VOLKSWAGEN Commercial Vehicle technicians might be wearing some strange-looking spectacles the next time you take your VW van in for a service.

When they peer into the engine bay of your cherished Volkswagen van, they won’t be continuing to play the latest augmented reality game while at work.

No. Instead, work has become their augmented reality game.

The glasses are part of a pilot to test how augmented reality can assist technicians with vehicle diagnosis and repair.

The trial across 10 Volkswagen Van Centres will help establish how effective augmented reality glasses are in effecting improved workshop efficiency.

So how does it all work?

Technicians wear RealWear glasses. These allow technicians to connect directly with the Technical Support Centre at VW HQ. And provide a fully augmented video broadcast between workshop and Technical Support Centre.

The technology includes a microphone, head camera, display screen and voice activation functionality.

Volkswagen says it can help guide technicians through complex repairs by augmenting images, wiring diagrams and adding repair suggestions into their view. It can, at the same time, talk them through the required diagnostic steps.

Should the trial period prove effective, the technology will be rolled out to all Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles technicians including those that work across the brand’s Mobile Service Clinics from June 2018.

Paul Anderson, Service Operations Manager at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said:

“This is an exciting step forward in maximising uptime for our customers through the use of augmented reality and remote diagnostic tools. Our ultimate aim is to ensure we can keep the customers’ vehicles on the road for longer and that means reducing the time it takes to repair a vehicle when it’s in the workshop.“

A demonstration of the technology will be available for visitors to view on the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles stand in Hall 4 at the CV Show at the NEC in Birmingham from 24-26 April.

Got a spare 30 seconds?

 Help us to provide you with better market insight by completing a very short survey. It is anonymous and only takes 30 seconds. You will get free access to the quarterly results.

Thinking of the switch to electric?

Need help in finding the right electric vehicle for you? Compare driving range, battery capacity, charging time, price, and features to find the perfect EV for you.

logo