foundry or factory layout can be rapidly assembled and modified during a collaborative session and displayedon-screenformultiplepar- ticipants, either local or networked. Users can choose and position FROMVIRTUAL TOREALITY: Reshaping the Way We Build Foundries Brian Judd, MEng Design Engineer Marketing Options, LLC www.moptions.com Article Takeaways: 1. Types of Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality technology 2. How AR/VR can reduce the costs to redesign your foundry or a process 3. Using AR/VR for ongoing safety and equipment training SIMPLE SOLUTIONS THAT WORK!