Several months ago, a little known company focused on 4D technology, or augmented reality tech (AR), hit the scene in a big way: DAQRI, the smart “hard hat” helmet of the future meant to assimilate into a construction environment seamlessly. And while it certainly made an initial big splash, the technology is creating even more talk now by partnering up with Topcon Positioning Group, Japanese based manufacturers of optical equipment for construction, agricultural, and surveying industries.
Winners of the Edison Gold Award for Industrial Solutions, when DAQRI was introduced to the world as an augmented reality technology, it was to improve worksite processes and conditions, from increased efficiency to less time spent on the field to improved safety measures. Now, DAQRI’s potential is looking to be reached through its partnership with Topcon, where the latter company plans to integrate DAQRI into its own construction processes.
The smart helmet, which boasts a heads-up, hands free display, is what’s considered a professional-grade wearable for a professional environment. Designed specifically for industrial applications, the wearable tech is equipped with a high-resolution 3D depth camera, 360-degree navigation cameras, high-tech augmented reality sensors, and built-in programming and apps.
The sensors in the helmet enable object recognition and tagging, letting workers access real-time data and information straight from their helmet in regards to anything within jobsite perimeters. And thanks to the 4D technology, or augmented reality display, the data information overlays itself directly on top of the object/worksite that is in front of the user wearing DAQRI.
Augmented reality has been a hot-button topic for a little while now, inspiring either fear or hope throughout many great debates (and even inspiring several of ZBRELA’s own articles analyzing the topic). And while the topic continues to divide, there is no denying that, with everything the tech has to offer, it will pave the way towards future construction practices.
What any augmented reality technology aims to achieve at the end of the day is to bridge the gap between workers and processes and connect laborers of any skill-set to the work that needs to get done. DAQRI follows this augmented reality formula by providing guided instructions through a virtual overlay on any task assigned to them, allowing essentially anyone to learn a task or skill.
And that’s exactly what Topcon is looking to do by partnering with DAQRI and implementing the AR tech-centered helmet into the job. By providing information about the world in which manual laborers work through a virtual medium like DAQRI, Topcon is looking to ensure workers are safer, producing work faster, and completing work at a much higher level of quality. According to Topcon,
“The partnership will allow construction workers to view information from their projects in the real-world work environment to make their workflows safer and more efficient. The collaboration is designed to bring wearable technology to a wider AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) user-base; empowering the wearer with a hands-free tool that can be used on the job.”
While Topcon may be among the first to take the leap towards augmented reality, they certainly won’t be the last, and their latest partnership with DAQRI will undoubtedly inspire many questions regarding the more mainstream use of 4D technology within the construction industry.
In an industry that can often be reluctant to change, it will be exciting, if not formidable at times, to see how augmented reality will grow and develop and challenge the relative norms of construction.
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