Ford began to use augmented rReality glasses for assembly of Kuga and Explorer in Russia

2018: Expansion of the project is production Kuga and Explorer

On February 26, 2018 the Ford Sollers company announced expansion of the project on use of augmented rReality glasses by employees of the enterprises.

Trial operation of the points connected to the system of "a digital warehouse" started at the plant in Yelabuga where assemble the Ford Kuga crossovers, Ford Explorer SUVs and the Ford Transit light commercial vehicles.

HoloLens at the Ford Sollers plant in Naberezhnye Chelny

At first 3D - points were received by the staff of the plant in Naberezhnye Chelny (Fords Fiesta and Ford EcoSport are made there) where the new technology helped to optimize logistic processes. Thanks to the improved indicators of work of employees of a warehouse the decision on a project startup on a permanent basis was made.

It is said in the statement of Ford Sollers that ease of readjustment of the Pick by Vision system allows quickly and without additional investments to adapt factory warehouses to new tasks, such as start in production of the new Ford models.

Thanks to automation of process of a complete set the error probability decreases and hands of the operator are released. In case of changes in a warehouse reconfiguration of a system is performed by forces of one employee in 30 minutes.

The wearable gadget is based on Microsoft HoloLens augmented rReality glasses and equipped with own processor thanks to what it is possible to bring the image created by the computer to Vizor, imposing it on visible objects of the real world.

The Pick by Vision technology provides integration of augmented rReality glasses with the system of digital control by a warehouse. The order for selection of parts for a certain car forms a system and is transferred to the visual interface of points on Wi-Fi. Further points are used by the employee for search of the necessary parts and tracking of the course of order fulfillment on a complete set. Points not only announce the operator of a warehouse structure of the order, but also help to find a necessary part using graphic hints.

2017

Project Development

A system optimizes process of formation of sets of parts for delivery to the pipeline. The first stage of the project began in June, 2017 pilot start of a system in Naberezhnye Chelny. Tests took place successfully. Since November, 2017 the ID-Pick-by-Vision system works at the plant in commercial operation.

The next stage – the future start of a pilot project at the plant in Yelabuga in the spring of 2018.

ID-Pick-by-Vision accelerates assembly of sets as hands of the operator are always free. All actions are controlled by a system: accomplishment of transaction will not be confirmed if the worker is not at target cell or the incorrect quantity of the parts required to selection is called. It guarantees decrease in quantity of errors.

The worker wearing spectacles sees a surrounding situation with the visual recommendations placed in it which are generated by a system, proceeding from the data obtained in a warehouse management system. It can be: quantity, location of parts, a navigation arrow to the following cell intended for selection, screens with the list of positions in a set. The main commands are duplicated by voice. The worker can "communicate" with a system both voice, and gestures.

Pilot project

Ford Sollers started in 2017 a pilot project on equipment of staff of the Russian plants augmented rReality glasses (AR) to optimize process of delivery of necessary parts to the pipeline of the plant in Naberezhnye Chelny. Most the front line today technology of a digital complete set "Pick by vision" ("a warehouse under review") will allow to increase efficiency of logistic processes and to quickly adapt a warehouse to new tasks, such as start in production of the new Ford models.

During operation the employee in a warehouse the required range of parts, their quantity and also location (the physical cell in a warehouse from which it is necessary to take parts is selected) is brought to glass of AR points in its viewing field, and the navigation arrow specifies the direction of search of a cell. Having taken from it a part, the operator confirms transaction accomplishment with voice or gestures, including calling quantity of the taken parts, and passes to the following cell. The structure and the course of order fulfillment are displayed on the virtual display which the operator can call by voice or gesture at any time. When the order is completely built, a system displays the message about order fulfillment on points. A system automates process of a complete set, reducing quantity of errors, and releases hands of the operator, allowing it to collect orders quicker.

A system is developed by ID-Russia company and IT department of Ford Sollers. At an initial stage the new technology will be implemented at the plant in Naberezhnye Chelny where local production of the Ford EcoSport crossovers and also hatch-backs and the Ford Fiesta sedans is arranged.

"Development and deployment of the innovative solutions in a production process is one of Ford Sollers priorities. The pilot project on start of a system of "Pick by vision' started at the plant in Naberezhnye Chelny, system testing will be complete until the end of 2017. After a successful completion of a pilot project also workers of other enterprises of the company can receive afterwards augmented rReality glasses" — Ilya Strygin, the vice president for information technologies of Ford Sollers told.

The technology of augmented reality is integrated with a warehouse management system. The order for selection of parts for a certain car forms a WMS system, and then is transferred on Wi-Fi to the visual interface of points.

Serious advantage of the Pick by vision system is increase in control over actions of the employee as he will not be able to confirm transaction accomplishment if is not near target cell, or the quantity of the taken parts called by it does not match required. The flexibility and simplicity of technology allow in case of changes in a warehouse to perform reconfiguration of a system by forces of one employee in 30 minutes.

As the client device in the Pick by vision system the most perfect is used the solution in the field of augmented reality today — Microsoft HoloLens AR glasses. Points create the image with a resolution of 2.3 megapixels on a vizor before eyes of the operator. AR points are supplied with different sensors and the 2-megapixel camera for determination of provision of the operator in space.

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