What is spatial computing?
Spatial computing is the digitization of activities involving machines, people, objects, and the environments in which they take place to enable and optimize actions and interactions. This technology has the potential to digitally transform how industrial enterprises optimize operations for frontline workers in factories, worksites, and warehouses and to enable digitally augmented dimensional context for enterprise actions and interactions.
MIT Media Lab alumni Simon Greenwold coined the term “spatial computing” in his 2003 thesis paper when it was only a concept and not a reality. Over the past few years, there have been great advancements in the technologies that are making spatial computing possible, such as artificial intelligence (AI), camera sensors, computer vision, Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality (AR).
With these improvements, spatial computing is not only possible, but presents a significant opportunity to improve how we work, how we analyze data, and how we optimize processes.
How does spatial computing work?
While traditional computing brings together data and logic in two dimensions, spatial computing brings together data, logic, and 3D-contextualized information to converge the physical and digital worlds more accurately.
This is accomplished by leveraging myriad data sources (data from IoT sensors, 3D models, etc.), sophisticated analytics, and 3D-location data made possible with computer vision, volumetric cameras, and more. Spatial computing contextualizes data for a three-dimensional world.
What can spatial computing do?
As an emerging technology, the possibilities for spatial computing to drive value across products, people, places, and processes are limitless. Below are just a few industrial workplace applications envisioned by PTC.
Seamless integrations
With augmented reality as the typical interface, spatial computing enables more seamless interactions between people, products, processes, and physical spaces.
Performance management
Optimize the complex workings of an environment by gaining a complete picture of movements within a space in real time or over a period of time.
Spatial understanding
With spatial technology, machines and automation have greater awareness of their dynamic environment
Optimize operations
Understand how a physical space is being used to improve utilization, efficiency, and safety.
Spatial computing industrial applications
Instant spatial digital twin
See how a real-time immersive experience is enabled by spatial tracking, spatial video, collaborations, and voice support.
Simple-to-use programming for robotic arm
Explore how human interactions can be optimized and assisted with spatial capabilities. In this video, spatial technology assists a worker in programming an robotic arm, delivered through an augmented reality user interface.
Industrial metaverse
The industrial metaverse is a multi-user spatial computing platform where data from the physical and digital worlds is blended to promote faster time to value. While still in its initial stages, a fully realized industrial metaverse will enable real-time collaboration, connectivity, and spatially aware context within industrial environments, regardless of employee location.
Watch the video to see how PTC customer Burckhardt Compression is using industrial metaverse technology to revolutionize its field service operations.
Spatial computing in the factory
Spatial technology enables industrial companies to:
- Discover - Digitize the activity of people, machines, objects, and their environment to identify meaningful interactions/relationships
- Interact - Enable seamless analog and digital interactions between people, machines, objects, and their environment.
- Optimize - Apply analytics to continuously and dynamically optimize the processes of and between people, machines, objects, and their environments.
Spatial analytics
Spatial analytics tools help to put problems into context and enable a more intuitive understanding for solving problems in the factory workflow. Data is contextualized within space, making it possible to easily derive insights both in real time and over time. Spatial analytics can answer questions critical to optimization efforts, such as time-and-motion studies or health and safety. PTC is working on the following spatial analytics tools:
Spatial motion analytics: Traditional time-and-motion studies get a real-time, continuous makeover. As the frontline worker moves through the environment, a real-time ergonomics analysis of the employee’s actions using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) scale. After the work procedure and recording is are complete, the data becomes available on a timeline that can be used to gain ergonomic insights and to calculate standard work time through examining motion paths. Through this analysis, opportunities will surface to optimize a process or factory layout and identify ways to improve health and safety for workers.
Spatial measuring: This type of analytics is used to determine precise distances throughout the 3D environment. To enhance this application, 3D models can be accessed within CAD and shown in the space.
Spatial multi-tasking: Given the complex dynamics of a factory floor, it’s often necessary to run multiple analytics tools at once to get a comprehensive view. With spatial multi-tasking, a permanent digital trail is generated and stored in an easily accessible dashboard, which can be accessed in later sessions and by other authorized collaborators.
Future of spatial computing
Nearly two-thirds of respondents in a recent PTC survey were either actively evaluating or planning to assess a metaverse concept within the next two years. This shows there is interest and momentum behind the spatial technologies and industrial metaverse.
At PTC, we are working toward a future where spatial computing and industrial metaverse are part of our customers’ digital transformation. Spatial computing applications will play an important role in improving how humans, machines, objects, and working environments interact.