Arquitetura dinâmica de realidade aumentada aplicada a manutenção assistida de equipamentos de subestações elétricas: sistemas HVDC

Abstract

Considering the electric power substation sector—characterized by critical systems essential to the operation of residential, commercial, and industrial infrastructures—and its increasing openness to technological innovation, this work proposes the development of an Augmented Reality (AR) solution to support maintenance procedures and intervention planning in HVDC substations. The proposal is based on the premise that AR, as a technology that complements human perception, enhances the interaction between operators and the real environment through the immersive and contextual overlay of digital information. However, many AR solutions still lack mechanisms that allow for the modification or creation of new content without requiring software updates, limiting their adaptability to new use scenarios. In this context, a solution was developed based on a dynamic architecture that enables the creation, modification, and consumption of resources directly within the application, without redistributing the software. This architecture enhances the tool's flexibility and scalability, increasing its potential for practical application. The development process included a systematic literature review, requirements analysis, software design, interface prototyping, and field validation. The resulting architecture integrates four core systems: an AR application developed in Unity for the optical device HoloLens 2 (Trimble XR10); a Data Service based on Node.js and MongoDB (NoSQL); middleware components for integration with legacy substation systems (SAGE and SAP); and a remote communication module via Microsoft Teams, using Azure cloud services. The solution was presented and validated at Eletronorte’s HVDC substations—BtB Coletora (Porto Velho) and Bipolo Araraquara II—under real lighting and operational conditions, in front of converter transformers. The tool enabled maintenance professionals and managers to access operational data, administrative records, technical documents, multimedia content, and remote communication directly through the AR interface. The results demonstrated technical feasibility, positive user reception, and potential for integration into the electric power sector, reinforcing the solution’s contribution to critical and innovative operational contexts.