Modern cars have become less and less easy to repair, even for the savviest driver, because of the high technological contents and the huge amount of computerized systems installed, which make our mechanic’s job look more and more like a software programmer’s.

Fortunately, it is the very technology that makes our cars increasingly complicated (but much safer) that lends us a hand when it comes to fixing them, thanks to the usage of augmented reality.
In fact, researchers from Columbia University have created a system called ARMAR (Augmented Reality for Maintenance and Repair).

The system consists of a helmet similar to those used in virtual reality based videogames, which would display virtual images on top of the real ones, according to the augmented reality principle. The graphics are controlled through a mobile phone equipped with Android operating system.

In short, the system is guiding its user towards the damaged area, and by displaying 3D animations, it guides him step by step towards solving the problem. It has recently been successfully tested by the US Marine Corps on an armored turret, and repair time was cut by 50% compared to a normal manual job.

In the future, should this device enter the commercial vehicles market, it might be a real breakthrough, and allow almost all car drivers and users to take a shot at repairing their own car.

In the latest years, augmented reality is being used in an increasing number of applications: generally it is used to add details to satellite maps, or for leisurely purposes. ARMAR is one of the first systems to use augmented reality to carry out a specific and specialized task, and might me a spearhead towards introducing this technology in production and maintenance of complex systems.

The advantage lies in the fact that, along with solving the problem, ARMAR also teaches him how to do it, so one day, augmented reality might even chance educational programs in our schools…