Design and Development of a I4.0 Engineering Education Laboratory with Virtual and Digital Technologies Based on ISO/IEC TR 23842-1 Standard Guidelines

Abstract

Knowledge transfer associated with education in the automotive manufacturing and production fields is challenging due to the requirements of physical prototyping of mechanical components and laboratory-assisted testing. In this regard, aspects of Industry 4.0 such as virtual environments and enhanced human–computer interaction have been studied as important resources to improve teaching practices and achieve the equivalent Education 4.0 paradigm. Within the context of modern manufacturing techniques in the Industry 4.0 era and advanced tools for analysis and mechanical design, the present work describes the development of a virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR) laboratory to support learning, training, and collaborative ventures related to additive manufacturing for the automotive industry. The development was performed in accordance with the guidelines of the ISO/IEC TR 23842-1 standard, to ensure that the academic programs and the conditions of use of the laboratory were optimal. Experiences with students through the development of industry-related automotive projects support confidence in the suitability of the laboratory and the expectation of positive outcomes for future developments.