There are all kinds of applications for real-time 3D technology, from early R&D to aftermarket services. Manufacturing companies that have embraced real-time 3D apply it to more than eight different use cases, on average, according to a Forrester Consulting study commissioned by Unity published in March 2020.

These are some examples within the product life cycle:

design and engineering
Common use cases: virtual prototyping and enablement, immersive design reviews, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) visualization, autonomous system simulation, human-machine interface (HMI) development, etc.

Example of practical application of real-time 3D technology: Lockheed Martin creates products virtually to minimize physical prototyping and testing, saving millions of dollars by discovering and solving problems much earlier in the process. developing.

Manufacturing
Common use cases: technician training, AR-guided assistance during production, digital factory simulation, virtual assembly process validation, etc.

Practical application example of real-time 3D technology: The BMW Group created AR and VR applications for frontline worker training, assembly line workstation planning and quality control.

sales and marketing
Common use cases: virtual events, interactive product configurators, photorealistic renderings, promotional videos, mixed reality shopping experiences, etc.

Practical application example of real-time 3D technology: Autoliv increased its global sales force’s ability to close deals by presenting its complex products in interactive 3D format, instead of using 2D slide shows.

Service and operations

Common use cases: remote maintenance, AR-based guidance, safety training, real-time digital twins for sensor/data simulation and visualization, etc.

Example of practical application of 3D technology in real time: ABB replaced costly and time-consuming training programs by developing an AR-based system that guides field technicians to perform maintenance and service on equipment used in industrial sites efficiently and safely.