Wärtsilä Seals & Bearings has introduced augmented reality and smart glasses in stern tube seals & bearings services, creating a whole new dimension in repair and maintenance operations.
Augmented reality technology does not only have one specific application. It can be used for a multitude of different tasks. For example, a field service engineer, a member of a ship’s crew or shipyard personnel will have immediate access to the global expertise of Wärtsilä Seals & Bearings – regardless of where and when help is needed.
The use of augmented reality technology simplifies troubleshooting and speeds up the service and repair of stern tube equipment. It also makes tasks like inspections, alignment measurements, on-site machining, shaft straightening and newbuilding commissioning much simpler – and faster – than before. The time and cost-saving possibilities are enormous.
“Augmented reality can be used to solve complex problems that would otherwise require considerable time to resolve. Smart glasses – equipped with WiFi, Bluetooth, camera and microphone – enable real-time communication with a remotely located Wärtsilä expert who can see and hear exactly what happens on board, in drydock or in a workshop, no matter how far the customer’s installation is,” said Thomas Pauly, Product Manager, Seals & Bearings Future Technologies.
A person on site can send and receive visual images, listen to the specialist’s advice, and receive written instructions in front of his/her eyes on see-through-displays. The expert at Wärtsilä’s Expertise Centre can guide the person on site through the actions needed to be performed in order to solve the problem.
“The expert, located far, far away from the vessel can demonstrate how to make the repairs using images, manuals and even video footage. All while the engineer on site can continue to work. It’s like having a Wärtsilä service engineer by your side 24/7, with the bonus that this ‘virtual’ service engineer has real-time access to the vast wealth of information and expertise that Wärtsilä has accumulated over the years,” Pauly added.
Wärtsilä said that believed that by embracing new ways of thinking, developing and collaborating, significant value can be created.
Currently, Wärtsilä is carrying out trials with selected customers to establish smart procedures for using augmented reality in a broad range of seals & bearings tasks.
The technology can be used, for example when working on installations in remote parts of the world where access is restricted, or on board ships when there is no GSM signal.
With the smart glasses, the person on site can take videos and pictures of a situation which can be saved on the glasses’ internal memory. These files can then be sent to the centre, for example via a satellite connection or via a GSM when there is signal available.
“Augmented reality enabled repair and maintenance services deliver significant added value in terms of quality, lower costs, and increased uptime. They will take the seals and bearings related repair and maintenance services to the next level,” Pauly concluded.