STARMATE: Using Augmented Reality technology for computer guided maintenance of complex mechanical elements

This paper presents the project STARMATE, funded by the EU (IST- 1999-10202), which aims at specifying, designing, developing, and demonstrating a prototype allowing computer guided maintenance of complex mechanical elements using Augmented Reality techniques. The system will provide two main functionalities: User assistance for achieving assembly/de-assembly and maintenance procedures, and workforce training of those procedures. The system is dedicated to applications where access to conventional paper or other documentation is cumbersome and aims at integrating digital technical manuals, construction files and maintenance procedures seamlessly into the workplace. It will rely on Augmented Reality techniques, which is a growing area in Virtual Reality research. The idea of Augmented Realtiy is to combine a real scene, viewed by the user, with a virtual scene, generated by a computer, augmenting the reality with additional information. A multi-modal concept is basis for the interaction with the system.