As augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies come of age, manufacturers are finding easier ways to adopt these technologies on many fronts—from product development, to training, to maintenance and repair, to worker safety.
The San Jose (CA) Mercury News (1/2, Lee) reports augmented reality is “roaring back to prominence as one of Silicon Valley’s favorite frontier technologies,” and notes that Google Glass “made a comeback in 2017 as a niche, industrial product.”
In a post for its ‘Forbes Technology Council’ series, Forbes (1/2, Clemons) reports that although “members of the C-suite may rarely interact directly with smart technologies, they are nonetheless vital to achieving the strategic objectives of the business, including improving customer service, achieving operational efficiencies, innovating for the future, reducing risk, meeting standards and regulations, and improving company management.”
Defense systems are, by design, built to defend against threats.
PRNewswire (12/14) reports the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) has opened the first of several planned training centers “to meet the needs of an industry with a growing skills gap and shortage of middle skilled workers.”
The AP (12/14) reports that Stanford Professor Andrew Ng, “one of the leading figures in AI,” has launched a startup called Landing. AI, with aspirations “to help manufacturing companies use computer algorithms to cut costs, improve quality control, remove supply-chain bottlenecks, and more.”
In a brief, Reuters (12/4) reports that Bombardier Aerostructures and Engineering Services has been selected for a new Airbus Nacelle Program, in support of a new engine for the “A320NEO family of aircraft.”
A feature story for Wired (12/3, Stockton) reports on the potential use of shapeshifting metals on airplane wings, which “affects virtually every aspect of flight, and making them from metal that can change its shape in midair could make your journey smoother, safer, and more efficient.”
The AP (11/28, McHugh) reports, “Airbus, Siemens and Rolls-Royce are teaming up to develop a hybrid passenger plane that would use a single electric turbofan along with three conventional jet engines running on aviation fuel.”
Boeing Co. is seeking “thousands” of applicants for open manufacturing jobs in Washington state, according to KOMO. Boeing is seeking “veterans who have recently separated from the military or recent graduates of academic manufacturing programs,” KOMO said.