CSIRO augmented reality remote guiding platform for the mining industry

In the field of mineral extraction, complex technologies are being introduced in mines, operators/technicians rely on assistance from an expert (or more) in order to keep their machines functioning. Personnel with such expertise, however, are not always physically onsite. There is a growing need for innovative technological solutions to support effective delivery, just in time, of remote guidance between an offsite expert and an onsite maintenance operator. To meet this need, we have, as part of our Human System Integration project within the CSIRO’s Minerals Down Under (MDU), Transforming the Future Mine theme, explored the usefulness of a number of emerging technologies including: augmented reality, wearable systems and touch table interfaces. This paper presents ReMoTe, an augmented realty system for remote guiding using a touch table interface for the expert station and a combination of augmented reality and a wearable system at the operator end. In designing this system we were interested in exploring the extent to which it can increase the productivity and safety of maintenance personnel. This paper also presents Mobile ReMote, our recent development of a fully mobile remote guiding system. In Mobile ReMote, both the expert and the operator are using a near eye display and wearing a light computer in a back pack. The expert is able to guide the operator using his/her hands on the virtual display, while the operator is able to see the instructions on the near eye display. Workers in the mining industry are highly mobile, a mobile expert and operator station will meet this need.