Introduction to Innovative Technology
The BMW Group has introduced a brand new augmented reality (AR) application in vehicle concept and prototype engineering. This modern technology hastens the method by as much as twelve months, from individual vehicle sections through to complex production stages. The AR application allows real geometries, similar to those on a vehicle body, to be overlaid with true-to-scale holographic 3D models. This enables the assessment of a variety of concept variants and assembly processes for future series vehicles in a versatile and cost-efficient manner.
How the Technology Works
The AR goggles, combined with CAD data, enable engineers to quickly determine whether a production employee will have the opportunity to suit a component properly in series production. This reduces the necessity for multiple test setups. According to Michael Schneider, head of Complete Vehicle on the Pilot Plant, "The AR goggles and CAD data allow us to seek out out way more quickly whether the production employee will have the opportunity to suit the component properly afterward, in series production. That way, we want far fewer test setups."
Benefits of the Technology
The use of AR technology has several advantages, including saving money and time when integrating latest vehicles into production. Christoph Leibetseder, head of Digitalisation, Prototyping and Measurement Technologies on the Pilot Plant, notes that "Another key advantage is that it saves us money and time once we integrate latest vehicles into production."
Vehicle Concepts Visualised in 3D
Vehicles and their components are visualised on a platform linked to the BMW Group’s product data management system. CAD files of components could be drag-and-dropped from the web-based database to the AR goggles, allowing specialists to breed the info in 3D and its original size in a practical environment. The AR application could be controlled by hand, enabling direct interaction with virtual components.
Key Features of the AR Application
The AR application has several key features, including the flexibility to change the dimensions, position, and angle of components with an easy hand movement. Cross-sections could be created to supply a view of the vehicle’s inner structures. Additionally, the appliance allows for collaborative working, enabling people at different locations around the globe to team up and review designs and ideas together, and discover any errors.
Collaboration and Development
The BMW Group is working with a Munich-based start-up and a research organisation to develop and pilot the AR application. Research and methodology development deal with cloud-based visualisations and smart object recognition. The project commenced inside a yr on the BMW Group’s Vehicle Pilot Plant in Munich.
The Pilot Plant
The BMW Group’s Pilot Plant is positioned within the Research & Innovation Centre in Munich, with three further associated facilities to the north of the town. The plant is home to 850 associates, who work on as much as six vehicle projects concurrently. The Pilot Plant can assemble each electrically and combustion-powered prototypes, allowing for the refinement of not only the product but additionally the series assembly processes, ready for transfer to regular plants where they’re utilized in series production.
Conclusion
The introduction of the AR application in vehicle concept and prototype engineering has revolutionised the way in which the BMW Group approaches production. With its ability to hurry up the method, reduce costs, and enable collaborative working, this modern technology is ready to have a big impact on the longer term of the automotive industry. As the BMW Group continues to develop and refine the AR application, it is probably going that we’ll see much more exciting innovations within the years to come back.
