3D Process Control Mapping With Role-Based AR Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional augmented reality systems for process control environments are time- and labor-intensive to set up and maintain, particularly in complex layouts with many objects, and can cause sensory overload due to excessive information display, with objects often being obscured or inaccessible.
Innovation Solution
An augmented reality platform that allows users to generate a 3D model of the environment using a mobile device, enabling efficient mapping and updating of objects, and providing filtered information through location tracking and inertial measurement units, with features like virtual x-ray vision and avatar representation for obscured or distant objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional AR systems display all available information in dense environments, then complete information is provided, but sensory overload occurs and user perception becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by providing different information densities to different users based on their roles and needs. Operators receive task-specific information subsets rather than all available data, allowing each user to perceive information at an appropriate level without sensory overload while maintaining access to complete information when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The information display is segmented into role-based subsets and priority levels. The system divides the complete information set into manageable portions tailored to specific operational contexts and user responsibilities, preventing sensory overload while ensuring relevant information is always available.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual 3D modeling is used to create accurate environment models, then modeling precision is improved, but time consumption and labor intensity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary automated 3D mapping of the environment using mobile devices before AR deployment. This pre-established spatial framework allows rapid object placement and environment integration without requiring time-consuming manual modeling during operational setup, while maintaining accurate geometric representations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of physical objects and environments using automated scanning and mapping technologies. These digital twins replicate real-world geometries and spatial relationships with high precision, eliminating the need for manual modeling while preserving accurate representations for AR overlay and interaction.
3Loss of information
If the 3D model includes all objects in the environment, then completeness is improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complete environment model is segmented into region-based or functionally-grouped subsets that are loaded and processed on-demand. The system maintains the full environmental database but only activates and renders relevant portions based on user location, role, and current task context, reducing processing complexity while preserving access to complete environmental information.
4Loss of information
If AR systems provide detailed information about all objects, then information completeness is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by tailoring information presentation to specific user roles, locations, and task contexts. Operators receive customized information subsets relevant to their responsibilities, while maintaining the ability to access complete object information when needed, thus preserving ease of operation without sacrificing information availability.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method of mapping a real-world process control environment, a mobile device is registered at a reference location, and positions and orientations of the mobile device are tracked using an inertial measurement unit. A user input indicating that a new node is to be added to a 3D map of the process control environment is detected, and a 3D position of a real-world object relative to the reference location is determined, or caused to be determined, based on a tracked position and orientation of the mobile device. A node database is caused to add the new node to the 3D map of the process control environment, at least by causing the 3D position of the real-world object to be stored in association with the new node.