BMW’s Augmented Reality Glasses Turns Man Into Master Mechanic

now they don't have to hire skilled workers... just ppl that have eyes.

Snowspot

@Lizard_King: But then you wouldn't spend hundreds of dollars on maintenance.

robotsneedhugs2

@Log1c: so breast augmentation is an extended form of a breast ?

realsnickers

@pingpong8989: lol.
good call. I love those commercials.

This is not new I used this stuff years ago with a monocular head set projecting into one eye. It took a bit of getting use to but it worked. The military has had similarly yet more sophisticated HUD systems for many years.

@RedHulkOnSilverSurfersBoard: Boeing did this over 10 years ago. And it worked.

[books.google.com]

Here are those glasses...we reviewed them in 2006:

[www.rainydaymagazine.com]

However, we never did get the AR stuff to work properly.

This is actually why AR was dreamed up, except for airplanes. I think it was an engineer at boeing that did the first prototypes.

I'm not familiar with "airframe" but I'm certain that Chriton didn't think of it but merely heard about it.

SamburgerHandwich

Wouldn't it be more practical just to make their cars easier to work on?

Silly question, I know.

Lizard_King

I've been waiting for this technology ever since it was first mentioned in Michael Crichton's Airframe over a decade ago.

As usual, Mike was right on the money predicting future tech.

Cash907Censored

@Gann: And have those 3 points easily in view at all times, which is pretty tough when you're working on a car.

will this be the end of the UTI BMW program?

pingpong8989

@FooSchnickens: had the same thought.... Crichton was awesome

hoffmanbike

BMW's augmented reality glasses remake mere man into master mechanic.

Mercedes-Benz's augmented reality glasses just flash the number for AAA.

Zukis

Well now we dont even need mechanics! I will steal one of these and do my own work thank you very much BMW!

shuluke

@JayD16: The software would already have a 3d model of the entire engine in memory, all it would need is 3 reference points to know exactly where everything is in space.

@[xkcd.com]

jdale

Can we get something this for driving so it'll overlay a hud on the windshield?

RoboBagins is the 13th Cylon

Geek Squad approach to working on cars. Hire idiots and make them follow EXACT procedures.

When you work on anything long enough, you can memorize workflow, tools needed, screw/bolt sizes, and preventative maintenance. A skilled tech can do these things with their eyes closed.

@Noobs-R-Us: These are for the semi-noobs. The one for the noobs criticise you when you take too long or remove the screws in the wrong order: "The other screw you idiot, heck how did the ever let you near a car?".

twilight-arc

@RedHulkOnSilverSurfersBoard: Connect wire 80,472 to socket 4BBQ#.... oh fuck it, just start trying stuff.

or they can just hire experienced mechanics who know what they're doing. These glasses are for noobs.

Noobs-R-Us

Iv heard that Honda techs have glasses that display the repair manual for procedures as a sort of HUD. This would just be the next step i suppose.

Curtis Dietrick

I like the title "Augmented Reality: an extended form of reality"

Because no one understands what augment means.

I wonder if other companies will jump on the bandwagon for something like this... I can see Sun(oracle) giving this to their field engineers to make sure they know what they are doing.

RedHulkOnSilverSurfersBoard

"The Video has failed, try again later" now what will I do at work.

The Analrapist: Half Analyst Half Therapist

@dirigoDIGITAL: nope

qbxk

That video is nice and all but its totally vaporware. As far as I know, BMW doesn't even have a web app to explain repairs to you. There's no camera on those glasses, and recognition software better be damn good to recognize partially hidden engine parts.

@anexanhume: Would these work in the Playboy mansion?

"That's what the glasses said to do!" will soon be added to the excuses repertoire of mechanics worldwide.

Segador

i always wondered who would buy oakley thumps.

willyolio

Is this the latest music video from Kraftwerk?

Mutley

That's pretty cool, the applications for the technology are limitless. Maybe they can make a pair that shows my parents how to use a computer.

I heard about a guy who was part of a pilot program for this in other areas. The focus group was meeting women. Unfortunately, the glasses just kept taking him to the hand lotion aisle in the grocery store.

Hey it's like those glasses the chick used in Airframe. Looks like Crichton was way ahead of his time yet again.

Make one for flying a plane and I'm hooked

BergenCountyJC

As a Ford Senior Master Certified Techician, I offer this opinion: This tool will help the "parts changers". A good mechanic possesses the skills to accurately diagnose the problem - changing the broken/defective parts is secondary. "Fixing it right the First Time" is our mantra. Another thing that many people are unaware of is that most journeyman techs get paid via "flat rate". X job pays X amount of hours. If you do it quicker, you make money; this is where experience counts most. If it takes longer, you lose, because the job pays a flat rate. A broken bolt could literally ruin your whole day. There is no substitute for hands-on training.

OneEyedJack

This is great for training technicians to replace parts on a brand new model instead of going to a seminar, but other than that, it doesn't help in troubleshooting a problem.

@Lizard_King: want a simple car to work on? Buy a 30 year old car with carbs and all mechanical parts.

Want a car that is reliable, has good power AND good fuel economy, modern safety features, electronic steering etc? Buy a new car and expect them to be complicated.

I have a 1971 mgb. While it is dead simple to work on and fun as hell to drive, there are trade offs like having to adjust the timing, tune the carbs, replace the points, etc.

ColonelGentleman

@realsnickers: I believe by definition it is.

Mechanics who are trained and know what there're are doing, don't need these.

BMW has certified schools where you go to learn to fix their cars and if they need this, they shouldn't be working on cars in the first place.

This is good for students to learn, but if I see a mechanic using these in the real world, I wouldn't trust them. I don't even trust them now, that's why I do all my own repairs.

@phunnyballs: It also seems like it would be a slower process than someone who has a working knowledge of what they're doing.

donwonton

@Dr.Danger: ::You are awesome:: That, and they can improvise. Screw stripped? Bolt rusted into place? Hex-head worn down? Chances are AR programs don't have the solutions one learns through years of experience.

Granted using AR to aid in the learning process could be very helpful, but I would never rely on it.

L3G10N

@Snowspot: And working hands. Don't forget those!

Mandi Zola

seems extremely distracting and hard to concentrate on the actual work when there are bright colors that are overlaid (and dont properly match up)

phunnyballs

This is one of the best uses of AR: ability on demand. And as long as you pay attention you'll remember, just like any skill you learned by having someone show you.

@ColonelGentleman: I hate to get off topic (though I already made an on topic comment), but how do you like your MGB? I've got a '77 that I just finished rebuilding the engine on. Just got it back in the car and am probably about a month away from firing it up. Been a fun project so far!

benztech55amg

@OneEyedJack: Mercedes Certified Tech here, and I'll back up everything you just said. I can see this being cool in a training environment, perhaps. But if you don't know your product to the point that you need a computer to walk you through it, you need to apply to Jiffy Lube. Gonna be hard to beat flat rate with a system like this, too...

benztech55amg

Jesus people, its just an example. I'm sure there are things that even the best master mechanic has to look up. Maybe voltages, timings, torques, service history, whatever. Being able to work with both hands and not having stop what you're doing to get out a manual to look something up seems like it would be pretty helpful.

So uh... Is this even real?

TheGerk

So, can someone explain to me why, if the technology for doing this with Augmented Reality exists, we wouldn't just use ROBOTS?

Or better yet, Robots with Oakley Thumps.

Goggles, its time to piss, what do I do?

Unzip Fly
Release penis
Cut it off, so you don't reproduce, you freaking lost cause.

@Lizard_King: Your jeep may be more reliable than the BMW, but if you had gotten, say, a Mercedes G500, that would far outrun the Cherokee. Not only is mercedes a better car, models like the G500 are made to go across continents off road.

@benztech55amg: Thats awesome that you work for mercedes. Which model do you have?

@OneEyedJack: Ford's are gay. This article is about german cars, which are actually worth driving. Take it from someone with a Mercedes, Audi, and Porsche.

this seems really pointless.

#1 wouldn't you want the person working on your car to ALREADY KNOW how it should be disassembled/repaired/assembled?

#2 the "augmented reality" graphics clearly get in the way of your vision. it's hard enough to see in tight spaces under the hood as it is, do i really need some 3d screwdrivers distracting me from finding what i'm looking for???

theorieofself

@ColonelGentleman: You can certainly pick and choose... good and reliable does not mean complicated. You bring up reliable - a Jeep Cherokee with Manual transmission - simple, reliable, fairly modern (no carbs or points). Compare that to a newer X5, I'm sure at this point most would take the Cherokee. Why these examples? It's what my wife and I have. 200K on the jeep odo says I'm ahead in the game.

I can work on SU carbs with my eyes closed, and do all my work on all my vehicles myself - except the BMW. BMW makes that needlessly complex. I love the little things with their cars, like how the dash display gradually lose pixels until you can't read anything, or the lock actuators need replacement more often than tires.

Lizard_King

@Colonel Jack O'Neill: i never trust mechanics, you take your car to them, and they could tell you anything - starter motor is out, fuel pump is leaking whatever, and you take their word for it, because its something you dont know how to fix(otherwise you wouldnt be there in the first place), they can literally pry you open like a can of tuna and straight up jack you! and the younger they are, and the more smug they look the less i trust them! i wish cars would fix themselves, just bring them the parts they need and they have robotic hands to do it themselves!

estpaul

@cruzer555: I am questioning complexity in certain automobiles. Cars do not need to be complex to be reliable. In the case of the two examples, differing by only two years, the BMW fails at longevity, reliability and simplicity. The two examples are brought up because it is what I own, I don't claim to have the best vehicles in the world, but a G-Wagon and a Cherokee are separated by a lot of coin.

There are very few vehicles which I would purchase brand new, and the purchasing factors for me include self-maintenance. Any out-of-warranty repair with any vehicle is done by me. This is not a concern for most folks who trade up every 4 years, but I keep my vehicles til they die.

Lizard_King