The technology received the CES 2017 Innovation Award in the US in January and was showcased at the tradeshow in Munich, Germany, (September 11-15) at the KHS Innovation Corner.
Precise remote diagnosis
Alexander Meierhofer, business development, Viewpointsystem, told BeverageDaily, VPS16 makes fast and precise remote diagnoses for cost-efficient fault repair.
“The costs of machinery failure or malfunction at a drinks production plant are not limited to the initial cost of repairs and spare parts. They also include high follow-up costs resulting from delayed deliveries and the loss of product quality,” he said.
“Swift fault repair is of the essence. But the technical experts are often based at remote places, at another production plant or at the equipment supplier’s customer support centre.”
The VPS16 data glasses link up on-site with staff via a livestream with experts at another location.
By tracking eye movements, the glasses enable the expert to see with the eyes of the on-site technician, capturing his field of vision and visual focus from anywhere in the world in real time.
Complex instructions can be quickly and easily communicated just as if the expert were actually on site.
The system can also be used as a resource for the remote maintenance of machinery and systems, inspections and acceptance procedures, as well as for training and documentation purposes.
Private Landbrauerei Schönram
One company using the VPS16 is the Private Landbrauerei Schönram in Bavaria.
“As all procedures can be recorded, the company has the documentation of the procedure and training videos ready at hand. Another advantage is that the system is comfortable to wear and can be used in almost all lighting conditions,” said Meierhofer.
“It can be deployed straight away without the need for any programming work. The system enables communication between the technicians, as human consultation is essential when it comes to detecting the source of a machine failure at a highly automated plant.”
The Vienna-based technology company has more than 20 years of experience in the field of eye tracking and has implemented more than 500 national and international projects in sectors ranging from food and beverages (Jordans Dorset Ryvita) to transport (Deutsche Bahn, Wiener Linien, ÖBB Infra, VIA Vienna International Airport).
Viewpointsystem currently employs about 40 people in technology, engineering and business development.