The handbook of the future

This is definitely not a job for people who suffer from claustrophobia. For maintenance engineers, crawling around in the dark and oppressive confined space of a rear aircraft fuselage presents more of a psychological problem.

What makes things really difficult is having to refer on the spot to bulky maintenance handbooks. So that engineers no longer have to rely on their memory, scientists of the Fraunhofer Institute for Factory Operation and Automation IFF have developed interactive instructions and training programs that that can be stored and called up on any compact mobile communications device.
Today, user-friendliness is one of the most important features of products that aim to become a commercial success, says Stefan Stüring, head of the department for Virtual Interactive Training VIT. Nevertheless, installation and instruction manuals are often treated as a secondary consideration. This is where the Cit 3D (See it 3D) interactive instruction software system comes in useful. By comparison with conventional, frequently misleading, text-based manuals, it is much more user-friendly: Cit 3D enables interactive navigation with step-by-step instructions and a variety of display options, such as 3D visualization. Moreover, numerous additional pieces of information, such as order lists, certified documentation and external databases can be integrated into the system and retrieved.
In cooperation with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS, a maintenance and servicing program for the Airbus A 380 is being developed. It provides technicians with maintenance instructions and visualized hand movements. In addition, it allows spare parts to be ordered while conducting the actual service. With the aid of the Interactive Digital Development and Training Platform IDEA, trainees in Saxony-Anhalt can from now on acquire basic knowledge of technical systems, learning how they work and how to operate them through three dimensional and interactive training techniques. This enables them to practice complex installation work directly on the computer, for example.
The scientists are currently working on a project that replicates reality more precisely still, taking into account factors such as shortage of time, communication problems and poor visibility. Virtual reality makes it possible to train for mistakes occurring in day-to-day work situations, so that these may be avoided in real life.For further information:,Stefan Sturing,Phone [phone],Fax [phone],[e-mail]

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Germany