.jpg)
Introduction
Immersive technologies are revolutionising the industrial sector by streamlining infrastructure management and enhancing team training. With tools such as 360° cameras (link to the article on cameras), it is now possible to map industrial sites, perform remote inspections, and enhance employee safety. These innovations bring time savings, accuracy, and safety benefits while optimising industrial processes. Discover how these innovations are modernising your industrial processes.
1. Facility Management Reinvented with 360°
A. 360° Mapping: Simplify On-Site Interventions
360° digital mapping allows for a detailed view of industrial installations, facilitating space management and maintenance planning. By using RICOH THETA 360° cameras to capture comprehensive images, industries can document their sites and easily share them with all stakeholders, whether on-site or remote. This optimises infrastructure understanding and contributes to improved collaboration.
For example, in the aerospace sector, Safran utilises this technology with its Skyreal application to enable its teams to familiarise themselves with industrial sites before any intervention. This approach reduces intervention times, enhances infrastructure comprehension, and simplifies preventive maintenance through precise visualisation of installations.
B. 360° Mapping: Optimise and Secure On-Site Visits
Industrial Site Visits
Virtual factory tours provide an ideal solution for showcasing industrial sites to partners, investors, or employees without requiring them to travel. With interactive 360° images, it is possible to explore every area of the factory in detail and view workstations.
The interactive tours offered by Webrunner, a versatile digital agency specialising in various digital domains, such as high-performance web platform creation and online visibility enhancement, immerse users in industrial environments rich in detail, with additional content like expert testimonials and explanatory videos for each workstation. This type of presentation not only improves communication with partners but also helps internal teams better understand industrial processes, simplifying resource and operations management. They do this for Bosch and other clients, with the example below showing an interactive virtual tour created for a Bosch factory.
.gif)
Remote Site Inspections
For remote site inspections, Intuitive Robots has collaborated with clients such as RTE, who use robots to conduct night surveillance rounds on industrial sites.
To make this possible, complex industrial site inspections are carried out by Boston Dynamics' autonomous Spot robots, equipped with the RICOH THETA Z1 360° camera on their backs. These robots, operated remotely by operators, enable site surveillance without requiring constant human presence, providing a secure and automated monitoring solution for businesses. The real-time 360° images captured by the THETA Z1 allow for rapid anomaly detection, thus strengthening on-site safety.With the image quality and optimal brightness management of the THETA Z1 camera, operators can precisely inspect complex areas even in low light, making the THETA Z1 the perfect camera for such environments.
Inspections in Challenging Environments
For inspections in complex or hazardous environments, robots equipped with 360° cameras, such as those used by Intuitive Robots with Boston Dynamics, provide a particularly suitable solution.
Intuitive Robots applies this technology for other clients, such as RATP, in dangerous and hard-to-reach areas, such as underground infrastructures. This allows operators to inspect infrastructures remotely while reducing human risks. With the combination of the THETA Z1 360° camera and artificial intelligence algorithms, these robots can detect early signs of failure with unmatched precision, making predictive industrial maintenance more effective. This synergy between 360° technology and AI creates a powerful solution for proactive industrial site monitoring.
Inspections in Challenging Environments
For inspections in complex or hazardous environments, robots equipped with 360° cameras, such as those used by Intuitive Robots with Boston Dynamics, provide a particularly suitable solution.
Intuitive Robots applies this technology for other clients, such as RATP, in dangerous and hard-to-reach areas, such as underground infrastructures. This allows operators to inspect infrastructures remotely while reducing human risks. With the combination of the THETA Z1 360° camera and artificial intelligence algorithms, these robots can detect early signs of failure with unmatched precision, making predictive industrial maintenance more effective. This synergy between 360° technology and AI creates a powerful solution for proactive industrial site monitoring.
2. 360° at the Heart of Immersive Training for Industry
A. Virtual Training: Quickly Upskill Your Teams
Immersive environments digitised by 360° technologies add real value to industrial training. By capturing 360° images of real sites, cameras like the THETA can recreate precise working environments where employees can train under realistic conditions.
Uptale, a specialist in immersive training, uses the THETA camera to create virtual reality training modules, incorporating 360° captures that replicate real factory conditions. This digitalisation allows operators to train in immersive spaces that reflect industrial sites. Once digitised, Uptale provides virtual reality headsets for employees to practise technical skills, observe procedures, and adapt to on-site constraints without risks or limitations. These trainings reduce learning time by 50% compared to traditional methods, while enhancing the retention of essential skills. This frees up resources and allows for quick, unrestricted upskilling.
B. Risk Prevention: Simulate Hazards for Enhanced Safety
On industrial sites where errors can have serious consequences, safety training is critical. Immersive simulations based on 360° images recreate hazardous situations, training teams to respond correctly to incidents without exposing them to real risks.
In this regard, Safran uses immersive training to prepare its teams to intervene on industrial sites before they enter them. 360° cameras capture complex environments, such as production lines or assembly areas, providing a realistic simulation of the safety protocols to follow. Employees can navigate these virtual environments, train, and learn to respond safely.With solutions like those offered by Uptale, the training process is simple and efficient. Users begin by logging in to the platform, then complete the training in virtual reality, where they face safety scenarios in simulated environments. Upon completing and validating the training, they receive a certificate attesting to their skills. Only after mastering all aspects of safety are they authorised to physically access industrial sites, ensuring safe intervention.
Conclusion
Immersive technologies are transforming the industry by enabling optimised infrastructure management and immersive team training. With tools like 360° cameras and virtual reality, you can map sites, ensure safe inspections, and train employees effectively for complex situations, reducing costs and improving safety.
The THETA range from RICOH, designed for industrial environments, offers high-quality 360° captures that meet the requirements of major industries. Our expertise in this field supports their transformation projects by providing reliable and high-performing equipment. With partners like Webrunner and Intuitive Robots, modernise your practices and optimise your operations.
.svg)
