A Data Management Approach for Modular Industrial Augmented Reality Applications

Modular architectures for Industrial Augmented Reality (IAR) applications allow more flexibility and can lower the barrier of entry, compared to custom-built applications dominant today. This contribution presents a data management approach for such architectures. Work plans are converted into a presentation-independent format that can be consumed by the system. Based on available modules and capabilities, related data, like CAD models, images, or descriptions, are automatically converted into a format suitable for the modules responsible for presenting the content. This can include converting a CAD module into a tessellated format, but also generating a rendering in cases where 3D models cannot be display, e.g., in a projection-based AR experience. In IAR applications, the position of the displayed content in the users surrounding is an important aspect. For industrial contexts, this mostly relates to presenting content at specific parts of larger assemblies. This contribution shows how different combination of existing AR tracking technologies, in addition to CAD data of such assemblies, can be used to setup flexible IAR systems.