Volkswagen debuts augmented reality for the service department

While both dealers and aftermarket repair shops have been investigating (and in some cases, deploying) tablets on the service drive to help improve the speed and accuracy of generating inspections, estimates and work orders, Volkswagen is taking this one step further.

At a conference in Munich earlier this year, the company unveiled MARTA, (Mobile Augmented Reality Technical Assistance), an augmented reality application for service technicians that allows them to use an iPad to view both the real and virtual parts of a car via the built-in camera.

Augmented reality provides a live view of a real-world environment or object, and then supplements that view with computer-generated input such as sound, video, graphics or other information. Integrated with Volkswagen's diagnostic software, the MARTA tool allows technicians to view an image of the car in front of them, with diagnostic data and virtual images (like internal components or system schematics) overlaid on the photo. The system also provides step-by-step repair instructions, parts information and other data.

"Our idea was that this could deliver exactly the information needed when it is needed, and have it located in the field of view of the service technician," says Dr. Werner Schreiber, head of Volkswagen Group Research. "We wanted to improve long and complex service operations."

Schreiber says the solution should improve efficiency in the service department. "MARTA will help technicians and the service department do their jobs faster, and with better quality," Schreiber says. "Service technicians have to find out where the problem is on the car, then analyze how to fix it, and then actually do the repair work. We can support this with one tool that guides them through the entire process, and they don't have to leave the car to read a manual or look at a stationary PC. Standing in front of the car you can get all the information ,and you don't have to waste time running around and searching for that information. MARTA allows you to see the exact place where the work needs to be done, and what you have to do to complete the job."

The initial MARTA app is for the 2014 XL1 hybrid diesel vehicle, a limited production car that contains a number of leading-edge technologies. It will be launched in Germany once the XL1 is available for sale. "The XL1 is a high technology vehicle, and we wanted to support it with technology," Schreiber says. "This is just a first step. We're continuing to research and develop the solution. Right now it is only targeted at technicians. More work will have to be done to offer this to the broader public."

Volkswagen developed the solution with software provider Metaio. The two companies previously partnered on an augmented reality owner's manual for the Audi A3, which allows drivers to aim their smartphone camera at any one of 300 different parts of the vehicle and call up related materials from the manual. It does provide step-by-step maintenance instructions, augmented with arrows and other cues that help guide the owner through some basic tasks using images of their vehicle.

That application (called eKurzinfo) doesn't use virtual images, and doesn't provide diagnostic information.

Scheiber says that Volkswagen will continue to develop the MARTA system for use in other countries. "As soon as we have more information about how the market perceives MARTA and other augmented reality issues have been solved, then we can think about going far beyond the XL1," Schreiber says. "The technology has the potential to go further. We are in the process of supporting other languages like English, Spanish and so on. MARTA is integrated into the service testing equipment for the car, and this will help us to get more information about behavior in the field. There is no timeline associated with those further steps, because we are still working through some technical issues."

BMW also has developed augmented reality capabilities for its technicians. The BMW system utilizes special data goggles and wireless computer access to provide data to mechanics on the shop floor, although it appears that system is still under development. Metaio has developed a similar solution for Google Glass. The proof-of-concept app uses CAD models to overlay 3D content onto a vehicle.

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