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Will AR Change the Game for Packaging Operations?

There are different types of augmented reality being used today, and by expanding the productivity and capabilities of front-line floor workers, AR can add value to packaging operations.

Alexander Ouellet, Innovation Engineer at Harpak-ULMA Packaging
Alexander Ouellet, Innovation Engineer at Harpak-ULMA Packaging

Alexander Ouellet, Innovation Engineer at Harpak-ULMA Packaging, discussed the many “flavors” of augmented reality at PACK EXPO Connects’ Innovation Stage presentation this afternoon, and said that for the packaging industry, AR can guide workers with performing product line changeovers, getting machines up and running, or, it can alert them to performance issues.

“For the first time,” he said, “AR is bringing computing and on-demand information to our front-line workforce. AR is making it possible to more quickly train or provide expert guidance to our workforce and provide them the information they need at the right time and with the correct context. That's where most of the value is, especially as producers look for ways to further optimize production processes."

Ouellet said that AR technologies are best understood as a spectrum of overlapping technologies, rather than distinct items, and that the defining trait of each is how the user is going to experience it. (This article addresses AR technologies used in packaging manufacturing today. For a description of all AR technologies described by Ouellet, see the full presentation here. Available through March 31, 2021.)

Assisted Reality projects an extra layer of information onto the user’s peripheral vision, such as Google Glasses. Ouellet said of assisted reality, “It differs from Augmented Reality in that it doesn't change what the user is seeing nor is it aware of the geometry of the user's environment.”

Augmented Reality (AR) is an overlay of computer-generated content onto the physical world, that can superficially interact with the environment in real-time. With AR, the end-user uses headsets or mobile devices.

Mixed Reality (MR) is an overlay of synthetic content anchored to and interacting with real-world objects in real-time. Said Ouellet, “When implemented well, MR should be a perfect union of digital and physical content interacting seamlessly.”

Ouellet also said there are three distinct types, or flavors, of AR. The one most people are familiar with is Video See-Through (VST) technology, which allows the user to view through a tablet or phone screen. One example is the World Lens app, where the user holds up their phone and it translates signs and language.

The second type of AR is lens-based applications that employ Obstacle See-Through (OST) technology, such as the Microsoft HoloLens. Ouellet said in this technology, “AR information is projected in the lens and your brain puts two and two together and stitches it together to create an augmented view of reality.”

Thirdly is Projection AR, where a projected image creates a direct overlay onto a specially designed work surface. “A projection-based augmented reality system,” said Ouellet, “can provide user instructions or assistance in a variety of media. Projection AR reduces or eliminates the need for computer monitors and screens as the instructions appear directly in the task space. It can be useful for assembly, disassembly, inspections, kitting, tool changeovers, training, and more.”

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