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STARMATE
aims at designing, developing, demonstrating and preparing sales of a product
dedicated to computer-guided maintenance of complex mechanical systems.
At the end of the project, the developed product will provide user’s assistance
while performing assembly/de-assembly and maintenance operations on mechanical
systems. The product will also help workforce train to achieving assembly/de-assembly
and maintenance procedures.
The project decomposes into the following
work:
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Technology development, integration and
research on usability,
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Demonstration of use.
The measure of success of the project
will be to have, at the end of the project, a system for computer-guided
maintenance providing the functionalities described below.
Technology development, integration and
research on usability
The product will be dedicated to applications
where access to conventional paper or IETM (Integrated Electronic Technical
Manuals) documentation is cumbersome. It aims at bringing digital technical
manuals, construction files and maintenance procedures within the workplace.
It will rely on augmented reality to document working environment with
visual and audio augmentation elements. These elements will guide the user
through the right procedure to apply, while performing maintenance.
The user will be equipped with :
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See-through goggles (STG) allowing to
see the real environment and synthetic augmentation elements at the same
time.
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Headphones (HP) providing additional
audio information.
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Microphone (MIC) connected to a speech
interpretation system.
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A pointing system allowing the user to
designate objects in his environment.
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A positioning device -not represented
here-.
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A belt-mounted data communication unit
(BMCU) assuring data transmission between the user and the rest of the
system.
Visual augmentation elements (augmentations)
will be registered, in real time, to the scene observed in the STG. Therefore,
augmentations will remain at the right visual place in space when user
moves his head. Registration of augmentations will be performed by tracking
the 3D positions of the user’s head and of the elements he works with.
This 3D tracking relies on a combination of inertial active positioning
and passive image analysis. The user will control the system via the MIC
and pointing system. These elements will allow the user to query the system
for information regarding manipulations to be achieved (called procedures).
The image below provides an overview
of the full system. It composes of standard hardware (HW), available in
the market. The system splits into 2 separate parts: the user equipment
unit (UEU) and the remote heavy computation unit (HCU). Communications
between UEU and HCU will be assured by a wireless or copper cable datalink.
User will wear a belt-mounted communication unit allowing him to be mobile
and free of movement.
Demonstration of use
During the project the system will be
demonstrated, in real work situations, at three end-users sites. These
end-users will have to control and to validate the system’ s functionalities,
and particularly, the pertinence of the maintenance scenarios.
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TOSA will be the first end-user. He will
use the system in the context of optronic products manufacturing and maintenance
(e g: those illustrated in above images).
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EADS will use the system in the context
of aeronautics construction for assembling wings of a famous European aircraft.
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TECNATOM will apply the system to maintenance
on complex pumps and turbines used in nuclear power plants.
After project completion:
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TOSA will sell the product in order to
widen his offer in terms of maintenance products for optronics equipment.
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EADS will make use of the product to
extend applications in aircraft manufacturing.
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TECNATOM will make use of the product
to extend its range of maintenance services.
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