Augmented Reality (AR) Finds More Use Cases in Airports

SATS, the major ground-handling and in-flight catering serve provider for Singapore Changi Airport, is introducing Augmented Reality (AR) to its ramp handling operations. Around 600 of its ramp handling workers will receive a pair of Vuzix M300 smart glasses, which incorporates the use of an adjustable, high-definition screen display. SATS will deploy the AR devices in phases, and are expected to fully roll out by the middle of next year.

SATS also applies Virtual Reality (VR) technology to train its staff by simulating on-ground scenarios within a safe and controlled environment, allowing the staff to learn, without interrupting regular operations and changing work schedules. 

Replacing traditional paper instructions and walkie-talkie communication with smart glasses, the staff can scan visual markers on baggage and cargo containers to get real-time information like weight, unit number, and location within an aircraft. Also, hands-free usage adds more value for baggage and cargo loading, with increased speed and reduced number of errors. Per SAT, the loading time is cut from 60 minutes to 45 minutes, which will reduce waiting time for passengers to board flights and transit time for airfreight shippers. 

What’s more, flight controllers within SAT’s ramp control center will get real-time information of the cargo and luggage while being able to better supervise and instruct on handling special cargo. AR helps to automate the assigning of tasks and creation of workflows, improving efficiency by grouping similar or compatible tasks, and prioritizing urgent and critical processes.

By incorporating AR technology to on-ground handling processes, SATS not only increases services for airline companies, passengers, and airfreight shippers to keep them ahead of their competitors, but also benefits its airport workers by raising their productivity and making their workplace safer. 

The effective uses of AR are enabled through applications running on smart glasses or a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. The primary device utilized within industrial enterprise settings are smart glasses, as it enables workers to be hand-free with use of gestures and voice recognition to access information. AR has shown its promise for increased efficiency and reduced errors in several testing pilot sites, which will bring AR applications to more use cases across different verticals, like maintenance and repair, training, and navigation. (For more information, please read ABI Research’s report Enterprise Augmented Use Cases, Applications, and Verticals). 

According to ABI Research’s database Augmented and Mixed Reality Devices and Enterprise Verticals, 32.7 million units of smart glasses are expected to ship in 2022, and the first significant units sales will not occur until 2019. The average selling price of smart glasses will decline over the next few years thanks to the lower cost of sensors, which in turn will drive higher shipments of smart glasses. With adoption of AR in more enterprise uses, the key features of AR devices need to be taken into account, which include but are not limited to Ergonomics (comfortable to wear and minimal obstruction of vision), scanning (quick and accurate), screen (wide field of view and clear to read information), battery (long-lasting battery, ideally for 8 hours a day), and robustness (IPXX certification, intrinsically safe, general robustness). To satisfy special demands over smart glasses, such as eyesight prescription and more safety, accessories for smart glasses have been developed and will become an important market as a result.

Alongside hardware developing with more functions, content and platforms will develop as well, including video, simulation, training programs, and more. Hardware along with platform and licensing make up majority of AR market revenues. Additionally, more affordable hardware will also boost the development of AR software, platform, and services as well.