Innovative service - mixed reality headset for VR diagnosis

Avoiding machine downtime is of paramount importance in harvesting, especially in combine harvesting and narrow harvesting windows. This applies equally to high-capacity and ‘small’ plot combines.

As a specialist manufacturer of trial plot equipment, Zürn Harvesting GmbH & Co. KG now presents innovative VR technology that helps to quickly assist the operator when the machine is down in the field. The technology allows operators to dial into the Zürn Service Centre and establish a data communication link via the mobile phone network or WiFi. “

This is done by wearing the mixed reality headset,” says service engineer John Olsen. “The headset transmits the operator’s field of view to a display screen at the service centre while the operator’s hands are free to adjust machine settings or perform tasks on the machine.” “The service engineer can overlay information in the operator’s field of view or highlight specific components inside the machine,” continues John Olsen.

Zürn Augmented Mechanic (ZAM) combines human expertise with innovative means of communication, such as a mixed reality headset, for service experts to remotely share their expertise with operators or service technicians in the field. Initial trials of the ZAM system have been promising.

The system is used for traditional troubleshooting and diagnostics, as well as for operator training, optimising machine settings and providing technical assistance to customers commissioning a new machine. As such, it helps save travel time and costs and provides an initial assistance for all kinds of machine issues on a global scale.