Enhancing Aerospace Laboratory Training with Augmented Reality
The aerospace industry’s tangent is rapidly expanding. Training plays a significant role in the aerospace engineering business. The rapid advancement of technology, safety measures, and contingencies has given birth to an entirely new paradigm. The operation of laboratories is becoming increasingly complex, as is the demand for highly qualified employees.
A comprehensive laboratory training program is the most effective way to ensure that all steps in the laboratory process are fully performed professionally. Traditionally, industrial laboratory training has been instructor-led and provided in person. The instructor leads a walk-through of the laboratory and describes every piece of equipment (as necessary for the user to understand how to use it).
Augmented reality (AR) is one such technology that can fill gaps in traditional training models while simultaneously enhancing usability. Organizations are exploring methods to digitally alter their training programs via the use of cutting-edge technologies and platforms.
In augmented reality (AR) your real-world experience is enhanced with computer-generated perceptions. It combines real and virtual world aspects, as well as real-time interaction and interactivity and flawless 3D registration of both virtual and actual things.
AR-based training emerged from industry complexity
The aerospace industry is becoming more complex, fast, and powerful. The manufacturers and integrators test their products in a laboratory to ensure that they will behave as closely as possible to an aircraft’s environment under extreme conditions. Such laboratories use complex and high-powered equipment such as powerful motors, high-speed dynos, wires carrying high voltage and thousands of amps, circuit breakers, and so on.
The following are some samples of settings that are necessary and must be developed to give an idea of how such a setup might appear.
1. Deployment of generators on the test setup
3. Coolant configuration for high-power line replacement units.
4. Configuration of fault fixtures for various fault configurations
6. Test equipment repair and maintenance operations
7. Loading software into various pieces of equipment
The following benefits can be obtained by employing an augmented reality approach:
AR gives real-time step-by-step visual instruction on operations such as product assembly and connection, bridging the skill gap between expert and inexperienced workers.
2. A virtual demonstration may be given anywhere in the world, and equipment can be trained on how to utilize it.
3. Any authorized professional can follow visual instructions to execute any maintenance activity.
4. Using AR, the testing techniques are provided to confirm the operation of each component, and repairs are simple.
5. Removes the requirement to carry any drawing documentation.
6. AR is used as a tool to examine the inventory of components and spares and their storage location.
The instruments and test sets used in this process require specialized training and operating expertise. Each of the configurations demands training and professionals to train. However, if the training is created utilizing an AR platform, no trainer is necessary. Based on the information provided in the training, the operator may also see the 3D perspective of the thing and picture the component or equipment closer to reality.
An AC short circuit test on a generator would be performed by a laboratory operator – using a 3D fault fixture that displays all the connections that must be made to achieve the desired operating modes. These include shorting, opening phase, applying transient loads, and setting timers, among other things.
A platform-based AR training solution is implemented for the fault fixture to ensure the connections are made correctly the first time and reduce the errors caused by incorrect connections and settings. QR scan codes are implemented for Quality control, maintenance, and repair. If the QR code is scanned, it will display instructions along with block diagrams to give detailed information about the device.
The use of advanced technology in training
As the industry transitions to digitalization, AR/VR/MR technologies help in the development of new products while also providing effective training. This method might be used by other industrial manufacturing firms as well as professional industrial equipment operators. The use of computer technology to create a simulated world is known as virtual reality (VR). Instead of looking at a screen, users are immersed in and able to interact with 3D environments. The computer is converted into a gatekeeper to this artificial environment by replicating as many senses as possible, including vision, hearing, touch, and smell. The main constraints to near-real VR experiences are a lack of content and inexpensive processing power.
Mixed Reality (MR) is a technology that incorporates features of both AR and VR and real-world and virtual environments. MR can blur the difference between what is real and what is virtual. It combines elements of both AR and VR and real-world and digital objects interacting with each other.
This content was originally published here.