媒體報導 @ FutureiOT
Entering
a new phase of a two-and-a-half-year partnership, CITIC Telecom CPC and the Hong
Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) are exploring
new industry use cases for integrated AI-AR solutions for commercialisation.
“To
have sustainable traction in intelligent and innovative technologies
development, we need an integrated ecosystem approach and strong partnership
with stakeholders in various sectors and industries,” said Denis Yip, CEO of
ASTRI. “Our continuing collaboration
with CITIC Telecom CPC will lead to a meaningful exchange of innovative
R&D, technologies, knowledge, and insights, which will ultimately increase
operational efficiencies of the industries, uplift user experience, and create
value to the community.”
“We
are enthusiastic about advancing AI-AR technologies with ASTRI and leveraging
collaborations and sound technological exchanges to pursue innovative and
practical applications,” said Esmond Li, CEO, CITIC Telecom CPC.
The
two organisations started their partnership in developing integrated AI and AR
(augmented reality) solutions in June 2019, which led to launch of an AR Remote
Hand Solution in September the following year.
Boosting
field service productivity by up to 50%, the enhanced AR-based vision allowed
field engineers to access vital information at data centres and enabled
seamless collaboration between frontline and back-end teams to complete
maintenance tasks. The solution also demonstrated how companies could
facilitate remote work strategies during the pandemic using AR technologies.
Taking
AR glasses to new heights
In
Phase 2, ASTRI and CITIC Telecom CPC will be working to build innovative new
features into the heads-up display of AR glasses.
ASTRI
will provide the software platform and customisation, while CITIC Telecom CPC’s
team will build an innovative Machine Learning (ML) model in order to integrate
virtual, big data, AI, and physical data into the AR device.
The
key features include:
•
Data Visualisation – Computer vision techniques and machine-learning algorithms
enhanced data integration will provide the remote workforce with 2D and 3D
diagrams for better data visualisation. Users can use AR glasses to detect,
identify, locate, and track objects positioning and project holograms of
technical manuals, analytical figures, or even instructions onto the heads-up
display to analyse trends or issues for quicker response.
•
Cognitive Object Recognition – The AI-AR integrated service will use Cognitive
Object Recognition System (CORS), which runs using CITIC Telecom CPC’s
algorithm and solution to improve object mapping accuracy. Using AR glasses,
users can easily define the correlation between different objects. The AR
glasses can further improve workplace safety by projecting the physical (path)
and logical relations onto the reality in the form of digital maps, 3D models
and virtual information.
•
Middleware Enhancement – Both organisations will develop middleware for AR
glasses, empowering customers to work with different AR headsets such as
HoloLens and Android-based headsets.
The
two organisations expect the AR glasses with enhanced AI/AR capabilities will
bring more business values in a range of industrial applications, such as:
•
AI-AR Remote Hands for Seamless Collaboration From a Distance
•
Streamlining maintenance and inspection for Utilities – The AI-AR integrated
service will provide field workers with better computer vision capabilities.
Field users can access manuals and analysed data or graphs for maintenance
using the AR glasses while receiving immediate alerts of any wrong steps. The
5G-enabled cloud connectivity can enable supervisors to guide field users
during installation and maintenance verbally.
•
Computer Vision and Cognitive Analytics Solutions for Better Decision Making
•
Business Operations planning (e.g., Supply Chain Management) – The integrated
service can provide workers with extra information during operations. The
frontline staff can use data visualizations and object mapping to identify
goods quickly and accurately for loading and unloading.
•
Predictive Customer Experience for Maximising Customer Value
•
Enhancing customer services experience in all industries – AI and AR allow
companies to use predictive and prescriptive data to understand what customers
want before they know themselves, delivering exceptional customer experiences.
“We
are confident that this collaboration will result in a win-win outcome by
creating viable commercial applications that benefit different industries,”
said Yip.
Daniel
Kwong, CIIO of CITIC Telecom CPC said: “We believe that our strong partnership
with ASTRI, together with the development of new technologies, such as AI, AR,
blockchain, 5G, IoT and cloud, will ensure that we will continue to find
innovative and intelligent ways of helping enterprises to reap the benefits of
digital transformation.”
