VR as a 3D Modelling Tool in Engineering Design Applications

2011

This paper presents a study of a company that is testing virtual reality (VR) tools in designing the assembly process of a new car model. This is the first time in the company’s 40-year history that virtual reality is used in the designing process. The company designed its production processes simultaneously with the product development which was done by a newly founded company located on another continent. A benchmark research was made in the case company to find out, which virtual tool features are needed when designing an assembly process. Collaboration usage of the virtual reality tool was tested with the product development (PD) over internet. A review of the existing literature showed that the focus of the research in VR has been mainly in product development or in single subassemblies. Different kinds of systems were found with various features. Regarding the assembly, some system features were essential for virtual prototyping. No literature about similar cases was found whe...

2002

In recent years a range of different VR applications have been developed for the purposes of design review and analysis. The typical data source for a design review of complex models using VR technologies is an underlying 3D-CAD system or 3D styling tool, that provides geometric and topological information of the digital model. The time to adequately prepare 3D-CAD data for a design review session using VR is inherently influenced by the underlying methodology of product modelling, data acquisition, the quality of the conversion and complexity of the digital model. To manually prepare the data without an automated mechanism is tedious and cumbersome. Thus, we describe an efficient methodology and architecture to automate the process of data preparation for the purposes of a design review session in VR.

Global Engineering, Manufacturing and Enterprise Networks, 2001

The performance of current Computer-Aided Design (CAD) systems is still far from the satisfaction of conceptual designers. This paper presents a VR-based CAD system for conceptual design by applying VR interfaces and geometric modelling techniques to improve the human computer interaction. The system uses an electronic data glove as an input device so that conceptual designers are allowed to use hand gestures to conduct various geometric shape operations instead of depending solely on keyboard and 2D mouse. We employ the 3D GUIs for enhancing the gesture interface. The implemented shape modelling techniques offered by the system include: destruction, construction, and techniques for freeform feature creation and modification. The destructive techniques allow the user to arbitrarily sculpt an existing part by means of sculpting tools. The constructive techniques allow the user to assemble an object by using a collection of feature objects, by either adding or subtracting feature objects from the model. The system also offers several novel methods for facilitating intuitive modification of freeform curves and surfaces.

2006

One of the main objectives of the engineering departments of large industries is the construction of integrated information systems to control their projects, offering resources for the 3D visualization of their models with enough realism to be used for virtual prototyping, design review, change management systems, and training, among other activities. This work analyzes the main problems related to the production of Virtual Reality (VR) models derived from CAD (Computer-Aided Design) models, which allows the user to interact with them in real-time and have an immersive sensation. The paper presents ENVIRON (ENvironment for VIRtual Objects Navigation), an application that was developed motivated by the necessity of using VR in large industrial engineering models coming from CAD tools.

The Journal of Technology Studies, 2004

Product design is a critical activity because it has been estimated that 70% to 80% of the cost of product development and manufacture is determined by the decisions made in the initial design stages (Kalpakjian & Schmid, 2001). During the design process, 92% of communications are graphically based (Bertoline, Wiebe, Miller, & Mohler, 1997). Graphics is a visual communication language, which helps designers understand their developing designs and to convey their ideas to others. Thus, efficient graphics communication tools can improve design and decision-making processes. Most designers currently use traditional CAD tools to help communicate their designs to others. However, CAD tools only allow users to examine 3D models from outside flat computer monitors. In other words, the models and the viewers are in different realms. Using traditional CAD tools, the designers cannot view models with natural stereoscopic vision. Recently, virtual reality (VR), as an emerging visualization technology, has introduced an unprecedented communication method for collaborative design. VR refers to an immersive, interactive, multisensory, viewer-centered, 3D computer-generated environment and the combination of technologies required to build such an environment (Aukstakalnis & Blatner, 1992; Cruz-Neira, 1998). VR technology breaks down barriers between humans and computers by immersing viewers in a computer-generated stereoscopic environment. VR allows users to experience a strong sense of presence in a virtual scene and enhances user interactivity. Using VR technology, depth cues provided by a stereo image help convey spatial relationships in 3D models, which enhances users' understanding of a design. Viewers can perceive distance and spatial relationships between different object components more realistically and accurately than with conventional visualization tools. Usually, however, implementation of VR technology is not easy. It requires skilled technical people and highly specialized, sometimes costly, equipment. These requirements prevent the widespread use of VR in research and industrial communities (Olson, 2002). However, now,

2000

VIRTUAL REALITY BASED CREATION OF CONCEPT MODEL DESIGNS FOR CAD SYSTEMS by Bilal Yehya Maiteh This work introduces a novel method to overcome most of the drawbacks in traditional methods for creating design models. The main innovation is the use of virtual tools to simulate the natural physical environment in which freeform design models are created by experienced designers. Namely, the model is created in a virtual environment by carving a workpiece with tools that simulate NC milling cutters. Algorithms have been developed to support the approach, in which the design model is created in a Virtual Reality (VR) environment and selection and manipulation of tools can be performed in the virtual space. The tool trajectories are generated by the designer's hand movements and they are obtained by recording the position and orientation of a hand mounted motion tracker. Swept volumes of virtual tools are generated from the geometry of the tool and its trajectories. Then Boolean operat...

FORMakademisk, 2020

Virtual Reality (VR) opens new possibilities in the fields of architecture, design and engineering. If combined with Building Information Modelling (BIM) or simpler 3D models, it could be possible to walk into buildings not yet built or to examine designed objects in three dimensions before they are made. This literature review examines studies in which VR was used in architecture, design and engineering as part of design processes. The review highlights promising benefits, such as increased understanding of complex issues concerning design tasks, size and dimensions. At the same time, several challenges are revealed, such as the inability of VR-systems to offer satisfactory functionalities for sketching and designing. Finally, the author discusses how VR can be implemented in relevant subjects in lower and upper secondary school.

Proceedings of the 2016 ACM Conference Companion Publication on Designing Interactive Systems - DIS '17 Companion, 2017

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2004

This paper presents ENVIRON (ENvironment for VIRtual Objects Navigation), an application that was developed motivated by the necessity of using Virtual Reality in large industrial engineering models coming from CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools. This work analyzes the main problems related to the production of a VR model, derived from the CAD model, which must provide an immersive sensation to the user and allow him to interact with it in real-time. ENVIRON format conversion and visualization aspects are detailed, and performance considerations are discussed based on tests made with real oil platforms models.

In the last decades the competition in the automotive market, in all segments, has become very strong. This motivation has pushed all OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to develop complex and high technical products, with more and more variants, that satisfy the increasing customer requirements on style, quality, safety, comfort and environmental protection. OEM have tried to shorten the time-to-market of new products in order to better interpret the voice of the customers and implement these needs in the new product. They have also redefined their Vehicle Development Process (VDP), based on the use of a digital approach in the product development. Starting from the conceptual stage of a new product, a conceptual Digital Mock-Up (DMU) of the product is built and it represents the reference model for all the following phases of VDP, down to the market launch and its use. CAE ( Computer Aided Engineering) engineers use DMU data to create their simulation models in order to analyse...