Augmented-Reality Enters Maritime Maintenance

New TechGuide maintenance app from MAN CEON represents new generation of instructional material.

As the global maritime community embraces new digitalization technologies aimed at reducing costs and enhancing safety onboard ships, MAN CEON, which is MAN Energy Solutions umbrella brand for all its digital products, comes to the fore for TechGuide, and augmented reality maintenance platform.

The new generation of instructional material with augmented reality features a mix of different multimedia. Using mobile devices or head-mounted displays, TechGuide enables engineers to use their preferred learning style on a job, whether through 3D-models, animations, video, to have instructions read aloud or to browse a pdf. MAN Energy Solutions believes MAN CEON TechGuide to be unique within interactive engine documentation in the industry.

To augment content in the real world, CEON TechGuide employs spatial information and information about surroundings, such as table surfaces, workbenches and walls. Animations are not locked into a specific perspective, rather the user can move their tablet or head-mounted display around to view components from different angles, get exploded views of spare parts, etc. Image: MAN ES

“Technical documentation needs to be available on the platforms preferred by the modern generation of marine engineers and shipowners,” said Per Hansson, Head of Digital and Strategy at MAN Energy Solutions. “ Augmented reality is nowadays a proven and intuitive technology that makes it easy to deal with increasingly complex maintenance-procedures.”

MAN CEON TechGuide currently is being put to the test onboard a number of bulk carriers owned by Singapore-based Berge Bulk, as MAN CEON TechGuide is connected to the owner's fleet maintenance and management system. When a maintenance job has been completed using the MAN CEON TechGuide, the information is automatically uploaded to the owner's system via Wi-Fi in the engine room, simplifying administrative procedures.

"The MAN CEON TechGuide app is transforming the way maintenance and inspection operations are carried out on board,” said Dr. Lars Gruenitz, Berge Bulk, which is putting MAN CEON’s TechGuide to the test on several ships in its fleet. “With the app working in tandem with our current fleet-management system, we believe that it will not only significantly reduce our crew's work load, but that it will also further enhance the quality and reliability of our maintenance operations."

MAN CEON TechGuide’s central components are:

•             Augmented reality view – images and text are layered onto the engine components or an ‘x-ray’ view of the components

•             Automatic component recognition – ensures documentation for the specific engine or component is displayed

•             Two-way interface with planned maintenance systems – seamless communication between the MAN CEON TechGuide and the PMS reduces the administrative burden of the engineer

•             Multimedia platform – maintenance descriptions can be read aloud, described by animations, seen on video and read as pdf

•             Audio input/output – instructions read aloud and voice control of the application

•             In-situ and table-study modes – modes for in-situ work and pre-planning work with a maintenance team.