Schneider Electric brings access to real-time information whenever and wherever it is needed

Schneider Electric, global specialist in energy management and automation, has launched Vijeo 360, an innovative augmented reality software application for mobile devices that uses the device’s camera to recognize cabinets and machines and then superimpose real-time data and virtual objects onto them, giving operators and technicians immediate access to relevant information.

The benefits of leveraging this state-of-the-art AR technology in the field or the plant include:
•       Reduced downtime. Operators can open the electrical cabinet doors virtually and at no risk to themselves or the process
•       Quicker maintenance. Technicians can find information faster, with immediate access in the field to user manuals, instructions, diagrams, etc.

“Engineers who work on transformers that distribute electricity often spend up to half their time searching for technical data in assorted software, databases, activity logs, and even old-fashioned filing cabinets,” says Alain Dedieu, Senior VP Industrial Control & Drives, Schneider Electric. “Vijeo 360, an augmented reality system, gives engineers instant access to the information they seek.” Early results from China suggest augmented reality “can slash the amount of time engineers spend looking for information to about one tenth of current levels.”

Vijeo 360 can be utilized in a variety of applications:
•       In front of a machine – it offers immediate access to relevant information in the field in real time
•       In front of an electrical cabinet – it can “open” electrical cabinet doors virtually
•       Inside and outside an industrial site – it delivers simultaneous views of reality and data to mobile devices.

The Vijeo 360’s interface gives access to information like labels, process variables, SQL database, open documents, open electrical diagrams, open web pages, instructions, notes, and play videos.

The offering is strictly customized by Schneider Electric’s experts who identify individual customer requirements and then develop the custom augmented reality applications accordingly.

The plug-and-play architecture works on tablets (currently iOS®, with Android™ and Windows® versions in progress), and provides access to PLCs (Schneider Electric and competitors) via all architecture systems, as well as to SQL databases.

By providing immediate availability to important and relevant information in the field, Vijeo 360 increases efficiency and reduces time and cost of operations and maintenance.