Authors:
Tobias Feigl
1
;
2
;
Andreas Porada
1
;
Steve Steiner
1
;
Christoffer Löffler
3
;
1
;
Christopher Mutschler
3
;
1
and
Michael Philippsen
2
Affiliations:
1
Machine Learning and Information Fusion Group, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, Nürnberg, Germany
;
2
Programming Systems Group, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU), Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
;
3
Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU), Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Keyword(s):
Augmented Reality (AR), Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM), Industry 4.0, Apple ARKit, Google ARCore, Microsoft Hololens.
Abstract:
Augmented Reality (AR) systems are envisioned to soon be used as smart tools across many Industry 4.0 scenarios. The main promise is that such systems will make workers more productive when they can obtain additional situationally coordinated information both seemlessly and hands-free. This paper studies the applicability of today’s popular AR systems (Apple ARKit, Google ARCore, and Microsoft Hololens) in such an industrial context (large area of 1,600m2, long walking distances of 60m between cubicles, and dynamic environments with volatile natural features). With an elaborate measurement campaign that employs a sub-millimeter accurate optical localization system, we show that for such a context, i.e., when a reliable and accurate tracking of a user matters, the Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) techniques of these AR systems are a showstopper. Out of the box, these AR systems are far from useful even for normal motion behavior. They accumulate an average error of about 1
7m per 120m, with a scaling error of up to 14.4cm/m that is quasi-directly proportional to the path length. By adding natural features, the tracking reliability can be improved, but not enough.
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