VR and AR technologies revolutionise SRS pit manufacturing workflows
At the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF), attempts to modernise pit production operations (PPO) are being revolutionised by augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technology. Teams are working on innovative AR/VR solutions to optimise the SRPPF facility’s equipment design, increasing productivity and reducing procurement costs by millions.
According to Shakeel Khan, Director of Information Services, the SRPPF and PPO organisations are not only using AR/VR technology but are also looking for creative methods to use it to create a digital and contemporary manufacturing facility. Collaboration across Operations, Design Agencies, Training, and Knowledge Preservation has been crucial to this project’s success.
The team made a calculated risk in Fiscal Years (FY) 23 and 24, launching a Model Based Design project that gives stakeholders a virtual tour of the SRPPF Main Process Building (MPB). By giving users an understanding of the facility’s operating dynamics and the capacity to recognise possible design enhancements, this method has improved the MPB’s design. As construction operations increase, technological advances are also enabling safe navigation on site by reducing the number of visitors and entities requiring on-site access.
Furthermore, the use of AR/VR technology has enhanced the design review process by enabling the team to detect any problems early on. By lowering the possibility of delays, this also increases cost savings and sets a standard for next initiatives within the company.
The crew was present at the Oak Ridge Enhanced Tech and Training Centre for the Second Annual Extended Reality (XR) Symposium. Collaboration with other DOE facilities, industry suppliers, and academics was one of the symposium’s main goals, with an emphasis on XR technology. The Symposium’s discussions and demonstrations offered insight into the potential applications of AR, VR, XR, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies across a range of sectors. Examples of these applications included tabletop holographs for command and control and enhanced headgear.
According to Khan, security issues remain a persistent worry inside the DOE facility. Overall acceptance of these different technologies will accelerate with joint efforts to manage dangers as they arise. SRPPF and PPO are at the forefront of adopting these technological innovations, which are altering how people work and cooperate in this day and age. This ensures that the pit production operations effort goes forward with the greatest levels of efficiency and safety.
