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Integration of Drones and Smart Glasses
Drones are undeniably one of the more current and popular trends in logistics technology.
The introduction of drones and smart glasses is directly related to the aspect of last mile delivery. This is a classic example of how trends in logistics technology are connected and work towards a common goal. Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence innovations are giving logistics companies the chance to improve both flexibility and speed of delivery. Furthermore, smart glasses are setting the foundation for error-free deliveries, with the application of Drone.
Technologies Reshaping the Global Digital Supply Chain!
Drone Delivery
Drone delivery offers some most important promise in last mile delivery challenges in particular. But it comes with a lot of hurdles. Today, these physical innovations do not have a clear business case for large-scale rollout.
Nonetheless, hosts of companies are experimenting / innovating with them to understand their potential and how their business can change for the better when these technologies are successfully implemented.
Drone delivery is hindered by distance and weight limitations, as well as security and delivery confirmation challenges. That being said, drone delivery, with an adequate reception system can have a major effect on improving final mile delivery and reducing the associated costs.
As e-commerce continues to boom, there is a need for a more viable solution to the problem of delivery in heavily congested and confined urban areas is of global importance. There is a huge increase in number of people shifting their base to urban areas. As a result, last mile delivery will become increasingly difficult in urban areas across the globe.
Smart Glasses in the Warehouse
There is a lot of benefit of smart glasses applications which is beyond the manufacturing plant floor and into virtually any hands-on task within the enterprise. Now, a growing number of distribution centers are starting to roll out smart glass pilots in their warehouses.
Thus far, the most popular logistics application is “vision picking,” wherein visual cues and directions for order fulfillment are projected into the user’s field of view. By receiving hands-free, digital information, warehouse workers can get rid of the need for RFID/laser barcode scanners and paper documents to be more productive and efficient.
DHL recently completed a pilot program utilizing smart glasses yielding remarkable results. The smart glasses offers visual displays of order picking instructions along with information on where items are located and where they need to be placed on a cart, freeing pickers’ hands of paper instructions and allowing them to work more efficiently and comfortably.
The international trials show an average improvement of productivity by 15 percent and higher accuracy rates. The user-friendly and intuitive solution has also lessened on-boarding and training times by 50%.
From Smartglasses to Drones: Where logistics 4.0 becomes possible!!
The research and application centers form two testing grounds which, due to their full-scale digitization can, comprehensively explore, evaluate and further develop innovations for hybrid services and man-machine-interaction in practice-oriented industrial applications for the first time.
The testing grounds serve as reference systems to measure the quality of technology innovations, control algorithms or ERP systems and evaluate them in long-term tests.
Drones and Smart Glasses in Logistics
In the logistics space, the rising integration of smart glasses and drones has improved the flexibility and delivery speed which in turn affecting the growth of the last mile logistics market during the expected period. Self-governing vehicles and trucks with advanced technology have been able to maintain high dependability and same-day delivery in both rural and urban areas. Moreover, integration with smart glasses supported by improved reality will aid to make deliveries easier and faster in the logistics industry. The adoption of AI integrated smart glasses will help in face recognition for error-free deliveries, hands-free route searches, and more personalized deliveries.
In the framework of the Innovation lab, two different locations will be realized for practical testing: a research centre and an application centre. In both halls the entire intralogistic supply chain signifies with a focus on work in the future. Application-related demonstrators allow cross-process solutions and innovations to be tested on living objects. Both testing grounds provide as reference systems to measure the quality of technology innovations, control algorithms or ERP systems and evaluate them in long-term tests. This allows companies in transfer projects not only to further develop their own innovations but also to evaluate other technologies with benchmarks and check their eligibility for industrial service.
The research centre serves the experimental – fundamental – testing of new technique and technologies. Equipped with an array of freely configurable and flexibly adaptable trial equipment, it serves the initial and experimental testing and evaluation of technical feasibility. It contains hardly any fixed test fix. A wide range of autonomous stakeholders come together ad hoc in provisional units to provide logistic services. Man-machine-interaction and the interface between manual and digital processes play an important role here. The layout concept for the hall is planned as a three-dimensional space, which ensures all measuring installations and other systems have been selected and planned for this purpose. It will be possible to inspect a large number of different factors at the same time (i.e. people on the ground, drones in the air, robotic vehicles and Internet of Things devices in between). In contrast to this, the application centre focuses on the real, practical demonstration of new techniques and technologies in the context of a Living Lab. The knowledge gained in the research centre is implemented step by step in the application centre and demonstrated as part of operational processes. The focus is on integrating the human element, and to connect it more intensively with both the physical and the digital world.
Our dynamic, modular concept means existing demonstrators can be exchanged quickly with new technological solutions.
Some Example from the control centre: The Supervisory Control Centre is composed of both monitoring and assistance systems that act as a man-machine interface to filter and process information for the consumers. In this way, people are able to arbitrate in the automated, autonomous processes in exceptional situations or when there are breakdowns via both central and decentral devices. Moreover, the Supervisory Control Centre offers the possibility of anticipative planning by combining all information relevant for planning and control. Linking forecasting techniques to methods of simulation allows people to evaluate planned measures according to the situation even before they are initiated. The Supervisory Control Centre supports them in making both operative and strategic decisions. By means of mobile devices the Supervisory Control Centre is accessible for users on the entire shop floor and also for administrators outside the warehouse. Different devices can be used independently to depict the information according to informational stress types (e.g., smartglasses, tablet, smartwatch).
The research and application centers can be flexibly adapted for various testing situation at any time. The dynamic, modular concept means existing demonstrators can be exchanged swiftly with new technological solutions.
Augmented Reality Advancements: Smart Glasses Enable Live Drone Footage
Smart glass combines augmented reality technology and high-resolution displays to provide users information about the world around them. The intelligent eyewear has advanced see-through optics that projects a display in full color by means of digital light processing technology. Some models of smart glasses are now integrated with drones, allowing users to see what the drone sees from high above in real time.
Augmented reality lets users see additional information about what is viewed through smart glasses, including objects, landscapes or even people. Smart glasses also allow users to control drones without the need for a Smartphone or a tablet. Users can communicate with the system using voice, signs, or finger sweep.
Industries Where Drones Are Being Leveraged
Drones are pilotless aircraft that operate with the use of computer vision, artificial intelligence, and other technologies. Drones have moved beyond consumer use and defense into a whole lot of industries. Autonomy and collision avoidance technologies are leveraged to perform increasingly complex tasks.
Emergency Response
Drones are being used for emergency response lately. Drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras help emergency response teams find victims who are difficult to locate with the naked eye. Drones can assist in search and rescue operations and deliver medical devices on demand. It helps Governments and businesses to increase survival rates in rural and urban areas around the world with the use of emergency-response drones.
Healthcare
Drones are used to provide access to modern medicine in rural regions around the world. Medical supplies can be delivered by traditional means, but some emergencies call for fast access to drugs, blood, and medical technology. Drones help to fill the need.
Agriculture
Agricultural workers are able to gather data, automate redundant processes, and increase efficiency with the use of drones. Farmers use drones to reduce costs and increase yields. Drones are also used to pollinate flowers and may one day help compensate for the declining bee population.
Energy
The energy sector uses drones to inspect equipment and facilities remotely, efficiently and safely. Drone providers have programs that focus on oil and gas inspection and are also used to inspect offshore rigs. Pipeline assessments can also be done remotely.
Mining
Because mining is dependent on capital-intensive investments, constant measurement and assessment of physical materials is necessary. Drones can capture volumetric data on stockpiles and inspect mining operations from the air. This reduces risks involved for surveyors on the ground.
A valuable tool for a variety of diverse and complex industry applications, smart glasses allow users to see what the drones see, including objects, landscapes, or even people. With a simple voice command, the drone can be directed to deliver the real-time images that can save lives or even improve business outcomes.
References:
https://truckguru.co.in/blog/emerging-trends-for-logistics-industry-in-2019/
https://moversdev.com/biggest-trends-in-logistics-technology
