In industrial production, detected defects have previously been marked either on components themselves – e.g. with a grease pencil – or on screen using an appropriate drawing. “Both processes have clear disadvantages,” says Michael Voit, Head of the Perceptual User Interfaces research group at Fraunhofer IOSB. “By comparison, QSelect offers a residue-free, digital way of working that is also quick and intuitive.”

When a defect is found, the controller indicates it using a special laser pointer and presses a button. They can then choose the type of defect and its severity from a menu. Cameras on a support structure record the exact position of the marking in three dimensional space from a bird’s eye perspective. “The graphic menu for entering the metadata is projected directly onto the component using an ordinary projector,” explains Michael Voit. “If practical augmented reality glasses become available in the future, we will be able to retrofit and dispense with the projector.” According to the Karlsruhe-based researchers, QSelect can be used in a wide range of fields from body-making to circuit board assembly.