Pick By HoloVision

Study for Warehouselogistics with Microsoft Hololens

by       Warehouselogistics, HoloLens, UWP     

Florian Auer

Fast and precise order picking is one of the most important tasks in warehouse logistics. To increase the performance here, the employees are supported by a variety of assistance systems. A cutting edge picking optimization method is pick-by-vision with data glasses. We built a fully functional client application with SLAM, barcode scanning, 3D-Object positioning, gesture interaction and REST-Communication. We could determine the major pros and cons for the use of Microsoft’s HoloLens in the field of Pick By Vision.

Use Case Warehouse-Logistics


Fast and precise order picking is one of the most important tasks in warehouse logistics. To increase the performance here, the employees are supported by a variety of assistance systems. These include optical events (pick-by-light) or mobile aids such as headsets (pick-by-voice).

A cutting edge picking optimization method is pick-by-vision with data glasses. It combines the advantages of pick-by-voice and pick-by-light in one system. Favored by the rapid technical progress, the Smart Glasses are now mature enough to be used in industrial applications. Its use is ideal wherever manual operations are required for which additional information is needed. This includes the storage area, where data glasses provide a good interface to provide employees with the information they need.

How Pick By Vision with Hololens works


The employee works with the Microsoft HoloLens which visualizes realtime data of the current order. The HoloLens guides the user through the current order. Via a navigation function, the employee is routed directly to the storage location of the article to be picked, where it is displayed via a visual overlay the appropriate storage space and the required number of picks. The data glasses are used to detect barcodes of the picked items. Therefore, the usual hand scanner is unnecessary, and the user can continuously work with both hands. In addition, the user receives immediate feedback if he or she made a picking error. To increase the precision, the user can also receive pictures of the article.

All information relevant to the order is transmitted in real time from the ERP or WM system and displayed on the HoloLens. At the same time, employees and warehouse management software permanently have an overview of the type, location and quantity of the goods to be picked.

About the project


In corporation with Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences, we investigated the usage of the Microsoft HoloLens in the field of Pick By Vision. We built a fully functional client application with SLAM, barcode scanning, 3D-Object positioning, gesture interaction and REST-Communication. While testing the application in the field, we could determine the major pros and cons for the use of Microsoft’s HoloLens in the field of Pick By Vision.