![]() He states that AR has enormous potential in the training of new workforce, but he sees more potential in its use in mobile applications.By: Susan Gross Forneris, PhD, RN, CNE, CHSE-A, FAAN In a recent article on MRO Network, Kai-Christoph Pfingsten, Head of Innovation at Lufthansa Technik, talks about his theory that the future of augmented reality in aviation is going to be in mobile application. The question is whether the industry is there yet. This is not to say that wearable AR tech will not - or should not - be the inevitable future of MRO. Holding those factors up against the ubiquity of smartphones, and the ease with which most smartphones and tablets can employ augmented reality technology, it becomes hard to argue for the procurement of more expensive or cumbersome “wearable” AR technology. ![]() There are a couple of factors around wearable AR (goggles and glasses) that could potentially be holding back their widespread adoption into the MRO industry–price and usability. The military industry has also seen the light in using augmented reality for MRO engineering training, to ensure that there are enough skilled engineers to monitor and repair an entire network of sophisticated military equipment. ![]() Recently, the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) and KLM Airlines have begun an MRO training course that utilises multiple Microsoft HoloLens AR goggles to facilitate collaboration and instruction, while trainees walk around a scaled 3D model of an aircraft and its parts and systems.Īir France is utilising augmented reality training for 787 aircraft, touting it as “ ultra-modern training for an ultra-modern aircraft.” Wearable augmented reality in aviation & MROĪlthough the jury is still out on whether many airlines will begin to implement wearable augmented reality technology in specific MRO tasks, the technology is already proving itself in aviation MRO training. The “functionality” of the technology is allowed to showcase how it can enhance operations, and the “lifestyle” aspect becomes irrelevant. When augmented reality or virtual reality tech is used as a tool, such as in product development or MRO, the benefits of these technologies truly shine. In the aviation industry, both GE and Boeing have begun adopting Google Glass in their production. Arguably, something that should have happened in the first place. Interestingly, in the years since Google Glass’s failure to appeal to consumers, it has begun making a comeback as a tool marketed to hands-on workers and business professionals. In an article in 2015, Forbes looked into where Google Glass fell short, and it came down to failing to help consumers understand why they needed such a device. ![]() Tech as function, not fashionĪrguably, one of the reasons that many wearable devices fail, is that they are marketed to the consumer demographic as lifestyle devices–where they should be seen as professional tools to enhance operations. What we can say for certain is that both virtual reality and augmented reality have been dominating topics of interest in aviation for years, and regardless of whether 2020 will be the year that fiction becomes fact, it cannot be ignored that the VR/AR industry, in general, is poised to eclipse 160 billion U.S. ![]()
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