As engineering projects become increasingly complex, the demand for innovative tools that streamline planning, problem-solving, and execution increases. Augmented reality (AR) is one technology that’s making waves.
In this ArborXR guide, we’ll explain how AR works in engineering, its benefits, and some real-world use cases. We’ll also touch on the software and hardware you’ll need to get your AR engineering projects off the ground.
How AR in Engineering Works
Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information in the real world. It blends virtual elements (like 3D models, diagrams, and data) with your physical environment. This magic happens through devices like specialized AR glasses or smartphones with cameras.
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Here’s how it works…
AR systems use sensors to understand what’s around you. These might include cameras (to capture images of your environment) and motion sensors (to track your head movements). The device then processes this info to decide where and how to place the virtual elements.
AR has some really exciting applications in engineering, and we’ll explore a few in just a minute. But let’s take a look. A construction engineer can use AR to overlay 3D CAD models of building plans onto the physical site. This way, they can visualize the final structure and catch any alignment issues before moving forward.
Benefits of AR Across the Engineering Product Life Cycle
Reduces Downtime and Improves First-Time Fix Rates
One of the most promising ways AR helps reduce downtime and improve first-time fix rates is through AR remote assistance.
With AR, remote experts can guide on-site technicians in real time. The on-site technician shares their view, and the remote expert provides step-by-step instructions, identifies problems, and offers solutions on the spot. This drastically reduces the time it takes to fix issues and increases the chances of getting it right the first time.
It’s an exciting use case that we’ve covered in our AR remote assistance guide.
Beyond remote assistance, you can create AR modules that overlay troubleshooting and maintenance information directly onto your machines. This helps your engineers conduct these processes more efficiently, further reducing downtime.
Minimal Design Errors
AR lets you visualize many aspects of your engineering product lifecycle, from how a product will fit into a specific location to its ergonomics. This allows you to catch errors early in the planning phase before building the product.
Faster Project Timelines
As we mentioned, catching errors early means fewer design iterations, which can speed up project timelines.
Another way AR can help you move faster is through virtual prototypes. Creating virtual prototypes with AR is much quicker and more efficient than developing physical ones.
Applications of Augmented Reality in Engineering
Vehicle Engineering and Assembly
AR can be highly transformative in vehicle engineering and assembly, starting with design visualization and prototyping.
Engineers can visualize 3D models of vehicles at full scale in real-world environments. This immersive, interactive experience allows them to assess aesthetics, designs, and functionality in ways that 2D drawings just can’t match.
For instance, BMW used AR to develop the BMW iX. By overlaying 3D models of the vehicle onto actual roads, engineers could evaluate sitting positions, viewing angles, and other critical factors before finalizing the design.
AR can also be very useful in assembly line guidance. It can help provide real-time instructions to assembly line workers via digital overlays. This reduces errors, improves efficiency, and ensures consistent product quality.
Engineering Model Visualization
This ties closely into the previous point. But this time, it’s not just vehicles; AR can work with any engineering model you’re trying to build.
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Take The Foth Company, for example.
They offer a range of engineering design solutions for their clients. Before finalizing a design, they create 3D models that are then overlaid on a physical location. This gives clients a better sense of what the end result will look like before moving forward.
Plant Modifications
In plant engineering, AR allows engineers to visualize layouts in 3D and make real-time changes—seeing the impact of adjustments like piping or electrical systems before implementing them in the actual plant.
BASF, a multinational chemical company, uses AR to support engineers in their daily tasks. Before making changes to the actual plant, they first test them on superimposed AR models. This has helped them implement modifications faster and at lower costs.
Engineering Training
AR can take engineering training to a whole new level of interactivity and immersion. Trainees can engage directly with whatever you’re teaching them—whether it’s model designs or specifications. This highly immersive learning approach has been shown to reduce time to proficiency drastically and cut training costs.
A great example of an organization doing this is Dream Chaser Asia.
They offer various mobile AR models that let students learn through superimposed AR visuals, bringing their lessons to life in a whole new way.
3 Best AR Engineering Software Platforms
1. Autodesk Workshop XR
Autodesk Workshop VRED is an immersive workspace that lets you and your team work together on 3D digital twins of your engineering models in real time.
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With it, you can evaluate the quality and appearance of your product and spot any costly issues before moving to physical production.
Pricing
Autodesk Workshop XR offers a 30-day free trial, but you can’t access it right away. Instead, you’ll need to join a waitlist and wait for them to send you an invitation.
The price for the paid plan isn’t listed publicly. To get more details, you’ll need to reach out to their sales team.
2. PTC Vuforia
PTC Vuforia is an enterprise software development kit (SDK) that lets you design AR apps for smartphones, headsets, and glasses.
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It’s your one-stop shop for creating any AR experience you need—whether it’s interactive assembly instructions, remote assistance tools, or training simulations.
Pricing
Vuforia offers both a basic (free) plan and a premium plan. You’ll need to contact their sales team for pricing details for the premium plan.
3. Unity AR Foundation
Unity AR Foundation isn’t standalone software like the other options mentioned. Instead, it’s a package you can install if you’re already using Unity.
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With this package, you can create cross-platform AR experiences using Unity. In other words, you can build one AR app and deploy it across different mobile devices, wearables, and operating systems without needing to tweak the app itself.
However, depending on your target platform, you’ll need to install an additional provider plugin alongside AR Foundation. For example, you’d need the Google ARCore XR plugin for Android or the OpenXR plugin for HoloLens 2.
Pricing
Unity AR Foundation is free to use if you’re already using Unity.
3 Specialized Engineering AR Tools
1. Argyle
Argyle is a tool that overlays your Building Information Model (BIM) onto a real-world construction site using AR headsets. It currently supports Magic Leap 2 and HoloLens 2.
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All you need to do is install Argyle on your headset, upload your model (including floors, levels, and other key details), and Argyle will align it with the location you choose. You can then visualize your model directly through the headset. Plus, with add-ins for Revit and Navisworks, it’s easy to bring your 3D models from these platforms into AR.
2. Siemens Solid Edge Augmented Reality
Like Argyle, Solid Edge Augmented Reality lets you visualize 3D digital prototypes in an AR environment. It’s not limited to buildings—you can view any engineering model you create.
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You can also securely share these AR experiences with remote clients, team members, and other stakeholders through TeamCenter Share, making collaboration easier.
3. CATIA Live Rendering
CATIA Live Rendering is another excellent choice from Dassault Systèmes—to be more specific, from their CATIA suite.
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Just like SOLIDWORKS, it’s a real-time visualization tool that lets engineers interact with 3D models in a more engaging and immersive way. You can view realistic versions of your designs as you work, helping you make better decisions and avoid costly mistakes.
Just a heads up: pricing for these tools isn’t publicly available, so you’ll need to reach out to their sales teams for a quote.
3 Top AR Headsets for Engineering Applications
1. DigiLens Argo
The Argo is DigiLens top-of-the-line AR smartglass.
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It comes with many features that we believe would be perfect for your AR engineering projects.
Key Features
- 6DoF Tracking: Accurately tracks your movements for seamless interaction with virtual elements.
- 48MP Camera with Image stabilization: Captures high-quality photos and videos, perfect for detailed documentation and sharing.
- Eye Tracking: Monitors your gaze to make interactions more intuitive and natural.
- Sound (5-Microphone Beamforming with Spatial Audio): Delivers clear, directional audio for a more immersive and realistic sound experience.
Pricing
DigiLens doesn’t list the price of the DigiLens Argo headset on their website. To get pricing information, you’ll need to fill out their contact form.
2. Magic Leap 2
Magic Leap is another AR headset that delivers high-fidelity, immersive experiences, making it great for AR engineering.
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Here’s why we think it’s a solid choice:
Key Features
- Comfort: With excellent thermal and weight distribution and a flexible fit system, it’s designed for long, comfortable wear during extended sessions.
- 70° Diagonal Field of View: One of the widest fields of view available, giving you a more immersive and expansive AR experience.
- 1440 x 1760 @ 24 bits per Pixel per Eye: High-resolution visuals for clear, detailed engineering model rendering.
- 3x 1MP Sensing Cameras: Enhances spatial awareness and interaction with your physical environment.
- ToF Depth Sensor: Measures distances to objects for precise placement and interaction with virtual elements.
Pricing
Magic Leap doesn’t publicly list the price of the headset, so you’ll need to contact their sales team for a quote. You can also check their website for resellers; for instance, Adorama currently sells it for $3500.
3. Apple Vision Pro
Last but definitely not least—the Apple Vision Pro.
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While it’s technically a mixed reality (MR) headset, it fits seamlessly into your AR projects. It’s a headset we love for its top-notch performance, stunning visual quality, and outstanding eye-tracking features.
Key Features
- Visual Fidelity: With a 23 million pixel 3D display, a refresh rate up to 100Hz, and MicroLED technology, you’ll experience outstanding image quality.
- Battery Life: Offers up to two hours of general use and can be used while charging.
- Human-Eye Resolution: Provides up to 51 PPD (Pixels Per Degree) in passthrough mode, closely mimicking human vision in XR.
- Camera: Features a 6.5-megapixel stereo camera with a f/2.0 aperture, enabling you to blend real and virtual worlds with remarkable clarity.
- Cutting-Edge Sensors: Includes four eye-tracking cameras, six world-facing tracking cameras, and two high-resolution primary cameras. It also has a LiDAR Scanner and an ambient light sensor, enhancing AR experiences with improved accuracy and clarity.
Pricing
Apple Vision Pro pricing depends on the storage size you’d prefer:
- 256GB: $3499
- 512GB: $3699
- 1TB: $3899
Limitations of AR in Engineering
1. User Adoption and Training
AR in engineering is still pretty new, so there’s a learning curve for engineers. Integrating AR workflows into existing practices takes time and some training.
2. Accuracy and Complexity
AR overlays need precise real-world recognition and detailed 3D models. AR technology might struggle to keep up for complex engineering projects with lots of intricate details or constantly changing environments.
3. Technical Limitations
AR devices have their own limitations. The field of view (FOV) might be narrow, so users might miss important details. Resolution can sometimes be lower than ideal, affecting the clarity of overlaid information.
Plus, latency—the delay between real-world actions and updates in the AR display—can be disorienting and impact precision.
But here’s the good thing—you can tackle most of these technical issues by carefully selecting your AR devices. The three options we covered are definitely a great place to start.
Seamlessly Deploy Your AR Engineering Fleet With ArborXR
If you’re using headsets for your AR engineering projects, you need a solid way to manage them. You want to keep track of where your headsets are, who’s using them, and how they’re being used. That’s where a dedicated XR MDM like ArborXR comes in.
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With ArborXR, you can:
- Deploy and monitor your headsets remotely—track their location and battery status, and enroll devices via QR code.
- Remotely install and update apps across all your AR headsets at once, no matter how many you have.
- Take full control of the in-headset experience — lock users into or out of specific apps with our single or multi-app kiosk mode, control WiFi and certificate provisioning, and more.
There’s just a lot to unpack. We recommend starting with our 30-day free trial today and see what ArborXR can do for you.
Why wait? Sign up for free today!