By John Soldatos (INNOV-ACTS Limited), Georgios Makridis (University of Piraeus Research Center) and Fotis Liarokapis (CYENS Centre of Excellence)
Extended reality (XR) is a term that covers all real and virtual environments, enabling human-machine interactions through computer-generated content. It includes virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies [1]. State-of-the-art XR applications for manufacturing are built based on a “one-size-fits-all” philosophy that does not consider the characteristics of individual workers. Hence, they fall short when it comes to supporting the emerging wave of Industry 5.0 (I5.0) applications that are destined to be human-centric and emphasise trustworthy human-machine collaboration. I5.0 requires XR visualisations that consider the characteristics, skills, and context of the manufacturing worker [2], along with the peculiarities of their interactions with machinery, automation devices, and cyber physical production systems.
In this context, the newly started XR5.0 Horizon Europe Project will build, demonstrate, and validate a novel person-centric and AI-based XR paradigm that will be tailored to the requirements and nature of I5.0 applications. The project will specify blueprints for using XR in I5.0 applications with emphasis on the development of innovative “XR-made-in-Europe” technology that blends with human-centric manufacturing technologies and adheres to European values (e.g. trustworthiness, security/privacy-by-design, transparency) as reflected in relevant EU regulations and policies.
Find the ERCIM News 137, May 2024 with the Special theme: Extended Reality here.