Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) immersive technology allows users to experience enhanced reality using human–computer interfaces (HCI). Many systems have implemented VR with improved HCI to provide strategic market advantages for industry and engineering applications. An intelligent chatbot is a conversational system capable of natural language communication allowing users to ask questions and receive answers online to enhance customer services. This research develops and implements a system framework for a VR-enabled large industrial power transformer mass-customization chatbot. The research collected 1272 frequently asked questions (FAQs) from a power transformer manufacturers’ knowledge base that is used for question matching and answer retrieval. More than 1.2 million Wikipedia engineering pages were used to train a word-embedding model for natural language understanding of question intent. The complex engineering questions and answers are integrated with an immersive VR computer human interface. The system enables users to ask questions and receive explicit and detailed answers combined with 3D immersive images of industrial sized power transformer assemblies. The user interfaces can be projected into the VR headwear or computer screen and manipulated with a controller. The unique immersive VR consultation chatbot system is to support real-time design consultation for the design and manufacturing of complex power transformers.
Highlights
Large-size industrial power transformers are complex static engineering systems used for electrical power distribution to step-up voltages for transmission from power plants or distribution centers and step-down voltage levels for receiving power at end user factories, manufacturing centers, or large building complexes
The composition of the Request for Quotation (RFQ) bid must be supported by engineering knowledge data, including a Bill of Materials (BOM), manufacturing process, cost estimation, guarantees and warranties, transportation, installation, and safety inspection [1]
In addition to providing engineering consultation, the system combines the advantages of Virtual Reality (VR) to provide a user with immersive three-dimensional interfaces, which help improve understanding of complex power transformer designs and manufacturing
Summary
Large-size industrial power transformers are complex static engineering systems used for electrical power distribution to step-up voltages for transmission from power plants or distribution centers and step-down voltage levels for receiving power at end user factories, manufacturing centers, or large building complexes. In order to provide remote customers with highly customized machinery designs and quotations, engineering consultation services during the processes of procurement are critically important. For non-customized products and systems, the buyer may opt to use closed bids from vendors without negotiation or consultation of design and price. The purpose of an RFQ is to provide suppliers with the specifications of the procurement item such that price quotations and warrantees for their product and services may be formulated. Archived RFQs are high value engineering knowledge documents that are managed to strengthen communications with current and future industrial customers. For the specification and design confirmation stage of large-scale industrial products such as transformers, customization is widely adopted, which means that close and frequent communication between manufacturers and customers is necessary. RFQ knowledge documents are treated as the core knowledge content for training and verifying the consultation Q&A Chatbot
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