iQuest (Alpharetta, GA) has released details of its first US patent which covers an iOS app that displays data and resources associated with equipment it recognizes on the plant floor.
The iQagent app itself processes video footage captured by the camera in an iPad or iPhone and identifies one or more points of interest on a plant floor in the video footage through interpreting the QR codes associated with them.
Having identified a point of interest, relevant data and resources can then be overlaid onto the video displayed on the screen. It is also possible for a user to perform a screen capture as the iPad or iPhone displays the video footage and overlaid information.
"Workers simply view the process through their tablet or smart phone to access information they need to do their job. For instance, users can scan a motor to track its speed, or chart a production line's efficiency. They can check maintenance histories, consult schematics, report issues, or contact staff assigned to the area," says iQuest president Bob Meads, one of the inventors of the app.
Early adopters of iQagent include a global pharmaceutical company and a major US automotive manufacturer.
More details on the iQuest augmented reality patent can be found here. Further details on the app itself can be found here.
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-- Dave Wilson, Senior Editor, Vision Systems Design
