Virtual and augmented reality have various applications in logistics planning, training, process support, and visual analytics. Some key applications include using VR for integrated planning of factory layouts, conveyor systems, and logistics areas. VR allows for virtual walkthroughs and ergonomic evaluations. AR can support training, maintenance, and pick-by-vision order picking. Visual analytics uses interactive data visualization to provide insights from logistics data like cube analysis of item sales and stock levels. VR and AR bring benefits like realistic simulations, intuitive user experiences, and reduced training times compared to traditional methods.

1. © Competence Centre for Virtual Reality and Cooperative Engineering w. V. – Virtual Dimension Center (VDC)
Dr.-Ing. Dipl.-Kfm. Christoph Runde
Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) Fellbach
Auberlenstr. 13
70736 Fellbach
www.vdc-fellbach.de
Whitepaper
VR and AR in Logistics
Areas of application – Techniques - Benefits

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Planning
o Integration conveyor technology,
Layout, architecture
o Planning order picking systems
and procedures
 Training
o Order picking procedures
o Systems engineering
 Commissioning
o Training beforehand
o Conveyor technology
o Hardware-in-the-Loop
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Logistics - Applications
 Process support
Order picking (Pick-by-Vision)
 Visual Analytics
o Logistics systems (e.g. cube
analysis)
o Layout & flow orientation

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Integration layout, architecture
 Integration layout, architecture
 Integrative overall model of building
(technology), equipment, logistics areas,
transport routes
 Virtual walkthroughs
 Group visits
 Planning air, light, sound reinforcement
in simulation models possible
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Source: TU München
Source: TU München
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Integration conveyor technology
 Scheduling and digital test of
geometric-functional models of
conveyor technology
 Consideration of material flow
simulation systems for flowcharts
(for dimensioning buffers, warehouses,
surfaces in advance)
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Planning tool:
factory planning desk
 Simultaneous 2D layout (desk)
and 3D perspective (wall)
 Cooperative & simple
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Source: Fraunhofer IPASource: Fraunhofer IPA
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Checking the flow orientation
of the layout
 Flows of goods laid over the
layout
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Rescheduling
 New warehouses
 New conveyor technology
 New products with old
conveyor technology
 One of the questions:
absence of collisions?
Four possibilities:
 Very good documentation
of all installations and
modifications
 Mock-ups, phys. space
models
 Laser scans
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Laser scan (Source: ScanTec3D)
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Rescheduling
 Possibility 4:
Augmented Reality
 Planning new trades into existing
structures
 Animation
 Viewing along the interfering edges:
check for collision
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Source: TU München
Source: Volkswagen
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Rescheduling - Augmented Reality
 Geometric measuring function possible
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Source: Volkswagen
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Augmented Reality – planning and
evaluation of workplaces
 Ergonomics
 Reachability analyses
 Planning and evaluation of procedures
 View/ work analyses
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Source: Volkswagen
Source: TU München
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Planning and evaluation of
routes and procedures
 Consideration of
routes/ distances
 Consideration of
removal and storage
 Consideration of IT
operation
Logistics planning with VR, AR
Source: TU München
Planning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Pre-presentation of the facilities
 Pre-presentation of the operation
 Pre-presentation of repair/ maintenance/
service
 Pre-inspection of operation, workflows
Training with VR, AR
Source: TU München
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Training

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Advantages
 Realistic illustration of complex overall systems
 Intuitive, interactive and psychologically high
involvement of the person that is trained
 good transfer
 Thereby reduction of training time
 Training without interrupting the real system
 Training and analysis of not yet existing processes
 Presentation of dangerous situations
Problems
 Data preparation
 Investment costs in VR systems
 Benefits difficult to quantify
 Accustoming time
Training with VR, AR
Source: TU München
Training

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Building an integral overall model of
factory building model and conveyor
technology
 Animation and collision check
 Real control to digital model:
Hardware-in-the-Loop
 Placement of sensors and
actuators
 Test control and sensors
 Export control code
Commissioning with VR, AR
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Source: tarakos
Commissioning

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Interactive instruction:
 Maintenance
 Repair
Process support with VR, AR
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Process support

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Virtual Reality monitoring
 For logistics planning
 E.g. with tablet PC
 Illustration of stocks,
ranges, storage periods
Process support with VR, AR
Source: Bracht, U.: Digitale Fabrik – Stand und weitere Entwicklungen. In: Personaleinsatz,
Simulation und Digitale Fabrik. BGHM, Mainz, 27.5.2011
Process support

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Pick-by-Vision
 In-situ support with Augmented Reality order picking
 Fade-in of instructions, article information, order information, direction
and location of items to select
Process support with VR, AR
Source: TU München Source: TU München
Process support

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Pick-by-Vision: Illustrations in display
Process support with VR, AR
Source: TU München
Process support

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Visual Analytics as an interdisciplinary topic
combines data mining and information
visualization
 How can you visualize very large and
multidimensional data sets and make them
interactively usable for the user?
 Focus: interactive visualization and an
intelligent reduction of complexity
Visual Analytics
Visual Analytics

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Visual Analytics tries to support the human cognition in six ways:
1. Expanding cognitive resources: graphical storage complements human
memory
2. Reduction of search by displaying a lot of information in a small space
3. Support the formation of patterns (e.g. transformation time  space)
4. Support for easy recognition of relations, which are difficult to
establish otherwise
5. By supervising the perception of a large number of possible events
6. Flexible presentation medium, which allows the exploration of a
changing parameter space
Visual Analytics
Visual Analytics

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Example cube analysis:
 Axis ABC:
articles by sales
 Axis XYZ:
articles by regularity of retrieval
(XYZ-analysis for material requirements
planning, warehouse planning, calculation)
 Temporal component
(e.g. turnover rate,
throughput time, replenishment time)
Visual Analytics - Logistics
yellow: just-in-time
Visual Analytics

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
Cube analysis:
 Use of the three axes as spatial axes
 Large projection
 Detection of agglomerations, patterns,
outliers
 Assignment of articles and groups
Visual Analytics - Logistics
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Visual Analytics

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
 Mapping on factory layout
 Representation of material flows
 Setting in relation to operating materials
 Verification
o Flow orientation of manufacturing
o Considering further criteria such as
value, regularity, throughput time
Visual Analytics - Logistics
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Source: Fraunhofer IPA
Visual Analytics

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Training Mission Process support Visual AnalyticsTOP 2Planning Commissioning
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Literature VR/AR in Logistics

25. © Competence Centre for Virtual Reality and Cooperative Engineering w. V. – Virtual Dimension Center (VDC)
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