VR, AR and more offer an enhancement to engineers in industry, rather than a replacement of their expertise.
Lenovo has sponsored this post.
The latest trend in the computing world is “spatial computing” – popularly understood as the extension of computer interactions into the third dimension, and encompassing technologies including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), extended reality (XR), the metaverse and more.
The core conceit of spatial computing involves the user’s physical movements being used to control the software and the models or environments displayed within it. Virtual reality headsets are one example of hardware for this purpose. With these, users can interact with the virtual environment by physically moving within a room, or via hand gestures or controllers. But AR, MR, and XR experiences can also run on smaller devices such as smart glasses and smartphones, offering virtual information overlaid on images or video of the physical world.
But spatial computing is far more than a gimmick, and advances in the hardware technology have enabled applications in industry and enterprise to rise to the forefront.
Spatial computing applications in AEC and manufacturing
Under the spatial computing banner, XR technologies are seeing new applications in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) and manufacturing industries to improve designs, increase efficiency and reduce costs.
In the AEC industry, spatial computing and XR means being able to visualize designs at scale and immersively explore designed environments. Virtual prototypes of AEC projects mean designers can view and update elements in real-time, or walk clients and decision-makers through the virtual model of a building project.
On the automotive side, virtual models, design reviews, and digital twins are on the rise, and spatial computing applications bring a whole new level to the design and production process. Using XR and spatial computing, users can collaborate on design reviews both in person and remotely, and manipulate design elements within the virtual environment. Assets derived from CAD models can be easily changed or reused, and finished designs can be easily shared with sales and marketing teams.
Digital twins of factories and processes can also be built and explored virtually, enabling optimized lines and floor plans, XR-augmented plant tours and enhanced training for plant operators.
While there are many consumer-focused VR headsets available, engineering and industrial applications require workstation-grade hardware. Some headsets, such as Lenovo’s ThinkReality VRX, offer both convenient mobile processing combined with high-performance workstation hardware in order to provide the highest processing and graphics performance. The bigger the models you intend to create, the greater processing power you’ll need in the GPU. According to Mike Leach, senior manager for Lenovo workstations, an Nvidia RTX A3000 mobile GPU or better is recommended, though all GPUs from the RTX A1000 and up are considered to be “VR Ready” by Nvidia.
And while GPU power might be the key consideration, it’s not the only one. Enterprise users should assess their needs to find a balance between performance, cost, physical comfort and graphics resolution.
Future-forward engineering
Spatial computing offers an enhancement to engineers in industry, rather than a replacement of their expertise. Leach pictures spatial computing and headset hardware as one more tool in the engineer’s toolbox to streamline workflows and improve the design and development process.
“You can jump into spatial computing to do design collaborations with colleagues at a moment’s notice,” Leach says. “We see that for the engineer of the future.”
For an in-depth look at spatial computing hardware, check out Lenovo’s white paper The Workstations Behind Spatial Computing.
