BMW group test google glass to ensure quality assurance in production

BMW group test google glass to ensure quality assurance in production
images courtesy of BMW

BMW group are testing google glasses to determine whether they can be useful to workers when ensuring quality assurance in production. the pilot project at its U.S plant in spartanburg, is part of the automobile company’s industry 4.0 campaign which is set up to evaluate how new technologies can be applied to support workers in the construction and planning teams. this element aims to conclude if the smart eyewear can improve and accelerate the workflow during vehicle testing, by recording documentations in the form of photographs and videos.

problems can be documented using the installed camera

‘during the term of the pilot project, we are planning to add a video call feature so that a problem can be discussed with the responsible development areas right there and then,’ explains project coordinator, dr. jörg schulte. 

‘with google glass, the testing staff could stay right at the vehicle, look at the test plans on the device’s integrated display and sign them off via voice control. so both hands would be free to conduct the tests at all times,’ he adds.

the issues are then sent to the engineers who can solve them via observing the visual information

by being able to visually inspect the vehicles and store data with the smart eyewear, the communication between quality testers at the analysis center of the pre-series production and the development engineers improves. this means that when the BMW group team runs a complete check, the optical head-mounted display reports the findings clearly to each worker, as compared to the issues caused by eligibility and vagueness when people used to write the descriptions.

the head-mounted display enables testers to work hands-free

the project is part of BMW group’s industry 4.0 campaign