Last month, the institute issued $12 million across seven contracts to further explore innovations in digital manufacturing including augmented reality (AR) applications for use on manufacturing shop floors, wearables and mobile devices.
While the seven projects—which include a real-time data-driven visual decision support system for the factory floor and automated manufacturability analysis software—are all focused on streamlining the digital manufacturing processes of tomorrow, a particular focus has been placed on the projects involving AR.
The projects, which include Manufacturing Work Instructions on Wearable and Mobile Devices with Augmented Reality, led by the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Authoring Augmented Reality Work Instructions by Expert Demonstration, led by Iowa State University, seek to further explore the potential that AR holds in the manufacturing sector. Other potential applications include embedding visual instructions in an individual’s environment to reduce training time and errors at multiple stages of the manufacturing process.
“Our project will enable the creation of instructions for an AR-based training system that mimics the actual part manipulations of an expert,” explained Eliot Winer, associate professor of mechanical engineering at Iowa State University. “This project builds upon successful research from our project team, which we anticipate turning into real-world applications for manufacturers through the perspective provided by our industry partners.”
“We are excited to continue to advance applied R&D within our core technology focus areas,” added Dean Bartles, chief manufacturing officer of UI LABS and executive director of DMDII. “With each project call, we bring additional researchers, global industry leaders and small companies into our consortium and move closer to making technologies related to ‘smart manufacturing’ and ‘brilliant factory’ applicable to manufacturers across the country.”