Purpose This paper aims to address the challenge of visual obstruction and positioning inaccuracy during the installation of large-scale panels, which frequently block operators’ views and reduce operational efficiency. Design/methodology/approach An augmented reality (AR) and virtual fixture-based assisted assembly method is proposed. It reconstructs the environment in real-time using image and point cloud processing for accurate panel localization, establishes a spatial pose guidance virtual fixture with admittance control and a potential field-guided buffer zone and provides visual-haptic feedback through AR rendering. Findings Experimental results show that the method significantly improves installation efficiency (average time reduced by 19.8%) and reduces placement errors (average deviation decreased by 51.8%). Originality/value The study introduces an integrated AR and virtual fixture approach with real-time force feedback and potential field-based guidance, effectively mitigating visual obstruction issues in large-component assembly and enhancing both precision and efficiency.
Liu et al. (2026) studied this question.