The Virtual Future of the Process
Industry
The computer game industry is driving VR and AR
technology. Most are still pilot
applications, but they work surprisingly well. Enough to show that Virtual
Reality and Augmented Reality have enormous potential. Gamers were the
pioneers. Marketing professionals were the ground breakers in the world of
industry. Plant technicians and service technicians have now become the user
group. But when will more suitable glasses be available?
Frankfurt/Germany — Augmented Reality can provide ongoing support
for inspection rounds. Also when problems arise, persons with specialist
knowledge who may be very far away can have a virtual presence at the scene of
the action to provide assistance without delay. Suitable hardware tools for
explosion protection zones are still few and far between, but they do exist.
Users, component suppliers and systems manufacturers join forces to develop
functional applications. Virtual reality is a useful asset for training as
well.
In the not too distant future, members of the service team will
put on their augmented reality glasses in the morning. At lunch time in the
cafeteria, someone will remind them that they are still wearing the glasses.
This at any rate is what Arne Sanwald, a young software developer at packaging
machinery manufacturer Optima, expects will happen. He skillfully "operates"
his AR glasses which are still quite bulky. By clicking two fingers in the air,
he calls up an image which is not visible to the person he is talking with and
enters voice commands. Besides his own experience with initial augmented
reality (AR) applications, reactions by customers have convinced Michael
Wratschko, Sanwald's boss and Team Leader at Optima Nonwovens, that they are on
the right track. "Initially, we concentrated on mixed reality applications
for tablets," he recalls. But according to him an adaptation for the AR
glasses generated a lot of interest. His company has already started to
introduce a mixed reality service application based on the Holo Lens at one of
our largest customers.
Some machinery and systems manufacturers in the process industry
and their customers have discovered the potential of virtual reality (VR) for
training applications. However, there is one hurdle for AR which the glasses
must overcome if they are to become a useful service tool for many applications
in the process industry. Versions with explosion protection and the necessary
approvals are still extremely expensive. The computer game industry is driving
technology, but in this case no help can be expected from that quarter.
Augmented "Maintenance Technician
Reality"
Until suitable, affordable glasses are available, the maintenance
team must rely on industrial tablets and smartphones which are certified for
explosion protection zones and already offer substantial support as a
"reality enhancement". One of the pioneers is Pepperl+Fuchs. The
company recently re-launched its Ecom brand Tab-Ex tablet line (based on the
Samsung Galaxa Tab Active 2). Christopher Limbrunner, AR expert at Ecom,
realizes that AR solutions are still at the pilot stage at most companies in the
process industry. However a lot of man power is being invested to drive the
technology forward. Augmented reality applications, which run on tablets or
smartphones and call up all of the pertinent data and documents as soon as the
devices are pointed at an object such as a pump or fill level gauge, are
already in use. Operating and production data is overlaid on the camera image
in real time, displaying all of the key information about the equipment on a
mobile end-user device. Setting field device parameters using an AR application
is not yet possible, but wireless reliability will play a major role,
particularly with process-critical
Rotating Equipment Expertise Without
the Wait
So it is hardly surprising that suppliers of equipment and
components for process systems are working intensively on AR. In particular the
availability of rotating equipment, which causes problems for maintenance teams
due to heavy mechanical stress, could be enhanced through the use of augmented
reality applications in combination with predictive maintenance. Pump
manufacturer KSB is one of the pioneers. AR expert Enno Manske, who works in
Service Product Management at KSB, has confidence in the technology.
"Augmented reality has huge potential, both for us and for our customers
and partners." His own service team and the users are highly impressed
with the AR glasses. Manske believes that there are many advantages which KSB
would not be able to offer to its customers without augmented reality. He
expects to see major leaps forward in this new technology. The KSB vision is to
make the knowledge of their top experts available to customers around the world
with no waiting time.
AR applications will have huge benefits for site and plant service
teams working in remote areas where stoppages can be very costly. Many chemical
and pharmaceutical process plants are in operation around the world. Some are
aging, others are still under construction. With the aid of AR glasses,
outfitters and systems manufacturers can support the on-site installation team
and also assist maintenance teams when they carry out repairs or troubleshoot
faults. Whether they are working in Malaysia or Milwaukee, field technicians
get expertise delivered right to the doorstep.
06/10/2018 | Editor: Alexander
Stark PROCESS WORLWIDE
https://www.process-worldwide.com/the-virtual-future-of-the-process-industry-a-722896/?cmp=nl-206&uuid=6BC6FC76-6995-4943-96C5347D1063A36D
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