The Many Forms of XR In Manufacturing

SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONSIn recent years the terms Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), and Extended Reality (XR), have come to conjure thoughts of bulky, uncomfortable head-mounted displays (HMDs) or high-tech elaborate and expensive rooms filled with large-screen display walls, requiring special glasses and motion tracking equipment. While many XR applications require such devices, there are some which do not. This paper examines innovative use cases and implementations of XR.For this paper, XR is defined as an umbrella term which describes technologies that combine the physical world with digital elements to create immersive experiences. In this definition XR covers the full spectrum of devices and implementations from VR to AR, employing different forms of advanced visualization techniques, going beyond HMDs.The work described herein was motivated by the observation that not all industries can acquire and vet the use of a constantly changing environment of headsets, peripherals, and costly video cards. Economically leveraging XR techniques requires an understanding of how to use existing technology to create XR environments.This paper begins with an introduction to XR. In section 2, successful use-cases of XR in manufacturing and industry are discussed. Section 3 presents how XR, using large-scale displays and headsets, aids in establishing reliability and maintainability of products and process throughout the product lifecycle. Section 3 also offers examples showing how an understanding of large-scale XR systems and headsets leads to a wider, and less expensive, range of applications and use cases. Section 4 offers thoughts on the future of XR.In summary, this paper provides examples of using inexpensive displays and computer systems to build XR environments. Throughout the paper, examples and references show how XR can create opportunities to improve manufacturing processes, including those of reliability and maintainability, and convey that to business leaders and customers. In the end, small creative efforts can yield large amounts of support. From the small efforts, larger XR efforts might then be pursued.