Case Studies
AR Assembly Guidance for Robot Arms
An augmented reality guide in a mobile browser that draws what to touch onto the machine itself.
What we looked at first
This project did not start from a technology. It started from an observation: nobody reads the assembly document, because when you would need it your hands are full of parts.
We considered projection and headsets, and settled on a phone browser. The reason was adoption, not capability: the floor buys no extra hardware and installs nothing. The option with the least resistance is usually the one that actually gets used.
What it is
An augmented reality application that runs in a mobile browser, guiding disassembly and maintenance of a robot arm. No app to install — open the URL and it works.
Three steps
Align first The view overlays virtual coordinate axes onto the real arm. The operator nudges the virtual BASE with X, Y and Z plus-minus controls until it lines up with the machine in front of them. Get this right and every later overlay lands where it should.
Then disassemble Once aligned, the view marks the screws to remove: “Unscrew the 4 screws as shown.”
Then assemble The part to fit is overlaid as a 3D model at the end of the arm: “Attach the claw unit to the end module.” The operator follows it.
Every step has previous and next, so the operator can move back and forth.
Why AR rather than a manual
A printed manual asks the operator to map a position on a diagram onto the machine in front of them. That translation is exactly where mistakes happen — particularly with screws and connectors that look alike.
AR draws what to touch onto the object itself and removes the translation. The more complex the equipment and the less familiar the operator, the more that difference is worth.
More detail
Which models can be supported, and how long it takes to build a guide, are best discussed through the contact form.