By Laura Kobylecky

Rachel Crane, an Innovation and Space Reporter for CNN, is interviewing Kat Coderre, Systems Engineer/Senior Staff at Lockheed Martin, and Jana Stoudemire Commercial Innovation Officer at Space Tango. Her conversation circles largely around the ways that space travel and the ISS have inspired innovations that can apply both in space and back on earth.

The upcoming Artemis program is supposed to include another moon landing and this is the sort of situation that calls for increased radiation protection
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Kat Coderre and Astrorad

Kat Coderre is working on a project that could be very important for the future of space travel. She is working on Astrorad (1) “a vest that is designed to protect astronauts from the deep space radiation environment.” The project is an example of the kind of global collaboration that is sometimes necessary and now possible for space innovation. For Astrorad, Lockheed Martin Partnered with Stemrad, “a small Israeli business” and repurposed a product they invented to protect people from radiation on earth. With the help of “NASA, the Israeli Space Agency, and The German Aerospace Center” they are adapting it for use in space.

This project is an example of how space brings together “big players” and “a lot of smaller businesses” even those that might not normally work together. Coderre explains that “the ISS has really enabled this to happen.”

Rachel Crane, an Innovation and Space Reporter for CNN, is interviewing Kat Coderre
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This week, on the ISS, they are doing their “first set of tests” on the Astrorad. It is “an ergonomics experiment to see if the vest is comfortable.” They need to know “if the crew can actually do what they need to do” in the microgravity of space. Coderre explains that “it’s super fun” to test on the ISS and have the chance to speak with the crew. The “real-time feedback” is both crucial and exciting.

Eventually, they would like to put the Astrorad through “an actual deep-space radiation environment test.” This is crucial because once they move farther from low earth orbit, the astronauts will face even higher levels of radiation. The upcoming Artemis program is supposed to include another moon landing and this is the sort of situation that calls for increased radiation protection. In future missions to deeper space, the vests could allow the astronauts to “stay longer in space” and “fly for many more missions” by protecting the astronauts from the potential risks of cancer caused by the “high radiation dosage.”

These vests could be a crucial part of making that possible. Coderre speaks highly of working on this project with the ISS. She explains that “from the start of actually being selected as a payload all the way through opps and then post opps” you have “a really great support team. This project was a bit more complicated because it involved “human research,” but the team involved with the ISS “helped us to walk us through that process.” They will be testing to assure that the vests are safe for astronauts and won’t cause any problems on the ISS. Coderre finds it exciting to be able to “able to talk live with the crew” and also “cool to see them on the space station working with your hardware.”

Jana Stoudemire and Space Tango

Jana Stoudemire also talks about research and development in space and the work being done by Spacetango (2). They flew their first payloads in 2017 and have been part of 18 missions since then. They are focused on “leading the commercialization efforts to build new markets in low earth orbit for the space economy.” Future grown may be more possible than ever because “the infrastructure that’s being put in space” will allow them to “leverage that commercial space economy.”

There are commercial crew missions, commercial resupply missions and eventually there will be private astronaut missions. These new segments will “expand the commercial potential that we have up there.” And what’s up there is valuable. Microgravity can “change the physical and biological properties of systems.” These changes can be useful from a research perspective. Their goal is to eventually manufacture biomedical and technology related products” that can do good for the people back on the ground.

One example is LambdaVision “the first protein-based artificial retina to restore meaningful vision for patients who are blind or have lost significant sight due to advanced retinal degenerative diseases” (3). The company is an early-stage startup. According to Stoudemire they use a “a layer by layer deposition process that benefits from the uniformity you get in microgravity.”

There are other properties unique to microgravity environment and, according to Stoudemire, Space Tango intends to “to leverage those properties for manufacturing.” She explains that research in microgravity makes you think differently. The questions you ask “after you’ve worked in microgravity” are ones “that you wouldn’t have thought of beforehand.”

One thing that makes these experiments possible is automation. The astronauts are very busy and Stoudemire explains that “we really can’t thank the astronauts that are up there enough” because “they do a lot of science. The automation of some tasks “helps to offload” the burden so the astronauts can focus on the tasks they absolutely must do themselves like “spacewalks, keeping the station running and exercising to keep themselves healthy.”

Space Tango has seen great value in “automated systems” that can be initially installed by the astronauts and then commanded from the ground. According to her these automated systems don’t really “require as much of their time as some of the more manual experiments that they have to do.” By expanding automation they can expand the capacity of what can be accomplished with the help of astronauts on the ISS.

One thing that makes these experiments possible is automation
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Stoudemire speaks highly of the future of space, explaining that “it’s really an interesting time.” According to her we “have American astronauts launch from American soil on American rockets” and because of this “visibility of space is back and it’s cool.” She believes this will encourage more people to start “to get behind the space program again.” She encourages people in this time to “dream big, reach for those stars, and keep going.”

Kat Coderre and Jana Stoudemire have brought optimism about innovation in space to CES. In this time when many people are more confined than ever before, they may dream of exciting innovations and global collaborations occurring far above their heads.

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Laura Kobylecky is a contributing writer to Tech Trends. She is particularly interested in new and emerging technology and culture. Connect with her on LinkedIn 

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Lockheed Martin’s space division has partnered with Scope AR to support the manufacturing of spacecraft, including NASA’s Orion.

Lockheed Martin’s space division is now using Mixed Reality headsets and software to speed up the time it takes for engineers to learn about and conduct manufacturing processes on spacecraft. The defence contractor is one of many major industry players to embrace Mixed Reality and incorporate immersive tech in their industrial processes.

Lockheed Martin is one of many major industry players to embrace Mixed Reality and incorporate immersive tech in their industrial processes
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What started as a pilot has been incorporated into the company’s manufacturing processes, including those involving the Orion space vehicle being built for NASA to travel to Mars
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They began experimenting and studying how to use augmented reality in production beginning five years ago, but what started as a pilot to explore what would be possible using the technology has increasingly been incorporated into the company’s manufacturing processes, including those involving the Orion space vehicle being built for NASA to eventually travel to Mars.

“In a complex field where errors simply cannot be made, Scope AR’s WorkLink Augmented Reality platform has tremendously helped our space division build high quality spacecraft by reducing the time it takes to interpret work instructions by more than 95 percent, as well as reducing training time and errors significantly,” says Shelley Peterson, emerging technologies lead, Lockheed Martin. “The ability to easily use the product across platforms means that anyone on our team, including our interns, can take advantage of AR to build and use manufacturing instructions quickly and accurately.”

Whereas technicians previously relied on paper instruction or computer 3D models viewed through a screen, they can now overlay data and schematics directly onto the relevant environment using the Microsoft HoloLens. Using AR, workers can now see the digital information and work instructions needed overlaid onto the actual components of the spacecraft. Giving technicians the tools to readily access information as and when they need it has resulted in extremely positive ROI.

Whereas technicians previously relied on paper instruction or computer 3D models viewed through a screen, they can now overlay data and schematics directly onto the relevant environment
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Using AR, workers can now see the digital information and work instructions needed overlaid onto the actual components of the spacecraft
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Over the course of their AR deployment, the team achieved an astonishing 95% reduction in the time it takes technicians to interpret drawings and text instructions and 85% reduction in overall time for training.

“Lockheed Martin’s use of WorkLink is a great example of how dramatically AR technology can improve understanding of complicated instructions and technician efficiency, while also reducing errors in manufacturing,” says Scott Montgomerie, co-founder and CEO of Scope AR.

And since Scope AR software doesn’t require complex coding, Lockheed Martin IT workers can quickly design 3-D representations of relevant objects and instructions to be overlaid onto real-world environments and pieces of equipment.

The team achieved 95% reduction in the time it takes technicians to interpret drawings and text instructions and 85% reduction in overall time for training.
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“The reduction in time to create AR work instructions is the key enabler for this new technology,” adds Peterson. “In the past, it could take an expert software engineer months to create a set of work instructions.  Using Scope AR’s WorkLink platform, an entry level engineer can build a more advanced work instruction within days. And, these are not simple, one step procedures – the instructions are enabling technicians to manufacture major components of a spacecraft. We have had teaching fellows and interns join us for a summer and after taking an online training course which lasts less than a day, they are able to start building basic AR work instructions in WorkLink.  Before the week is over, they are skillfully building more advanced work instruction sets.”

At this rate, it looks like Mixed Reality could make a very significant contribution to – as Buzz Aldrin puts it – getting our ass to Mars. To infinity and beyond indeed…

It looks like Mixed Reality could make a significant contribution to getting our ass to Mars
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The reduction in time to create AR work instructions is the key enabler for this new technology
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For companies looking to get into VR/AR/MR our Virtual Reality Consultancy services offer guidance on how these technologies can enhance and support your brand strategy.

Alice Bonasio is a VR Consultant and Tech Trends’ Editor in Chief. She also regularly writes for Fast Company, Ars Technica, Quartz, Wired and others. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow @alicebonasio and @techtrends_tech on Twitter.

The post Building Spaceships with Mixed Reality appeared first on Tech Trends.

The first global functional requirements guidelines document created to introduce and rollout augmented reality (AR) on the manufacturing floor was released this month by the Augmented Reality for Enterprise Alliance (AREA) and UI LABS.

The global AR market is expected to exceed $95 billion USD by 2023, according to a recent Credence Research report.  Big Market Research reports that the global augmented reality and virtual reality gear market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 37.45% between 2017-2021.

“Augmented reality has immense potential to transform manufacturing, and early adopters are seeing impressive productivity and quality improvements,” said Thomas McDermott, executive director of DMDII. “However, wide adoption of this technology requires collaboration among the industrial companies operating on the front lines and the AR providers designing solutions to ensure the technology under development meets the needs of industry.”

Augmented reality superimposes computer-generated content on a user’s view of the real world, using glasses, headsets or tablets to provide a composite view.  Unlike virtual reality, which creates a totally artificial environment, AR retains the existing environment and displays new information on top of it.

The global AR market is expected to exceed $95 billion USD
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The guidelines were put together by 65 companies such as Proctor & Gamble, Caterpillar and Lockheed Martin with the aim of helping AR technology companies develop products for industrial users.

“For the first time, industry — both suppliers and users in the AR space — will have access to a benchmark set of requirements that will help them develop a roadmap and source, select, evaluate and deploy augmented reality solutions,” said Mark Sage, executive director of AREA.  “These functional requirements will be used to help continue the development of the AR ecosystem.”

These AR functional requirements documents will lead to technology that improves the performance and efficiency for manufacturers in a number of areas, including employee training and safety; factory floor and field services operations; machine assembly, inspection and repair; manufacturing space and product design; and much more.

AR retains the existing environment and displays new information on top of it
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The AREA, a membership-funded alliance helping to accelerate the adoption of enterprise AR, will be responsible for the on-going development, maintenance and updating of the documents produced through this initiative.

The AREA supports innovative companies aspiring to invest in AR
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UI LABS has more than 300 members from industry, government, community organizations, and academic and research institutions. It is building a portfolio of applied research and commercialization innovation platforms to improve its partners’ competitiveness and financial performance, and transform industries, bringing University and industry players together with start-ups and government to collaborate on problems too big for any one organization to solve on its own.

“At this stage, the consensus is that we are still several years away from standards. The effort by Procter & Gamble and other organizations is to develop requirements to create an AR ecosystem for enterprises and vendors,” said Jeff LeRoy, Senior Manager, Procter & Gamble.

In February 2014, UI LABS announced the formation of its first innovation platform, the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII), in partnership with the Department of Defense, to transform American manufacturing through the digitization of the supply chain. DMDII’s goal was to provide U.S. factories with the tools, software and expertise they need to build things more efficiently, less expensively, and more quickly, so they can win more business and bring jobs back to the United States.

The documents address features that include:

• Hardware:  Battery Life; Connectivity; Field of View; On-board Storage; On-board Operating System; Environmental; Inputs/Outputs and Safety.
• Software:  Authoring; AR Content; Creating 3D Content; Deployment of AR Content and Internet of Things.

The AREA supports innovative companies aspiring to invest in AR who need a better understanding of the tools available, application possibilities, methods of implementation and return on investment.  It provides a free and open exchange of best practices, lessons learned, and technological insights which can help enterprises effectively implement AR technology, boost operational efficiency and create long-term benefit.

If you would like to find out how to leverage VR/AR/MR in your enterprise, get in touch about Tech Trends’ Virtual Reality Consultancy services

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