German Automaker Volkswagen Unveils An Augmented Reality Repair App
by Brent Dirks
September 30, 2013
Ahead of a major augmented reality conference, German automaker Volkswagen has unveiled an iOS-based support app for its XL1 concept car.
The Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistance app, also known as MARTA, shows service employees the next repair steps to perform with an AR view:
Using the previous approach, the service technician could only call up digital repair guidelines. For the XL1, these guidelines were supplemented by the MARTA augmented reality function which "labels" the individual parts and elements with text and shows work instructions clearly. When MARTA is called up, the system lists all of the jobs to be performed along with the necessary equipment. Each work task to be performed begins with what is known as an initialization. The vehicle's silhouette is shown in the display of the mobile end device, and it shows the employee the orientation to be taken in relation to the vehicle. If the silhouette and the camera image of the real vehicle agree, the initialization is finished successfully. Then the individual context-dependent work steps are shown on the tablet. This gives the employee a new system for identifying work items quicker and more accurately.The app will be shown off at the InsideAR Conference on Wednesday, Oct. 11 in Munich, Germany by the head of Volkswagen’s Group Research, Werner Schreiber. Here’s a quick video runthrough of the app. Click here if you can’t see the video. Earlier this year, VW unveiled the iBeetle at the Shanghai Auto Show. The car integrates with an iPhone through both a dedicated app and docking station. While in the car, users can navigate, listen to music, make hands-free calls, and even send photos taken inside the vehicle to numerous social networks. Both the iBeetle and iBeetle Convertible will be available at the start of 2014. For other news today, see: Apple Is Reportedly Moving The Majority Of A8 Chip Production Away From Samsung, Pandora Radio Remains The Highest Grossing Non Game In The App Store, and Apple Is Once Again Offering An iPhone 5s Pickup Option But Supplies Remain Limited.
