Smart Products in Smart Manufacturing Systems: An Opportunity to Utilize AR?

Abstract

The evolution of manufacturing throughout time has allowed our industrial world to develop and ever faster create various products in large numbers using a myriad of industrial manufacturing processes. However, like everything in the world, time moves forward and the evolution does not stop but accelerate. Therefore, the implementation of Augmented Reality (AR) through the use of the internet of things, low cost sensors, and free programming languages, are all contributing factors to further advanced the industry. These implementations will allow for faster data processing, quicker error recovery time, loss and error prevention, a wider range of employees at different skill levels to be productive in a manufacturing environment. The implementation of an Arduino based sensor system into the manufacturing process enables data streaming to an AR device. This system allows for instant data streaming and visualization to the user/operator with information pertaining to the status of the product (‘state’), key developments, and changes in the product/or system, any associated errors, and the best way to proceed with resolving them. The AR enabled system with its capability to streaming relevant information prevents losses associated with product quality issues and/or process down-time among a myriad of other applications. Preliminary research shows the ability to collect data from the product in addition to data processing on an external device to later be used on an augmented reality device.