A Mixed Reality Approach for In-Process Verification of Large Scale Assemblies

Abstract

Metrology is integral to all manufacturing operations and component generation, as it is used to prove conformance to design specifications. An inspection process that is not designed or executed properly can lead to delayed deliveries and costly repairs. The combination of Mixed Reality (MR) and metrology could lead to immersive metrology (IM), which has the potential to radically change how part inspection is undertaken. By doing so, it may enhance the value adding capability of being able to dynamically inspect a part, in situ.The aim of this research is to explore the application of MR in metrology-enabled assembly for increasing the availability of knowledge at the time of assembly and inspection. This research presents a case for IM within the context of assembly inspection. A system termed Immersive System for Large Volume Metrology (ISLVM) is proposed to enable the integration of the critical elements of MR and metrology for dimensional inspection of large volume assemblies. ISLVM was tested with a participant based study in which 72 volunteers with no previous experience with metrology hardware and software were guided through an inspection process with 3 different media. These were a paper manual, a digital manual accessed through a laptop, and a MR headset. The guides explained how to use metrology instruments and software to complete an inspection process on an assembly. The results obtained were analysed, showing that there is a statistically significant difference between all three interfaces. The interface in which the participants committed the least amount of errors with was the MR interface.The tests performed in this research demonstrated that MR technology can be integrated with current metrology hardware and software. This integration enables the creation of an ISLVM that has the capability of guiding inexperienced users through complex inspection tasks, while committing fewer errors than the current state-of-the-art tools and methods used in industry. Furthermore, this research produced a generic methodology that enables an immersive system to be used in different applications and industries such as manufacturing and assembly processes.

Date of Award	9 Nov 2017
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Sponsors	Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia
Supervisor	Vimal Dhokia (Supervisor), Joseph Flynn (Supervisor) & Aydin Nassehi (Supervisor)