MotivateXR is a project of considerable ambition, with the aim of revolutionising training and operational support in the industrial sector by exploiting the potential of Extended Reality (XR). MotivateXR has developed an integrated suite of tools based on cutting-edge technologies, including AI-assisted no-code authoring, immersive XR headsets, and collaborative platforms. The objective is to enhance the accessibility, safety, and efficiency of the training, maintenance, assembly, and disassembly processes for industrial assets. The 36-month project, involving 17 partners and 5 pilots distributed across strategic sites, aims to democratise the use of Digital Twins and extend XR collaboration between European SMEs. This will promote technological sovereignty and sustainability in the industrial sector.

During these two days, the Youbiquo team played a central role in showing partners the latest innovations introduced in LeonardoXR, advanced XR headsets designed for immersive and interactive training. These devices are equipped with See-Through vision capability, which allows for the combination of Virtual Reality (VR) and Extended Reality (XR) experiences, resulting in the creation of fully immersive environments or the integration of digital components into real-world contexts. This facilitates seamless interaction with both physical and digital objects. New demos were presented that integrate a major update to the Hand Gestures library, a key element in improving natural and fluid interaction within XR environments. This update represents a significant step forward in ensuring an increasingly intuitive and accurate user experience, which is crucial for industrial applications where speed and reliability are essential.

The meeting also provided an open and constructive setting for discussion with technology partners on potential new uses for LeonardoXR that have not yet been explored, including the extension of the use of XR headsets to applications not previously considered. This exchange enabled the highlighting and discussion of potential technical challenges, with the aim of finding shared solutions that can ensure the effective integration and practical application of the technologies developed in different industrial contexts.

The imminent launch of pilot tests at the five sites represents a crucial phase, which will allow the solutions created to be validated in the field, real feedback to be gathered and the technologies applied to be further calibrated. Furthermore, the regular meetings between European partners demonstrate the establishment of an inclusive, collaborative and innovation-oriented ecosystem by MotivateXR. This ecosystem is capable of generating a positive impact in terms of competitiveness, sustainability and inclusiveness for European industry.

Youbiquo’s active involvement demonstrates its commitment to developing cutting-edge XR technologies, recognising the potential of integrated and flexible solutions such as LeonardoXR to significantly enhance industrial training, improving safety, efficiency and accessibility.

MotivateXR thus confirms its status as a project of great strategic importance for the growth of the XR sector in Europe, aiming decisively towards a more human, ethical and sustainable digitalisation of the industrial world.

L'articolo Youbiquo and MotivateXR: Updates from the European Meeting proviene da Youbiquo.

Project Overview

MOTIVATE XR aims to harness the transformative potential of Extended Reality (XR) to revolutionize industrial training and assistance. By making XR tools more engaging, secure, and inclusive, we aim to democratize access to the skills needed for complex industrial tasks. The current complexity and high cost of creating XR experiences have hindered their widespread adoption, particularly in sectors lacking the necessary expertise and resources. MOTIVATE XR intends to break down these barriers.

Objectives

The primary goal of MOTIVATE XR is to develop a world-leading suite of tools for XR collaborative authoring, publishing, and experiencing. This suite will cater to industrial operations such as assembly, manufacturing, maintenance, and dismantling of industrial goods. The solution will be open, highly integrated, and interoperable, designed to be user-friendly for a broad range of users, from large European industries to individual handyworkers, without requiring programming skills.

Key Features

• End-to-End Solutions: Streamlining the entire authoring and experiencing workflow with innovative portable 3D scanning, digital twin modeling solutions, No-Code authoring approaches, and advanced XR experiencing tools.
• Next-Gen XR Headset: Development of a state-of-the-art European XR smart headset.
• AI Assistance: Leveraging the latest advances in Artificial Intelligence to enhance XR experiences.

Pilot Programs

To ensure the robustness and applicability of our solutions, MOTIVATE XR will conduct five ambitious pilot programs across diverse industrial sectors:

1. Aerospace
2. Home Appliances
3. Aluminium
4. Electric Distribution
5. Hybrid Human-Robot Industries

Collaboration and Ethical Considerations

Our project brings together a complementary group of Europe’s top experts and leading industries. We adopt a user-centric methodology, coordinated by a Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) expert, to address societal, ethical, and legal issues associated with XR and AI technologies.

Conclusion

The kick-off event marks the beginning of an exciting journey towards making advanced XR technologies accessible and beneficial to a wider audience. We at Youbiquo are proud to be part of this innovative project, contributing our expertise to help revolutionize industrial training and assistance.

Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this transformative endeavor!

For more information please visit: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101135963

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L'articolo Kick-off Event for MOTIVATE XR Project: A Leap Towards Revolutionizing Industrial Training proviene da Youbiquo.

All AM systems follow the same principle of building structures layer by layer, and certain processes even allow printing with diverse materials such as polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites. AM is particularly well-suited for low-cost, rapid prototyping, and the production of large and complex metal structures.

The AM Challenge related to Quality

It is important to note that AM, on its own, may not consistently produce parts with the desired mechanical properties and surface quality required for many applications. AM components often exhibit various defects, such as powder agglomeration, balling, porosity, internal cracks, and thermal/internal stress, which can significantly impact the final part’s quality, mechanical properties, and safety.

To address these challenges, defect inspection methods play a crucial role in minimizing manufacturing defects, monitoring the process during manufacturing, improving surface quality, and ensuring the desired mechanical properties of AM components. By combining traditional defect detection techniques with high-resolution visual imaging, defect detection and fault prediction and diagnosis technology can be optimized, leading to enhanced overall quality and performance in additive manufacturing processes.

Why the Metal Additive Manufacturing processes?

Selective laser melting (SLM) is the premier metal 3D printing technology revolutionizing the additive manufacture of metal parts.

Selective laser melting (SLM) processes offer the ability to create functional metal parts with intricate geometries close to the final shape. However, these processes may suffer from imprecision and the formation of defects due to inherent randomness and irregularities associated with laser powder fusion. These defects can lead to 3D print failures, resulting in wasted time, materials, and resources. In large-scale industrial additive manufacturing (AM), the identification and mitigation of defects during the design phase become even more critical.

To tackle these challenges, the key lies in exploring the integration of process data from machines, CAD-simulation designs, and high-definition images within the manufacturing chamber during operations. Additionally, physical validation through laser scanning or mechanical tests can be employed. This rich data can serve as feedback for an in-situ control system and can be combined with existing defect recognition to create an AI-driven descriptive and prescriptive expert system. Such a system can then adjust processes or improve designs accordingly.

An effective process system should be able to:

1. Pinpoint defects in each processing layer accurately.
2. Detect any irregularities within the 3D CAD model.
3. Establish correlations between processing parameters and the occurrence of defects.

About QIMAL

Youbiquo, as part of the Reach Incubator Open Call, has proposed QIMAL, a cutting-edge data-driven in-process monitoring system that combines the analysis of final product images with 3D CAD design and machine operating parameters. Our innovative solution enables the identification of defects’ root causes and provides detailed data analysis within a trusted value chain platform.

QIMAL has been specifically designed to support machine operators, including Process Engineers and Application Engineers, who work with layer-based metal additive manufacturing. As part of their responsibilities, they analyze the 3D CAD design to be printed, adapt it for the chosen 3D printing process, and consider the customer’s material requirements. Additionally, they must consider the CAD topology to design the printing strategy, including structural support. The calibration of the machine and initiation of the printing job also fall under their purview.

The QIMAL solution aims to identify and address defects in real-time during the production process. Moreover, it thoroughly investigates and determines the root causes of these defects. Our monitoring system is designed to achieve the following objectives:

1. Optimize the printing process by comprehending the sources and occurrences of defects during manufacturing.
2. Enhance process efficiency through the development of descriptive-predictive-prescriptive data-driven models.
3. Elevate the level of sustainability in the manufacturing processes.

By attaining these objectives, we can significantly enhance the quality and reliability of metal parts produced through Selective Laser Melting (SLM) or Powder-Bed Fusion (PBF). Ultimately, this will maximize the efficiency and success of industrial additive manufacturing, making it more reliable and competitive in the market.

L'articolo QIMAL: a data-driven inspection system for the optimization of the visual inspection process in Metal Additive Manufacturing proviene da Youbiquo.