What the demo shows
A technician wearing AR smart glasses connects to a remote expert by video call. The expert sees the job through the technician’s eyes and guides them, while the glasses show step-by-step instructions, diagrams and schematics over the work.
Who it is for
Maintenance heads and plant managers who wait too long, or pay too much, for specialists to travel to site. It also helps new technicians learn from experienced colleagues on the job.
How it works
- Live video: the technician streams the job to a remote expert for live troubleshooting.
- AR overlays: instructions, diagrams and schematics appear in the technician’s view.
- Hands free: voice commands and touch controls move through the steps without putting tools down.
- Recording: sessions are recorded for training and to document repairs.
Rolling it out
- Choose smart glasses to suit the site and the work, for example Vuzix M400, Google Glass Enterprise Edition or RealWear HMT-1.
- Set up a remote assistance platform for video calls, AR overlays and documentation, either custom-built or third-party.
- Train technicians on calling, navigation and overlays.
- Run a pilot, gather feedback from technicians and experts, and improve.
Reported results
Companies using smart glasses for remote assistance reported a 30% reduction in equipment downtime, a 40% improvement in first-time fix rates, and onboarding and training times cut by 50%.
Where it is used
Industry example: PBC Linear
PBC Linear, a US manufacturer of linear motion solutions, found that expert help for machine faults was slow and costly to bring in. Its technicians now use RealWear HMT-1 smart glasses to connect with remote experts, operating them by voice while the expert guides them through a live video feed.
- 20% reduction in downtime
- 30% improvement in first-time fix rates
- Thousands of dollars saved each month on on-site visits
- Safer working, as technicians follow instructions without distraction
Talk to our team to try remote assistance on smart glasses.
Frequently asked questions
How does remote expert assistance on AR smart glasses work?
With remote expert assistance, a technician wearing AR smart glasses streams live video of the job to a remote expert, who sees the work through the technician's eyes and guides them. The glasses show step-by-step instructions, diagrams and schematics over the work, and voice commands and touch controls let the technician move through steps hands free. Sessions can be recorded for training.
Which smart glasses can be used for remote expert assistance?
Smart glasses for remote expert assistance should be chosen to suit the site and the work. Examples include the Vuzix M400, Google Glass Enterprise Edition and RealWear HMT-1. The glasses are paired with a remote assistance platform for video calls, AR overlays and documentation, which can be either custom-built or third-party.
What results have companies reported from remote assistance on smart glasses?
Companies using smart glasses for remote assistance reported a 30% reduction in equipment downtime, a 40% improvement in first-time fix rates, and onboarding and training times cut by 50%. These results come from technicians getting live guidance from remote experts on the job, instead of waiting for specialists to travel to site.
How did PBC Linear use RealWear smart glasses for remote assistance?
PBC Linear, a US manufacturer of linear motion solutions, found expert help for machine faults slow and costly to bring in. Its technicians now use RealWear HMT-1 smart glasses, operated by voice, to connect with remote experts who guide them through a live video feed. PBC Linear reported a 20% reduction in downtime and a 30% improvement in first-time fix rates.
How should a plant roll out remote assistance on smart glasses?
To roll out remote assistance on smart glasses, first choose glasses suited to the site and the work. Next, set up a remote assistance platform for video calls, AR overlays and documentation. Then train technicians on calling, navigation and overlays. Finally, run a pilot, gather feedback from technicians and experts, and improve the set-up before wider use.
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