Comparing augmented reality visualization methods for assembly procedures

Assembly processes require now more than ever a systematic way to improve efficiency complying with increasing product demand. Several industrial scenarios have been using augmented reality (AR) to enhance environments with different types of information and influence the overall user satisfaction and performance. The purpose of this work is to evaluate three different AR-based methods that can be used to support users during the execution of assembly procedures. The AR methods evaluated are handheld mobile AR, indirect AR (showing the augmented scene on a monitor) and see-through head-mounted display. A user study was performed to assess performance, mental and physical workload, as well as acceptance of the aforementioned methods. Results from a thirty participants study did not reveal a best method in terms of performance and user preference, showing that all methods are adequate to support users. However, the study highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each method, which may lead to potential advantages in specific use cases.