INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION: SOON TO BE SEEN THROUGH GOOGLE GLASS?

Beckhoff believes in Google Glass for industrial environments.

Google Glass is a technology that is widely regarded as a consumer-focused product. At SPS IPC Drives last December, Beckhoff respectfully disagreed; the German automation technology company presented a demonstration using Google Glass as they have imagined it for an industrial setting.

Google Glass is a hands free, instant information hub that is wearable and, Beckhoff thinks, perfect for use with automation. As the glass provides a slideshow style display of information, a technician or machine operator could access data sheets, machine history, or the status of a particular component without being tethered to a computer.

Beckhoff illustrated their point at SPS by integrating a TwinCat controlled machine with Google Glass. The glasses communicated with a server, and then displayed the status of the machine in question. Status measurements included signal values and error messages that could be used to identify the exact error location. The machine could also be reset directly from the glasses.

Beckhoff has put Google Glass onto the industrial automation map, and according to Andreas Thome, Product Manager PC Control, “Google glasses could represent a good example of the fusion of Internet technology and automation technology within the framework of Industry 4.0.”