Design and Usability Evaluation of Augmented Reality Assistance System in Warehouse Operation for Industry 5.0

Wireless communication technologies have facilitated the effective network design and deployment of industrial IoT devices within manufacturing, assembly, and warehouse environments. These technologies significantly enhance productivity and efficiency by increasing manufacturing agility and customization capabilities, aligning closely with the goals of Industry 4.0. However, the growing complexity and heightened demands for customized production processes necessitate stronger human creativity and coordination skills. As we envision a future increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, human-robot collaboration should strategically leverage inherent human strengths to form a co-evolutionary relationship. This study employs the Delphi method, design thinking, and affinity diagrams to explore warehouse operation scenarios that support assembly line processes. Through this exploration, augmented reality application concepts tailored specifically to smart factory environments were developed, ultimately resulting in the design and implementation of an AR assistance system utilizing a head-mounted display. During the design and development phases, key design principles were proposed to achieve an Industry 5.0-oriented AR assistance system. Additionally, usability evaluations were conducted to gather authentic user experiences and validate the effectiveness of these proposed design principles.