Evaluation of an augmented reality assisted manufacturing system for assembly guidance

Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that enhances a real-world environment with computer-generated information and objects. The technology is under constant development and still rising in popularity. One of the popular applications is assembly guidance. AR enables to show the assembly instructions in the field of view, in real-time so it is always relevant to the situation. The operators can do the tasks at hand, without having to change their view, position and attention, and without having to focus on the instructions to figure out the next step. This paper covers the evaluation in the form of a user study of a newly developed AR assembly guidance system with a spatial display that projects instructions in the view of work of Scania truck assembly workers. The guidance system is compared with Scania’s current assembly instructions (instructions printed on paper) in terms of effectiveness and usability. The effectiveness is measured by time-to-completion, number of errors and learning curve. The usability is measured by a SUS score. The study results in a significant difference in effectiveness, where AR guidance improves upon the current instructions. The SUS results of the current instructions indicate that it is the worst imaginable, a detractor and it would not be accepted by new users. The SUS results of the AR guidance indicate that it is excellent, a promoter and it would be accepted by new users.