AMRC signs landmark augmented reality deal with PTC

Vuforia Expert Capture (VEC) allows tasks to be recorded using a wearable device and this content can then be turned into a step-by-step video guide with instructions for workers to implement at multiple sites and companies.

The agreement builds on a long-term relationship between the two organisations and comes after VEC played an integral role in remotely transferring manufacturing expertise safely to a number of new production lines supporting the build of over 13,000 ventilators for the VentilatorChallengeUK Consortium (VCUK).

“Vuforia Expert Capture will be used primarily by our Factory 2050 teams to deliver upskilling and reskilling solutions for our aerospace partners, with the potential for much wider application into other sectors,” explained Professor Rab Scott, Head of Digital at the University of Sheffield AMRC.

“Our involvement in VCUK gave us first-hand experience of the power of AR in helping to quickly set up new manufacturing lines safely by rapidly transferring production knowledge to different facilities.”

He continued: “It has the potential to transform future supply chains and this is something we wanted to explore in more detail by giving researchers, our existing manufacturing partners and SMEs easy access to VEC and other PTC technologies.

“We already have a number of projects where we think it will accelerate the deployment of solutions into manufacturing.”

PTC, one of the world’s leading providers of industrial innovation technology, became a Tier 1 Partner of the AMRC in 2017, with its ThingWorx IoT platform helping connect machinery and devices at its Factory 2050 facility.

This latest deal is one of the largest ever signed for Vuforia Expert Capture in the UK and will see the AMRC become a lighthouse demonstrator for its growing range of digital technologies and augmented reality solutions for industry.

In addition to VEC, experts at the research and innovation centres will also be able to maximise the capability of Vuforia Chalk, a remote assistance product that leverages AR to help employees collaborate in operational, maintenance and repair situations.

PTC www.ptc.com

AMRC www.amrc.co.uk