Autodesk and The Boiler Room enables key 4IR Immersive Technology with 3ds Max

VR enables companies to build an environment and bring it to the users. AR allows companies to enhance what is already in our environment and add new layers of interactivity and experience. That is why early adopters and innovators are looking at VR and AR as a way of better engaging with their potential customers and more effectively solving their challenges. Autodesk solutions such as 3ds Max, Revit, Navisworks and InfraWorks are at the centre of this 4th Industrial Revolution enabling phenomenon.

Mark Hocker is the CEO and Adi Stephen is the Chief Learning and innovation officer at The Boiler Room (TBR), a dynamic Innovation and Consulting Hub. TBR delivers learning, digital production and consulting solutions. Established in 1999 the organisation specialises in 2D / 3D animation, eLearning, VR, AR and other Industry 4.0 disruptive technologies. Autodesk offerings such as Revit, 3ds max, Navisworks and InfraWorks play a key role in TBR’s value proposition.

Immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are an increasingly significant enabler for quicker, smarter, safer, and more cost-effective business processes, across most industries and business functions.

As recently as five years ago, integrating VR into workflows required custom programming. Today, with the availability of low-cost VR headsets, third-party hosting sites, and VR experiences created directly from BIM programs, such as Autodesk Revit, meaningful workflows can be efficiently created and populated for immersive technology projects using tools such as Enscape.

“Increasingly sophisticated and seamless workflows mean we can work smarter and faster. OEMs and companies like Autodesk are continually developing and making tools available that empower us to make things more realistic. The ability to transfer knowledge better, faster and safer, with no material consequences, allows us to implement ‘learn, evaluate and repeat’ methods. ‘Round-tripping’ between 3ds Max, Maya and Unity, for example. By using many more senses, better replicating the real environment and actually ‘experiencing’ various situations, modern interactive workflows allow companies to get so much more meaningful content ‘across the line’. Adoption rates are much higher and this translates into significant, measurable improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, “ continues Stephan.

“An end-to end design approach using InfraWorks software as the aggregator and design data visualizer accelerates the transition to connected BIM and data flows for 3ds Max, which improves efficiency and project approvals, ” concludes Stephan.

According to Mark Hocker, “VR and AR are no longer gaming tools associated only with movies and entertainment. Since COVID compelled companies to rethink how they work and this has accelerated the moving from E-learning to immersive technologies. Simulating workplace situations is facilitating better reach, more meaningful engagement and lower costs in an effective and safe manner. We are seeing retention rates of 60-70%. This achievement, when compared to the 25% reached through non-immersive methods, is a clear indication of how TBR is using Autodesk offerings such as Revit, 3ds Max, Navisworks and InfraWorks to bring these solutions to life.”

A recent Australian report observed that the targeted use of AR and VR significantly reduces costs throughout the design and development phases of production. It also reported that immersive technologies are being extended to other company areas such as sales, services, marketing, and training.

“Autodesk solutions, such as Tandem, are being used for digital twinning to optimize processes and save hundreds of thousands of dollars in consequential ‘loss of production’ costs. In a recent project in the coal mining sector, using 3DS Max , TBR designed and implemented a fully functional 3D model of a continuous miner machine. This allows the client to conduct operator training on a multi-million-dollar piece of equipment in a controlled, safe environment, without having to take equipment out of production. Through exact simulation learners are not exposed in the field for the first time and they make important connections before interacting with the actual workspace,” says Hocker.

“In addition, up to 30% savings in cycle times are realised using VR solutions in maintenance processes. One of our clients brought their scheduled maintenance down from 24 hours to 4 hours on one machine. Global Statistics, released by underground mining equipment manufacturers, shows that maintenance time is being reduced by an average of 50%by using tablet-based VR, “ added Hocker.

“The perception is that immersive technologies like Autodesk AR and VR solutions are expensive.”

“The development costs of immersive technologies such as VR and AR are similar to conventional platforms such as E-learning. Immersive technologies are inherently re-usability and the employment of principles like ‘Invest once - use many’ and ‘Just for me - just in time’ means that in reality immersive technologies are not expensive, “ says Stephan.

Simply put, it allows for smarter, faster, safer and more cost-effective business operations. A mine for example can have up to 55 types of equipment. Using Autodesk and other  solutions we developed a motion platform system for training on heavy and expensive equipment. The client can now use a single platform, i.e. one simulator, for their entire fleet. Using conventional methods it would cost >$250,000 per type of equipment, where the immersive technology route costs >$300,000 for the whole fleet. For an operation utilizing 40 types of equipment, this represents a significant saving of >$9,000,000. Numerous companies such as Renault, Lockheed Martin and Jaguar Land Rover are now reporting on their VR and AR ROI metrics. These range from 40% reductions in production costs to savings of 4M€ in only 5 weeks. The application of AR and VR creates a win-win situation and the business benefits are immense, “ says Hocker.