There have already been multiple demonstrations how ways in which virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) can be used for various functions in industries such as construction, but the advantages of MR technology have occasionally come into conflict with safety concerns. Microsoft partner Trimble are addressing those issues by integrating the Microsoft HoloLens into a hard hat.
Hard hats are one of the most ubiquitous protective items worn for construction areas, engineering works, mining facilities and more, often combined with protective eyewear. In many places, wearing a hard hat and eye wear is mandated by law. Trimble have integrated a solution which integrates an industry-standard hard hat with a HoloLens mixed reality device, receiving ANSI approval but not compromising on the MR function of the device.
“With the rise in acceptance for mixed-reality solutions in business today, the need for 3D visualization outside the office is driving this next wave of Trimble innovation,” said Aviad Almagor, director of Trimble’s Mixed-Reality Program. “We are expanding the opportunities for implementation of mixed reality in a broad range of industries.”
Trimble have also released Trimble Connect for HoloLens on to the Microsoft app store. This software was created after extensive collaboration with stakeholders in structural, mechanical and electrical engineering. The software is designed to improve co-ordination by combining various models, allowing for precise alignment of holographic data on a job site using a 1:1 scale.
The Trimble Connect software can also be used for training purposes, with easy access to immersive 3D visualisation, or for comparing plans against completed projects. Integrated measurement tools can also enable users to capture useful data whilst on-site.
“Trimble Connect for HoloLens enables us to go beyond the constraints of a 2D screen,” said Olivier Pellegrin, BIM manager, GA Smart Building, a beta user of Trimble Connect for HoloLens. “Superimposing the digital model on the physical environment provides a clear understanding of the relations between the 3D design model and the actual work on a jobsite.”
For further news on HoloLens and mixed reality products, keep checking VRFocus.
via Mint VR