Using Google Glass as a wearable HMI

In the march toward Industry 4.0, the 4th Industrial Revolution, PC-based control technology provides a toolbox to implement the leading automation concepts, such as Internet of Things, cloud computing, highly-centralized automation systems and ever-more connected devices, using industrial Ethernet and OPC UA.

Google Glass can be a new concept for machine operation in an Industry 4.0 framework. The “augmented reality glasses,” which were primarily developed for the consumer market, integrate a heads-up display for information and a digital camera, among numerous other features. It can also be used in industrial environments as a wearable HMI for machine operation and observing plant production.

It allows users to access status and dialogue messages, or additional information such as documentation, web pages or videos. A service technician, for example, can access the properties, history, or current status of the sensor or actuator by reading a QR code on a motor or limit switch.

In moving Industry 4.0 forward, TwinCAT 3.1 software contains an updated feature set, aimed at making engineering simpler and more effective for all aspects of machine automation and control.