Chemical Engineering October 2020 - 14

AR for remote servicing
The augmented- and virtual-reality
market is projected to grow 40% annually
from 2017 through 2025, according
to multiple research reports.
Much of this spending will come from
manufacturers around the globe
using AR technology to help upskill
their workforce for digitalized operations,
according to Emerson Automation
Solutions (Austin, Tex.; www.
emerson.com).
" We also believe that the development
of augmented reality applications
for the industrial sector continues
to advance, " says ECOM's
Wessels. " The first companies are
already using well-functioning applications,
while others are at the
beginning of promising projects.
Our Tab-Ex series, as well as our
smartphones, have been designed
to be perfectly suited for displaying
and interacting with interactive,
web-based and AR content quickly
and seamlessly in hazardous areas, "
he says. " The need is there and will
continue to grow. Our devices are
prepared for it. "
Meanwhile, Endress+Hauser AG
(E+H; Reinach, Switzerland; www.
endress.com) released its Visual
Support service application in June,
ahead of schedule during the coronavirus
crisis. In the acute phase of
the pandemic, users were able to
take advantage of the remote audiovisual
support free of charge.
The use of this technology for remote
support enables audio-visual
support for diagnosis and troubleshooting,
commissioning and regular
maintenance of field devices. With
the help of live video transmission
and screen casting, E+H's technical
support team can work almost as if
they were on site, helping customers
in a reliable and flexible manner with
their service tasks via remote access.
Also in June, Emerson introduced
augmented reality (AR) technology
to its Plantweb Optics assetperformance
platform, delivering
enhanced access to realtime diagnostics
and analytics, as well as live
remote assistance, to industrial plant
workers responsible for maintaining
and optimizing plant equipment.
With AR technology integrated into
Plantweb Optics, companies can
14
its own design, the service will replace
face-to-face visits of service
company specialists and experts
with video consultations using AR
glasses.
This
SIBUR/
G-Core
Labs
FIGURE 2. This recently launched AR service,
which utilizes AR glasses, has already been demonstrated
to save tens of thousands of dollars
improve productivity, collaboration
and operational performance, without
being limited by shortages of
skilled workers or travel restrictions,
says the company.
Plantweb Optics leverages artificial
intelligence, machine learning
analytics and data contextualization
to provide realtime visibility
into plant reliability and operational
performance.
Unlike
standalone
AR solutions that require custom
engineering, AR is integrated into
Plantweb Optics, providing immediate
access to a wealth of data and
translating
into easier,
less costly
implementation and a faster return
on investment. For use by manufacturers
in the life sciences, foodand-beverage,
chemicals, metals,
mining, water, pulp-and-paper and
energy industries, Plantweb Optics
is part of Emerson's Plantweb digital
ecosystem of technologies, software
and services.
AR for Plantweb Optics transforms
the way field technicians accomplish
complex tasks through
enhanced situational awareness,
live remote assistance and analytics
delivered in context of the plant. As
a field technician walks within an industrial
plant with a mobile device,
Plantweb Optics uses spatial computing
technology to map assets
and provide technicians with critical
maintenance information relevant to
their location. Plantweb Optics overlays
realtime analytics, equipment
health status and technical support
documentation on their field of view,
so technicians can safely resolve issues
sooner.
In July, petrochemical giant Sibur
(Moscow,
Russia;
www.sibur.ru)
launched a universal AR service for
remotely maintaining and repairing
industrial equipment (Figure 2).
Based on a unique IT platform of
project was implemented
in partnership with G-Core
Labs (Luxembourg; www.gcorelabs.
com), an international provider of
cloud and edge solutions.
Sibur specialists first tested remote-servicing
technology with the
help of AR glasses in 2018 by using
several
solutions
available on the
market. The company's production
facilities
in the city of Tobolsk became
the testing grounds.
" Our AR service is easy to use and
includes two large key components:
RealWear and Epson augmented
reality glasses with pre-installed
Android applications developed in
collaboration with G-Core Labs and
integrated with Sibur's own mobilemedia
platform, " says Alexander
Leus, head of Sibur Industry 4.0
practice. " This platform allows you to
fully digitize the entire maintenance
and repair process by organizing
HD [high definition] broadcasts in
WebRTC format and creating a fullfledged
communication platform for
effective on-site specialist interactions
with a remote expert. Everything
is voice-controlled, freeing the
hands of the person to work with
the equipment, " says Leus.
" With the help of a virtual pointer
displayed on the glasses' microdisplay,
an employee of the equipment
supplier company can direct
the actions of the specialist, draw
attention to certain elements, and
indicate what to turn and where to
monitor, " explains Dmitry Samoshkin,
vice president of Products at GCore
Labs.
" One session of operational communication
through our AR platform
helps save several tens of thousands
of dollars, " says Igor Klimov, member
of the board, CEO of Sibur Tobolsk
enterprises. " These savings
result from the reduction in travel expenses,
hourly billing instead of fullday
billing for experts, and the timely
resumption of work, " he says. n
Gerald Ondrey
A longer version of this story can be found online at
www.chemengonline.com.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM
OCTOBER 2020
http://www.gcorelabs http://www.emerson.com http://www.endress.com http://www.sibur.ru http://www.chemengonline.com http://WWW.CHEMENGONLINE.COM
Chemical Engineering October 2020

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