Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are somewhat newcomers to the industrial world, though I can remember Yokogawa demonstrating a virtual reality tour of an oil refining plant several years ago at an ISA show. In the last five years, however, these technologies have been making steady inroads to the manufacturing world, especially in finding useful applications in maintenance. Today, IIoT and Industry 4.0 technologies play an ever expanding role in maintenance.
Nick Boughton, digital lead at systems integrator, Boulting Technology, explains how AR and VR are reshaping plant maintenance. Boulting Technologyis a supplier of systems integration, industrial network solutions, LV motor control centers, switchgear, control panels and telemetry.