Augmented Reality in Manufacturing

During my time at Deakin University, I had the opportunity to explore various technologies that might be significant for the future of manufacturing. One particular technology I experienced hands-on was augmented reality. I had the chance to participated in a study on the use of augmented reality in manufacturing.

Ahmed Khafaga, a doctoral student in a joint program between Deakin University and Coventry University (England), is one of the researchers conducting the study. It focuses on utilizing Augmented Reality (AR) to aid human operators in industrial tasks like assembly, maintenance, or inspection. Its primary goals are to assess the impact of these technologies on the wellbeing and performance of human operators, aiming to foster a more human-centric approach in manufacturing design by enhancing human cognitive ergonomics.

The project seeks to understand how AR can improve operator wellbeing and performance, with a particular emphasis on cognitive ergonomics, specifically mental workload and technology acceptance. By aiming for a reduced mental workload from a human-centric viewpoint, the research intends to inform future employers on how to optimize manual assembly designs to benefit operators.

It was an interesting experience to be part of the study and to get a first-hand look at the state of the art of this technology. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of this research and it’s potential influence on future workplace designs.