How augmented reality is revolutionising the inspection sector.

Augmented reality is now considered a cross-platform tool able to build truly interactive environments.

Originally, this technology was actually reserved for the entertainment industry – especially for hardcore gaming – but recently has proved to be a great asset for other industries too.

AR is able to generate digital content (images, texts and sounds) and overlaying it into the framework of the real world, recorded by a camera.

This simple mechanism works with smartphones and tablets, but it can also be combined with specific AR devices with multi professional features, usually employed in its industrial applications.

Augmented reality, in fact, was welcomed by the industrial world as the technological innovation that will bring the fourth industrial revolution closer, making the model Industry 4.0 come to life.

Research indicates that using data across the manufacturing cycle is the key to reduce errors and improve the quality, the profitability and the customer satisfaction within a business.

Among all industries, inspections are one of the top applications of augmented reality. Historically, they are primarily based on a series of activities carried out traditionally by professional technicians physically on the site.

However, this may generate long waits and a considerable amount of money spent to cover their travel expenses.

Augmented reality, instead, has based inspection processes on AR devices able to connect remotely the local operator with professional experts that may guide him through the inspection step by step.

The use of this kind of tools has revolutionised the inspection industry, making its procedures easier and more efficient.

Reduce any chance of human errors

Regardless of the training sessions provided to employees, human operators make human errors, and it is believed that these are responsible for more than 80 percent of failures and defects within an industrial environment.

By applying AR technology to inspection procedures, the “augmentation” concept is extended to the human workforce too, enhancing their capabilities and senses, and allowing the creation of “augmented operators”.

Thanks to AR, on-site workers become more self-conscious and aware of the importance of their tasks, since they can count of the constant assistance of remote technicians.

With this approach, there will be a decrease in the operating times as well as in the related human errors.

Improve efficiency and productivity

The latest AR wearable devices – such as our Kiber 3 – can give workers critical information as they perform operations, totally hands-free. This enables them to perform at the very best of their possibilities.

The AR remote connection allow experts to view exactly what workers see, and support them to complete the tasks.

Local operators can inspect machineries during a live session with a remote expert to fix a production stoppage without waiting for the expert to travel to the facility.

Following this system, enterprises can get massive benefits in terms of reduction of the time involved and the related costs. Not to mention the growth in efficiency and productivity that the business will achieve.

Read also: How Kiber is revolutionising the commercial augmented reality products

Capacity to store and share data

Most AR devices are designed to collect and share sensible data (such as images, videos or documents) between the on-site team and the remote assistance.

As a matter of fact, these tools are developed with a common sharing space, where both parties may find useful and relevant evidence to better execute the inspection.

This service of document sharing and storage makes the whole inspection process more efficient and accessible.

Conclusion

The perfect combination of hi-tech evolution and advanced connectivity means that, in the next years, AR will really be in the spotlight.

By taking advantage of the results that it bring along – reduction of human errors, increase in efficiency and productivity and the possibility of storing and sharing sensible data – AR is firmly positioned to be the next game-changer for the inspection field.