dannywholey22-blog

[dannywholey22-blog]

VR In The Automotive Industry

Virtual reality is known to many as one of the latest technologies and has been gaining a lot of attention in the last few years. But for the automotive industry, it’s already been put to use and is a well-established part of their value chain. In fact, Ford has been using virtual reality since 1999. 

Ford currently has a lab dedicated to VR testing known as FIVE (Ford Immersive Vehicle Environment). The lab is the size of a deep two-car garage, and is painted and carpeted gray-black. Through the lab, Ford is able to enable designers, engineers, and researchers to fully experience a concept before a physical car is actually made. One of Ford’s virtual reality and advanced visualization technical specialist said in regards to the VR process, “We put on the headset, walk around the [virtual] car, and then get inside and assess the craft and quality of the vehicles.” 

People across the globe at Ford centers can see the live feed and make instant feedback. This has led to globally appealing products while reducing costs and time-to-market. Ford also uses the lab to train its employees along the assembly line to improve efficiency and reduce injuries.

Through virtual reality, programming self-driving cars to learn how to act in traffic situations has become extremely efficient. This year, Ford and Volkswagen agreed to develop new commercial vans and pickups together to go to market by 2022 and cooperate on technologies like electric cars and autonomous driving. 

But why is virtual reality such an essential part of their value chain? Because of the physical tests associated with bringing a car to market. Prototype cars, known as “test mules” cost several thousand dollars for a typical economical car; more luxurious cars cost substantially more. Considering that engineers go through hundreds of prototypes in the testing phase of a car, these costs become substantial to car manufacturers. Also, when doing physical tests, car manufacturers risk exposing their latest innovative models to competitors and photographers who are hired by magazines to take photo’s of upcoming models. Car manufacturers go to great lengths to hide their models during physical tests. For example, sometimes engineers form a human shield around the prototype at testing facilities to hide it from photographers in the area. Other times, engineers will use a complex pattern like the one above to confuse the camera lens, to make a lesser quality photo that would not be appealing to car magazines. By bringing more tests into the virtual space, car manufacturers are able to reduce their costs substantially and keep their models and innovative measures from leaking to the public. 

VR is being applied in numerous industries. But the car manufacturing industry has been using it for the past two decades and is reaping substantial benefits from the technology. Using it they can work on other innovations in a much more efficient way. And in my opinion, it’s thanks to VR that we have self-driving cars. 

Update:

I recently came across a new technology used in the Extended Reality space; haptic feedback. Haptic feedback is where the user uses a special technologically-advanced suit or glove and actually feel the virtual objects. For example, someone could put on a headset, see a virtual beachball, and actually feel the beachball as it bounces off their hands. If you’re interested in buying one (I certainly am), a full haptic feedback suit is currently selling to non-commercial users for $300. As for the automotive industry, I believe this could have a huge impact.

In the auto industry, this means that engineers could potentially actually feel the car in the virtual space. They can open the car door, feel the vibration of the car as it turns on, and even operate the car through a virtual testing track. Imagine the opportunities that this could have. All the physical tests involving physically feeling the qualities of a car could be brought into the virtual space one day. In fact, I believe haptic feedback provides for the opportunity to fully bring the car-testing process into the virtual space. The number of prototypes created would be vastly reduced, innovative measures could be fully shielded from unwelcome observers, and cars could be brought to market at a substantially faster rate. 

The reason why I put in this update is to show how the VR industry is still growing and innovating, and the innovation in the VR industry could have vast applications for the automotive industry. Although it’s speculative, I firmly believe that car manufacturers will start implementing haptic feedback, and in the near future, we’ll start seeing more new car models, and more innovation in terms of green energy and autonomous vehicles. In a few years, who knows what will be on the streets… or even in the air!

Sources

1.      https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/auto-manufacturing/automotive-quality-control.htm

2.      https://www.designboom.com/technology/ford-virtual-reality-lab-vehicle-design-01-15-2017/

3.      https://www.improovr.com/blog/the-use-cases-and-benefits-of-vr-in-the-automotive-industry/

4.      https://www.qorvo.com/design-hub/blog/automotive-quality-standards-101-what-qualification-really-gets-you

5.      https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/01/hardlight-suit-gets-permanent-base-price-reduction-to-299-99/

6.      https://virtualrealitypop.com/extending-reality-with-haptic-feedback-63920704801d

7.      https://virtualrealitypop.com/extending-reality-with-haptic-feedback-63920704801d

[dannywholey22-blog]

VR In The Automotive Industry

Virtual reality is known to many as one of the latest technologies and has been gaining a lot of attention in the last few years. But for the automotive industry, it’s already been put to use and is a well-established part of their value chain. In fact, Ford has been using virtual reality since 1999. 

Ford currently has a lab dedicated to VR testing known as FIVE (Ford Immersive Vehicle Environment). The lab is the size of a deep two-car garage, and is painted and carpeted gray-black. Through the lab, Ford is able to enable designers, engineers, and researchers to fully experience a concept before a physical car is actually made. One of Ford’s virtual reality and advanced visualization technical specialist said in regards to the VR process, “We put on the headset, walk around the [virtual] car, and then get inside and assess the craft and quality of the vehicles.” 

People across the globe at Ford centers can see the live feed and make instant feedback. This has led to globally appealing products while reducing costs and time-to-market. Ford also uses the lab to train its employees along the assembly line to improve efficiency and reduce injuries.

Through virtual reality, programming self-driving cars to learn how to act in traffic situations has become extremely efficient. This year, Ford and Volkswagen agreed to develop new commercial vans and pickups together to go to market by 2022 and cooperate on technologies like electric cars and autonomous driving. 

But why is virtual reality such an essential part of their value chain? Because of the physical tests associated with bringing a car to market. Prototype cars, known as “test mules” cost several thousand dollars for a typical economical car; more luxurious cars cost substantially more. Considering that engineers go through hundreds of prototypes in the testing phase of a car, these costs become substantial to car manufacturers. Also, when doing physical tests, car manufacturers risk exposing their latest innovative models to competitors and photographers who are hired by magazines to take photo’s of upcoming models. Car manufacturers go to great lengths to hide their models during physical tests. For example, sometimes engineers form a human shield around the prototype at testing facilities to hide it from photographers in the area. Other times, engineers will use a complex pattern like the one above to confuse the camera lens, to make a lesser quality photo that would not be appealing to car magazines. By bringing more tests into the virtual space, car manufacturers are able to reduce their costs substantially and keep their models and innovative measures from leaking to the public. 

VR is being applied in numerous industries. But the car manufacturing industry has been using it for the past two decades and is reaping substantial benefits from the technology. Using it they can work on other innovations in a much more efficient way. And in my opinion, it’s thanks to VR that we have self-driving cars. 

Update:

I recently came across a new technology used in the Extended Reality space; haptic feedback. Haptic feedback is where the user uses a special technologically-advanced suit or glove and actually feel the virtual objects. For example, someone could put on a headset, see a virtual beachball, and actually feel the beachball as it bounces off their hands. If you’re interested in buying one (I certainly am), a full haptic feedback suit is currently selling to non-commercial users for $300. As for the automotive industry, I believe this could have a huge impact.

In the auto industry, this means that engineers could potentially actually feel the car in the virtual space. They can open the car door, feel the vibration of the car as it turns on, and even operate the car through a virtual testing track. Imagine the opportunities that this could have. All the physical tests involving physically feeling the qualities of a car could be brought into the virtual space one day. In fact, I believe haptic feedback provides for the opportunity to fully bring the car-testing process into the virtual space. The number of prototypes created would be vastly reduced, innovative measures could be fully shielded from unwelcome observers, and cars could be brought to market at a substantially faster rate. 

The reason why I put in this update is to show how the VR industry is still growing and innovating, and the innovation in the VR industry could have vast applications for the automotive industry. Although it’s speculative, I firmly believe that car manufacturers will start implementing haptic feedback, and in the near future, we’ll start seeing more new car models, and more innovation in terms of green energy and autonomous vehicles. In a few years, who knows what will be on the streets… or even in the air!

Sources

1.      https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/auto-manufacturing/automotive-quality-control.htm

2.      https://www.designboom.com/technology/ford-virtual-reality-lab-vehicle-design-01-15-2017/

3.      https://www.improovr.com/blog/the-use-cases-and-benefits-of-vr-in-the-automotive-industry/

4.      https://www.qorvo.com/design-hub/blog/automotive-quality-standards-101-what-qualification-really-gets-you

5.      https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/01/hardlight-suit-gets-permanent-base-price-reduction-to-299-99/

6.      https://virtualrealitypop.com/extending-reality-with-haptic-feedback-63920704801d

7.      https://virtualrealitypop.com/extending-reality-with-haptic-feedback-63920704801d

[dannywholey22-blog]

VR In The Automotive Industry

Virtual reality is known to many as one of the latest technologies and has been gaining a lot of attention in the last few years. But for the automotive industry, it’s already been put to use and is a well-established part of their value chain. In fact, Ford has been using virtual reality since 1999. 

Ford currently has a lab dedicated to VR testing known as FIVE (Ford Immersive Vehicle Environment). The lab is the size of a deep two-car garage, and is painted and carpeted gray-black. Through the lab, Ford is able to enable designers, engineers, and researchers to fully experience a concept before a physical car is actually made. One of Ford’s virtual reality and advanced visualization technical specialist said in regards to the VR process, “We put on the headset, walk around the [virtual] car, and then get inside and assess the craft and quality of the vehicles.” 

People across the globe at Ford centers can see the live feed and make instant feedback. This has led to globally appealing products while reducing costs and time-to-market. Ford also uses the lab to train its employees along the assembly line to improve efficiency and reduce injuries.

Through virtual reality, programming self-driving cars to learn how to act in traffic situations has become extremely efficient. This year, Ford and Volkswagen agreed to develop new commercial vans and pickups together to go to market by 2022 and cooperate on technologies like electric cars and autonomous driving. 

But why is virtual reality such an essential part of their value chain? Because of the physical tests associated with bringing a car to market. Prototype cars, known as “test mules” cost several thousand dollars for a typical economical car; more luxurious cars cost substantially more. Considering that engineers go through hundreds of prototypes in the testing phase of a car, these costs become substantial to car manufacturers. Also, when doing physical tests, car manufacturers risk exposing their latest innovative models to competitors and photographers who are hired by magazines to take photo’s of upcoming models. Car manufacturers go to great lengths to hide their models during physical tests. For example, sometimes engineers form a human shield around the prototype at testing facilities to hide it from photographers in the area. Other times, engineers will use a complex pattern like the one above to confuse the camera lens, to make a lesser quality photo that would not be appealing to car magazines. By bringing more tests into the virtual space, car manufacturers are able to reduce their costs substantially and keep their models and innovative measures from leaking to the public. 

VR is being applied in numerous industries. But the car manufacturing industry has been using it for the past two decades and is reaping substantial benefits from the technology. Using it they can work on other innovations in a much more efficient way. And in my opinion, it’s thanks to VR that we have self-driving cars. 

Update:

I recently came across a new technology used in the Extended Reality space; haptic feedback. Haptic feedback is where the user uses a special technologically-advanced suit or glove and actually feel the virtual objects. For example, someone could put on a headset, see a virtual beachball, and actually feel the beachball as it bounces off their hands. If you’re interested in buying one (I certainly am), a full haptic feedback suit is currently selling to non-commercial users for $300. As for the automotive industry, I believe this could have a huge impact.

In the auto industry, this means that engineers could potentially actually feel the car in the virtual space. They can open the car door, feel the vibration of the car as it turns on, and even operate the car through a virtual testing track. Imagine the opportunities that this could have. All the physical tests involving physically feeling the qualities of a car could be brought into the virtual space one day. In fact, I believe haptic feedback provides for the opportunity to fully bring the car-testing process into the virtual space. The number of prototypes created would be vastly reduced, innovative measures could be fully shielded from unwelcome observers, and cars could be brought to market at a substantially faster rate. 

The reason why I put in this update is to show how the VR industry is still growing and innovating, and the innovation in the VR industry could have vast applications for the automotive industry. Although it’s speculative, I firmly believe that car manufacturers will start implementing haptic feedback, and in the near future, we’ll start seeing more new car models, and more innovation in terms of green energy and autonomous vehicles. In a few years, who knows what will be on the streets... or even in the air!

Sources

1.      https://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/auto-manufacturing/automotive-quality-control.htm

2.      https://www.designboom.com/technology/ford-virtual-reality-lab-vehicle-design-01-15-2017/

3.      https://www.improovr.com/blog/the-use-cases-and-benefits-of-vr-in-the-automotive-industry/

4.      https://www.qorvo.com/design-hub/blog/automotive-quality-standards-101-what-qualification-really-gets-you

5.      https://www.vrfocus.com/2018/01/hardlight-suit-gets-permanent-base-price-reduction-to-299-99/

6.      https://virtualrealitypop.com/extending-reality-with-haptic-feedback-63920704801d

7.      https://virtualrealitypop.com/extending-reality-with-haptic-feedback-63920704801d

[dannywholey22-blog]

VR/AR Applications in Business

Holograms used to be something just found in Star Wars movies, but thanks to virtual reality and augmented reality, holograms are becoming a real part of the workplace in many industries.

Imagine you are an architect and you’re in a meeting. In front of you is a three-dimensional version of the skyscraper you plan to build and on your right, is a set of notes outlining your team’s goals for the upcoming month. Around the hologram of your building are your teammates, each with their own notes on what they want to do in the project. When the meeting is over, you take off your virtual reality headset and see that you’re alone in your office. The people you were talking to are miles away.

Thanks to virtual reality, you were able to share three-dimensional images and graphs, and have a much more communicative experience with your team then if you were just talking on the phone or even seeing each other in person. Hyundai recognized the value of virtual reality and implemented a virtual reality auditorium that enables engineers around the world to work simultaneously on the same model. U.K.’s Ministry of Defense conducted its first virtual reality collaboration with personnel at various laboratories to work on the design of an aircraft engine. Other industries where virtual and augmented reality are making an impact include art modeling, healthcare, architecture, and graphic design. If a correct visual representation of a product means success for that industry, chances are that the major players in that market are thinking about or have implemented virtual reality or augmented reality into their value chain. But product design isn’t the only application for virtual reality in the workplace.

The image above shows Walmart using virtual reality to train its associates at one of its Walmart Academies in September 2018. The headsets are used to train Walmart employees in three areas; new technology, soft skills (like empathy and customer service), and compliance.

In a pilot test in the summer of 2018, 10 Walmart stores used VR for training on new Pickup Tower units in their stores. VR allowed Walmart associates to be trained before the towers were even installed. Walmart also uses virtual reality to create virtual environments where trainees can be tested on how they interact with customers. Costly, difficult, or even impossible customer scenarios to replicate have been brought to life thanks to virtual reality. Thanks to the new technology, Walmart has been able to build confidence in its associates and increase its employee retention rates substantially. The oculus VR headset above was used by Walmart to train more than 1 million associates across the United States last year.

Other companies have been using VR to train their employees for all kinds of situations. BP uses VR to train their employees for emergency situations and ExxonMobil is using VR for safety training as well. The image below shows Kentucky Fried Chicken’s VR program, which is used to train its employees on how to prepare their fried chicken. These examples show that companies are realizing that putting employees in simulated environments where they can master safety procedures has the potential to save lives and prevent injuries, which I think is extremely valuable feature that companies really haven’t had in the past.

           Virtual reality is being used for talent acquisition as well. VR lets those going through the recruiting process to experience their possible future career hands-on and in a deeply immersive way so that they can really see if the job is a good fit. By seeing the day-to-day responsibilities, potential hires can get a glimpse into what the job is actually like and decide from there where they want their career to go. If they don’t like what they see, they can make the decision then before making a life-altering decision.

           From 2012 to 2017, the number of VR companies has grown by 250%. Just to give a better picture on how valuable the VR market is, in 2014, Facebook paid $2 billion for Oculus VR, a startup that was making virtual reality video games. VR/AR is here and it’s growing, and I personally believe that we’ll be seeing more applications of VR in different areas of business in the future.

Sources:

https://www.dailydot.com/debug/vr-workplace-productivity/

https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/innovation/20180920/how-vr-is-transforming-the-way-we-train-associates

https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahlandrum/2017/07/27/4-ways-virtual-reality-is-revolutionizing-the-workplace/#366691281943

https://www.inc.com/steve-kovach/facebook-buys-oculus-vr.html

https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/innovation/20180405/hundreds-more-high-tech-pickup-towers-are-headed-your-way