Toyota Adopts Microsoft’s Augmented-reality Headset HoloLens to Build Cars Faster

Augmented-reality headset HoloLens, introduced by Microsoft nearly four years ago, gains traction among carmakers such as Toyota. The carmaker is hoping such headsets can improve everything from designing cars to manufacturing and fixing them.

Among the automakers that are using HoloLens augmented-reality headsets to help design cars include Ford and Paccar.

In order to train its mechanics with 3D models of vehicles and parts like brake systems, Daimler, a German automaker, said it recently purchased over 100 HoloLens headsets.

Toyota is the most recent automaker adopting the technology. According to a report published by CNN Business, it’s said that Koichi Kayano, an employee at Toyota’s headquarters in Japan, is experimenting with HoloLens for a variety of tasks. In order to speed up the process of measuring the thickness of a vehicle’s paint (for instance) and other such related tasks, Mr.Kayano, a project manager at the facility, is using HoloLens.

Generally, the process,mentioned above, takes two people a full day, but the headset cuts it down to four hours – with just one person needed.

‘It’s as quick as wearing a HoloLens and seeing the measurement points virtually on the vehicle,”Mr.Kayano told CNN Business through an interpreter during a phone interview. “Preparation time is, like, instant.”

However, the technology still faces adoption challenges such as over pricing. One HoloLens headset costs around $3000 to $5000 – depending upon the developer or enterprise version.