Precision GPS Machine Control

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Problem: With Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and laser guided control systems mounted on bulldozers and motor graders, operators have 3D graphic representations of job sites, specific job coordinates, and both dozer and blade positioning displayed on one or more Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panels.

But in practice, operators must look back and forth between the outside view and the LCD screen to use these visual cues. The momentary, but frequent delays caused by the need to re-focus between the perspective of the video screen and the real world can cause mistakes and accidents. The situation can be even worse where bright sunlight makes backlit displays difficult or impossible to read, and when operators need to stop frequently to wipe dust from the screens.

PDF

White Paper (150 K)

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: The Nomad Augmented Vision System from Microvision, Inc. can make the job faster, safer and more accurate by allowing heavy equipment operators to experience the required data, i.e. dozer location, cut lines and blade positioning data, with their head up all the time (like a jet fighter pilot)... focused directly on the job, and on the path of the grader, or dozer.

GPS-Based Surveying

Problem: Advances in surveying and GIS mapping applications utilizing GPS for construction and mining have led to significant gains in productivity. With receivers, antennas and batteries incorporated into a portable pole unit, operators can view handheld screens in one hand while positioning the pole receiver with the other. The issue is the focused attention on the hand held display while navigating jobsites, and is a combination of safety and lost efficiency, particularly when LCD screens are difficult to read.

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: With the 3D positioning and navigation information in the operator’s view via the Nomad Augmented Vision System, the operator can be head up at all times, with full situational awareness of the movements of heavy equipment and the terrain of the site.

Indoor/Outdoor Measurement

Problem: Precision indoor measurement utilizing laser trackers for locating component positions on large objects often requires the technician to go through body contortions in order to maintain laser beam contact with the hand held reflector, and line of sight vision to a remote monitor. Repetitive motion injuries and inefficiencies can occur as operators try to locate precise positions while looking backwards over a shoulder or while climbing on large equipment while focused on a monitor screen.

Press Release

» Boeing Field Trial

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: With the see-through readability of the Nomad Augmented Vision System operators can be completely focused on placing the reflector in the precise location indicated in the Nomad screen without ever having to look down, around or back at a fixed location monitor.

Precision Alignment

Problem: Precision alignment of large components, laminates and overlays is often accomplished with laser guidance systems and overhead laser trackers. Operators must look back and forth between the components/lift equipment and a computer screen to monitor alignment and make fine adjustments. The delay in refocusing between the real world and the display slows down the process and introduces opportunity for errors. Safety issues are also present if equipment is in motion while the operator’s attention is focused on the computer screen.

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: With the advantages of the head up, see through features of the Nomad Augmented Vision System, operators can be focused at all times on the objects or components to be aligned while viewing alignment targets.

Special Equipment Operation

Problem: On mountain passes, or rural roads, staying on the roadway is difficult when the ground is a blanket of white, and next to impossible during ‘whiteout’ or blizzard conditions. The issues are productivity and safety. With GPS and sensors in the roads, operators can be given visual cues on computer screens in the cab, but delays caused by refocusing between the computer monitor and the path of the vehicle can cause disorientation and resultant dangerous mistakes.

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: With the see-through, daylight readability of the Nomad Augmented Vision System snow plow and ROV operators can receive visual positioning cues, and a graphic path to follow, while being head up with sight focused directly ahead of the vehicle or on the video vision of the ROV at all times.

Marine Navigation

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Problem: Fog and inclement weather continue to be the bane of marine navigation, even the latest electronic navigational aids. Modern marine navigation electronics, give captains and pilots of both recreational and commercial vessels almost all the data they need to navigate in fog and inclement weather conditions displayed on various monitors and computer screens. However, while they are focused on the various screens for radar, GPS positioning and heading, depth and speed, navigators are not looking out the windscreen at the vessel's path and can miss debris in the water or low profile fiberglass boat that don’t show up on radar. Many inland waterways are shut down to commercial traffic during severe fog conditions and even in relatively open waters, both recreational and commercial vessels must either slow down or run the risk of dangerous collisions.

Magazine Article

» Motor Boating: Editor's Choice Award

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: See through Augmented Vision technology from Microvision gives ships masters the ability to view critical radar, positioning, heading, depth and speed data in their vision while looking forward at the vessel’s course at all times.

Nomad Expert Mechanic System
 

Equipped with the Nomad Expert Mechanic System, automotive maintenance personnel can have instant access to the entire maintenance database library. Documents are controlled so the newest revision level is used, and all of the necessary information to perform the task is right before their eyes — hands free and head up.

Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul for
Plant Machinery, Power Plants, & Automotive

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Problem: Plant engineers, maintenance managers and vehicle service departments all face pressures of quick turnaround for service and repairs, and the need to reduce costs. At the same time, as the equipment and vehicles become more complex, fielding a qualified staff of technicians, and keeping them up to date with the latest data and procedures, adds increasing cost. It is a battle that many feel they are losing. Not only do these managers face force reductions, aging work forces and retiring experts, but statistics show that 60% of equipment life costs are for maintenance, 50% of all parts replaced are still good, and 25% of maintenance repairs require rework. In automotive environments, customer satisfaction hinges on "getting it right the first time" and on getting vehicles back on the road quickly.

Downloads

White Paper (133 K) Maintenance Technology Reprint (1.7 MB)

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: Procedural steps and technical data are delivered to the technician or mechanic’s vision right a point of task, with head up and hands free to perform the task. Ideal for Technical Training since personnel can be re-trained by simple changing the data.

Inspections - QA / Health, Environmental Safety / Insurance

Problem: Whether the function is Quality Assurance, Insurance Adjusting or Safety Inspections of bridges and buildings, inspectors often must climb on, over and around large, complex and dangerous equipment or structures. To use their hands in the process, these workers must frequently put down laptop computers, tablet PCs or PDAs during process. Time is lost each time, and frequently expensive equipment is damaged or dropped (particularly off bridges).

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: With the Nomad Augmented Vision System inspectors see check-off lists directly in their vision while having full situational awareness and hands free to perform procedures or enter test data.

Precision Assembly & Testing

Problem: In many precision assembly and test procedures technicians must look back and forth between a computer monitor displaying procedures, or real time test data and the actual assembly on the workbench. Independent studies have shown a minimum one-second delay in turning away to look at a monitor and back

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: With Nomad Augmented Vision, technicians can view assembly procedures or real time test data superimposed upon their view of parts on the workbench without having to look away from the procedure during assembly or troubleshooting.

Warehousing: Stocking & Picking

Problem: Forklift operators can now receive product stocking and picking data while in transit, but either their vision is obscured by a ruggedized monitor mounted in the cab, or the operator must stop to look down at a monitor screen.

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: With the Nomad Augmented Vision System, operators can see stocking data right in their vision while in transit between locations, or while extending the lift.

Warehousing: Sorting & Shipping

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Problem: In high-volume shipping operations, fast and accurate package sorting is crucial to meeting shipping deadlines. Errors can occur when sorters must take their eye off packages on the conveyers to check specific shipping data. Mistakes in marking and labeling of large shipments can also happen when shippers must go to a computer terminal to check data. Pen tablets and portable terminals must be put down while shifting cartons and boxes.

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: Nomad allows package sorters in high-volume environments to view results from bar code scanners while focused on the package at all times. Shippers can mark and label packages without ever taking eyes of package shipping info, or the package itself.

Emergency Response

Problem: Emergency response personnel often need real time data to save lives. Firefighters can utilize floor plans, locations of hazardous materials and personal GPS units in tactical operation to plan emergency egress and to monitor positions of teammates. Handheld infrared cameras are used to locate hot spots of people within structures. Looking down or away at tablet PCs, PDAs or cameras can mean diverting attention at critical moments.

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: Firefighters can use ‘Safety Vision’ to see building floor plans and positions of teammates, etc... with head up situational awareness at all times, even in smoke filled rooms and corridors. EMT personnel can view patient vitals while performing procedures.

Process Control

Problem: Efficient and safe control of manufacturing, refining, power generation, construction and other processes often means simultaneous real-time monitoring of critical data from a variety sources. As in the case of heavy crane operation, the operator is trying to monitor load stress, wind speed and direction, tilt and engine control data while trying to maintain awareness of the load itself, other personnel, and stationary objects like power lines. While many inputs generate alarms, an alarm often means a critical and dangerous situation.

In factories and power stations simultaneous monitoring of multiple processes either means dedicated stationary personnel in control rooms, or delayed response from mobile personnel.

Nomad Video: Process Control

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: Technicians can remotely monitor critical manufacturing, refining, crane load and power generation processes while focused on operation tasks. With see-through daylight readability, heavy crane operators can monitor all key factors while focused on the payload at all times.

Sensor Vision

Problem: Technicians utilize a variety of sensors and cameras while performing predictive maintenance and troubleshooting on large engines, generators and manufacturing equipment. As most of the output devices are handheld terminals, cameras or even laptop computers, the technician must look down or away at the sensor data and images causing delays and possibly unsafe conditions.

Nomad Augmented Vision Advantage: Technicians and utility workers can see real time data and images from cameras and sensors superimposed in their vision while looking directly at an object or machine. Predictive maintenance inspections can be accomplished with full situational awareness—head up, and hands free. Critical data can be monitored while performing other tasks.