Augmented Reality based process visualization, manufacturing and training

Objectives
New technology and digital innovations from (non-space) start-ups and SMEs shall be brought to European space business and projects, increasing efficiency and optimising existing processes at MT Aerospace in cooperation with FLPP and AZO.

Production planning and product realization in aerospace and launcher production is a complex set of production and planning processes and a mixture of manual and automated operations to meet high technical and/or quality requirements.

Especially in such an environment it is mandatory to have all planning, controlling and quality processes transparent and understandable for all personnel involved. It is a large effort to manage all technical and quality requirements and planning by hand or based on unfiltered data. A clear overview about the whole process chain is needed.

The objective is to give production planners, managers and workers a visual help for their data based daily work. Augmented reality can underline an efficient way of working in a digital factory.

Solution approach
Visualization of data and information on processes gets more and more important. Implementation of augmented technology will support people to understand and use product-, process- and quality data for their daily work. Also augmented visualization can help workers and engineering personnel to do their jobs more accurately and efficiently. The involvement of AZO with its network of highly innovative StartUps/SMEs is expected to give the development of augmented reality solutions in space industry a fresh view and good perspective.

The project should be split in three subsequent work packages:

1st step – adjusting data basis to common standards:

Digital content should be easily accessible through standardized interfaces for various kind of systems like CAD, PLM, MES, ERP.

2nd step – visualization of product/process data:

Visualization of machine data & process parameter using IOT and augmented reality technologies with standardized data sources & processes (e.g. visualization of measured values on real parts, actual status of machines and products, display information about progress

3rd step – knowledge & education:

In depth training is mandatory to avoid worker´s reluctance due to missing knowledge and the mistrust in new technologies. A training VR environment with guided procedures for assembly or machine usage can help workers to learn in advance, how to do their job and to avoid non-conformances.

MT Aerospace proposes to conduct this project in cooperation with FLPP and AZO as a Pilot Case for the FLPP Space Transportation Ecosystem Bavaria.

Benefits
The proposed cooperation will enable new players for space activities and actively contribute to the growing Space Transportation Ecosystem in Bavaria. With this pilot case, direct implementation of digital innovations from start-ups and SMEs for European space projects can be demonstrated.

The digital content will be available to employees / customers along the whole life cycle such as for production, service, training etc. Visual instructions can be more easily adapted by semi-skilled employees. Thus fluctuations, temporary employment and task diversity lead to an optimized utilization

• Faster decision-making process by having the needed data visualized in a real life environment
• The creation and maintenance of manuals will be more efficient based on a modular platform. Manuals do have a huge potential by being visually translated as part of the digital transformation.
• Streamlined instructions and increased standards lead to higher quality of processes.

Safety topics can be addressed right in the field of view of the employee/ customer to reduce incidents.