A Stable Real-time AR Framework for Training and Planning in Industrial Environments

Abstract

Augmented reality (AR) systems can be effectively used to enhance manufacturing and industrial processes. However, not all the existing prototypes of AR systems can be used in an industrial environment due to heavy constraints such as low robustness or cumbersome equipment. Our AR system relies purely on passive techniques to solve the real-time registration problem, and it can run on a portable computer. We combined a powerful virtual reality (VR) component-based simulation framework with computer vision techniques, turning it into an AR system. The resulting system allows us to produce complex rendering and animation of avatars, and blend them into the real world. The system tracks the 3D camera position by means of a natural features tracker, which, given a rough CAD model, can deal with complex 3D objects. The tracking method is robust and can handle large camera displacements and aspect changes. The target applications of our AR system are industrial maintenance, repair and training. The tracking robustness makes the AR system able to work in real environments, such as industrial facilities, and not only in the laboratory.