Mobile approach support system for future machine tools

To address the most critical problem areas of skilled workers at machine tools with suitable interaction devices, a mobile approach support system is being developed. This system consists of a head-mounted display (HMD), a speech processing unit, a wearable PC as the command unit for these components, and a control pendant with force-feedback control elements. The whole system communicates with the numerical control of the machine tool via a wireless, IrDA-compatible infrared transmission. In an usability study, the majority of the participants approved the HMD as well as the force-feedback technology as innovative components of future human-machine-interfaces.