Linking the digital twin and the real control cabinet

By overlaying a real control cabinet with its digital twin, the virtual and real worlds are linked. This AR-supported visualization increases the depth of information, as service technicians are guided through the process. The enhanced eView AR app has the potential to revolutionize the world of service and maintenance.

Specifically, it is about the electrical engineering documentation of control cabinets, which is made available via augmented reality (AR). Not in any project, not at the electrical engineer's desk, but directly in operation, i.e. at the control cabinet.

With the extended app, service technicians can use a tablet or smartphone to superimpose the digital twin onto the real control cabinet. This gives the technician digital access to every single component. An example: a motor protection switch needs to be replaced. The service technician is visually guided by AR highlighting and knows exactly where the component is positioned in the switch cabinet - even if the switch cabinet door is closed.

Components can be located quickly, especially in large cabinets or cabinet arrays. The service technician can use the digital twin to obtain all the necessary information, such as the wiring diagram and the circuit diagram page with the motor starter combination. This eliminates the need to search through potentially extensive paper documentation. It guides technicians or maintenance staff quickly through their maintenance activities. If a contactor needs to be replaced, for example, the digital twin shows the manufacturer's details for the component and refers to its electrical documentation. The technician notes the replacement of this component using redlining or greenlining.

Engineering can implement the changes on all pages of the electrotechnical documentation. If there are cross-references to other circuit diagram pages, these are also automatically updated in Engineering. Collaboration in Eplan is bidirectional - from service to engineering and vice versa. This ensures cross-departmental collaboration and complete project documentation.