Using Motion Control to Guide Augmented Reality Manufacturing Systems

Assembly is a complicated, sometimes tedious process that often unfolds sequentially along a series of stations. In the manufacture of complex equipment such as jet engines and automobiles, technicians are guided through their work by referring to printed manuals, which document the various steps required. These processes usually demand the use of hand tools with little in the way of automation available either at the tool or verification level — in fact, all actions typically are performed manually. As a result, quality and performance times are dependent upon each technician’s technique and preferences, leaving room for individual differences and, at times, errors.