Evaluation of Marker-Based AR-Tracking with Vuforia in the Context of Rail Vehicle Maintenance

Abstract

Maintenance and repair jobs present a multitude of challenges. Digital assistance systems (DAS) can be used to support workers in tackling these challenges. One way of achieving this is by using a tablet with AR-technology to display necessary information seemingly in the real world. In order to place information at the correct positions, the DAS needs to know exactly where it is currently located. Multiple approaches are available to achieve this. One of those approaches is to use a marker which is placed somewhere in the real world as an anchor point for the system. In the context of rail vehicle maintenance, the workspace is inherently large with rail wagons having lengths of more than 10 m. This means that a marker that is placed somewhere on the wagon will not always be in the field of view of the DAS’s camera, resulting in a possible reduction of the precision with which virtual objects can be displayed. This paper examines the viability of the marker-based approach under realistic circumstances. It was found that with a distance of multiple meters between marker and a spot that is to be highlighted, the precision will decrease significantly.