Industrial Augmented Reality: 3D-Content Editor for Augmented Reality Maintenance Worker Support System

Supporting maintenance with 3D object enhanced instruction is one of the key applications of Augmented Reality (AR) in industry. For the breakthrough of AR in maintenance, it is important that the technicians themselves can create AR-instructions and perform the challenging task of placing 3D objects as they know best how to perform a task and what necessary information needs to be displayed. For this challenge, a 3D-content editor is being presented wherein a first step the 3D objects can roughly be placed using a 2D image of the machine, therefore, limiting the time required to access the machine. In a second step, the positions of the 3D objects can be fine-tuned at the machine site using live footage. The key challenges were to develop an easily accessible UI that requires no prior knowledge of AR content creation in a tool that works both with live footage and images and is usable with a touch screen and keyboard/mouse. The 3D-content editor was qualitatively assessed by technicians revealing its general applicability, but also the requirement for a lot of time to gain the necessary experience for positioning 3D objects.