The Industrial Metaverse promises a range of benefits for manufacturing companies. As an example, experts see great potential for assistance systems in production, maintenance or logistics. Companies can streamline their production processes and increase their efficiency by networking production facilities, machines and workers. Benefits also include better utilization of resources and reductions in downtime that lead to cost savings and an improved eco-balance through less travel.

"Decision-makers in many companies do not yet fully understand which immersive technologies offer real benefits even today. We invite them to learn about the Industrial Metaverse at our booth, and to get a first-hand impression of its potential benefits," says Dr. Leif Oppermann from the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT.

We demonstrate the remote maintenance and training applications for mechanical engineering / manufacturing developed in the 5G Troisdorf IndustrieStadtpark project. They are based on 5G wireless internet, remote rendering of CAD data as well as mobile Mixed Reality / Virtual Reality headsets.

The presentations focus on a machine that is part of the production line at Kuraray Europe in Troisdorf, and on its digital twin. We show how images representing the machine's digital design data are precisely superimposed on the operator's field of vision in their headset and enriched with additional information. Avatars, pointing gestures, direct manipulation as well as audio and video communication are available to support the communication between the operators and, e.g. remote instructors or maintenance experts using the machine’s digital twin.

This makes it possible to run, for example, distributed training sessions for machine operation and maintenance, including lively virtual discussions between the operators and a service desk.

Further information on the 5G Troisdorf IndustrieStadtpark project at https://www.5gtroisdorf.de

Fraunhofer FIT also uses the Tech Transfer Conference Stage (Hall 2) at Hannover Messe to present information about the  Industrial Metaverse.

• Monday, April 17, 2023, 11:00h
  Industrial Metaverse – Potential for Germany | Panel discussion (in German) with Dr. Dietmar Laß, Fraunhofer ICT Group, and users from industry
• Thursday, April 20, 2023
  Metaverse applications in industrial SMEs in Germany | Panel discussion (in German) with Dr. Leif Oppermann, Fraunhofer FIT, and industrial users
• Friday, April 21, 2023, 14:00h
  Industrial Metaverse demonstrator – 5G and Mixed Reality toolbox | Dr. Leif Oppermann, Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT (in German)