Virtual Planning, Control, and Machining for a Modular-Based Automated Factory Operation in an Augmented Reality Environment

Applying Web Augmented Reality to Unexplosive Ordnance Risk Education

Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs) are considered a global concern and a persistent hazard due to their capability to endanger civilians and the place where they are located, and the probability of remaining active explosives even after decades of ending a conflict. Hence, risk education is crucial for providing individuals with life-saving knowledge on recognizing, avoiding, and reporting UXO threats. The main objective of this study is to develop a web augmented reality (AR) application to investigate the effect of WAR on non-explosive ordnance risk education. Firstly, UXO 3D models are edited and constructed using the Blender 3D computer graphics software. Secondly, the proposed web AR application is developed using MindAR JavaScript-based library. Finally, the web application QR code and UXO Hiro codes are printed on infographics and brochures to be distributed to secondary school students aged 12 to 18 at six public and private schools in Tikrit City, Salah al-Din governorate, Iraq. Survey questions are validated and distributed to be collected from 137 respondents. The present study shows that the proposed web AR application increased respondents’ information in identifying UXO by 54.7%. Approximately 70% of respondents use the Internet for more than 3 h daily. Institutions should use new risk education methods in line with the tremendous technological growth and invest students’ knowledge and time in this field. Better risk education teaching methods can save lives.

Life Cycle Engineering 4.0: A Proposal to Conceive Manufacturing Systems for Industry 4.0 Centred on the Human Factor (DfHFinI4.0)

Engineering 4.0 environments are characterised by the digitisation, virtualisation, and connectivity of products, processes, and facilities composed of reconfigurable and adaptive socio-technical cyber-physical manufacturing systems (SCMS), in which Operator 4.0 works in real time in VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) contexts and markets. This situation gives rise to the interest in developing a framework for the conception of SCMS that allows the integration of the human factor, management, training, and development of the competencies of Operator 4.0 as fundamental aspects of the aforementioned system. The present paper is focused on answering how to conceive the adaptive manufacturing systems of Industry 4.0 through the operation, growth, and development of human talent in VUCA contexts. With this objective, exploratory research is carried, out whose contribution is specified in a framework called Design for the Human Factor in Industry 4.0 (DfHFinI4.0). From among the conceptual frameworks employed therein, the connectivist paradigm, Ashby’s law of requisite variety and Vigotsky’s activity theory are taken into consideration, in order to enable the affective-cognitive and timeless integration of the human factor within the SCMS. DfHFinI4.0 can be integrated into the life cycle engineering of the enterprise reference architectures, thereby obtaining manufacturing systems for Industry 4.0 focused on the human factor. The suggested framework is illustrated as a case study for the Purdue Enterprise Reference Architecture (PERA) methodology, which transforms it into PERA 4.0.

Augmented Reality for Robotics: A Review

Augmented reality (AR) is used to enhance the perception of the real world by integrating virtual objects to an image sequence acquired from various camera technologies. Numerous AR applications in robotics have been developed in recent years. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of AR research in robotics during the five year period from 2015 to 2019. We classified these works in terms of application areas into four categories: (1) Medical robotics: Robot-Assisted surgery (RAS), prosthetics, rehabilitation, and training systems; (2) Motion planning and control: trajectory generation, robot programming, simulation, and manipulation; (3) Human-robot interaction (HRI): teleoperation, collaborative interfaces, wearable robots, haptic interfaces, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), and gaming; (4) Multi-agent systems: use of visual feedback to remotely control drones, robot swarms, and robots with shared workspace. Recent developments in AR technology are discussed followed by the challenges met in AR due to issues of camera localization, environment mapping, and registration. We explore AR applications in terms of how AR was integrated and which improvements it introduced to corresponding fields of robotics. In addition, we summarize the major limitations of the presented applications in each category. Finally, we conclude our review with future directions of AR research in robotics. The survey covers over 100 research works published over the last five years.

One visualization simulation operation system for distal femoral fracture

A computer-aided 3-dimensional (3D) visualization operation simulation system based on computer-aided design (CAD) Unigraphics NX and Mimics software was established to provide orthopedic surgeons with an actual and reliable system in treating of distal femoral fracture.According to the preoperative CT data, 3D reconstruction of the distal femoral fracture could be achieved by the Mimics software. Then, the CAD Unigraphics NX software was used to measure the model function of all the related surgical instruments, including less invasive stabilization system (LISS) and retrograde intramedullary nail fixation.The function of CAD Unigraphics NX and Mimics software was successful in assisting in the treatment of distal femoral fracture with LISS and retrograde intramedullary nail fixation. The operation procedure was actual, visualized, and lifelike. Moreover, the operation effect could be estimated before surgery.The virtual surgery system may improve the reliability and safety of the operative care of distal femoral fracture.