August 2021

SIEMENS HAS joined forces with the German visual computing specialist Threedy to develop a technology that combines IIoT and 3D data to help drives users to understand their systems better and resolve faults more efficiently. Threedy – a spin-off from the Fraunhofer IGD institute for computer graphics – specialises in turning industrial 3D data into immersive experiences. Its instant3Dhub visual computing platform allows users to access and interact with industrial 3D data instantly on any platform. Siemens in integrating instant3Dhub with its Sidrive IQ digital drive platform to offer immersive user experiences for applications ranging from collaborating on product design to providing service support. It will combine IIoT and visual computing for design collaboration and troubleshooting purposes. The integration of Threedy’s visualisation service will give users of medium and large drives access to visual digital twin information that has previously been restricted mainly to engineering departments. They will be able to access CAD data via theWeb, or AR (augmented reality) or VR (virtual reality) technologies. The enhanced Sidrive is intended to tackle industrial needs such as customised, yet dynamic, 3D data composition, and automated transcoding and scalable visualisation, while retaining the original metadata used in product lifecycles from product design to operations and service support. “3D and XR applications, especially collaborative ones, offer their maximum value when the 3D visualisations are integrated with live business data in a highly dynamic manner,”says Threedy CEO, Christian Stein.“The co- operation with Siemens – and particularly the integration of instant3Dhub into Sidrive IQ – offers exactly this.” SebastianWinkler von Mohrenfels, Siemens’head of digital business for large drives applications, reports that the company is gradually adding functions to Sidrive IQ. “Combining immersive experiences with IIoT-capabilities is a critical differentiator for the human-machine interaction because, to a large extent, it is people who eventually interact and act with AI-based insights and digital content in daily business operations.” SiDrive IQ provides IoT functions for smart management of fleets of drives. It helps to manage the reliability, performance and serviceability of these systems throughout the product lifecycle. n TECHNOLOGY Visual computing brings immersive, dynamic 3D experiences to drives users Sidrive IQ will combine IIoT and 3D data resulting in digital content that empowers customers to understand drive systems better and resolve faults more efficiently.