E-LEARNING MODULE ON VIRTUAL PROTOTYPING OF GARMENTS WITHIN THE E-LEARNING COURSE FOR INNOVATIVE TEXTILE FIELDS

Abstract

This contribution presents the functionalities and multimedia contents of the e-learning module on virtual prototyping of garments within the ERASMUS+ project entitled e-Learning Course for Innovative Textile Fields - Advan2Tex. Use of advanced information technologies and systems can assure the textile and garment manufacturing companies competitive advantages, such as high and constant quality of products, productivity, flexibility, and quick response to the requirements of fashion and market. A wide range of new technologies, above all those using fascinating possibilities of computer graphics, together with a new generation of computer based systems, assure the textile companies the ability to react extremely fast to the customer demands offering quality and future-oriented services. This enables greater commercial presence and contributes to company's better marketing position. The universities, research institutions and software producers apply nowadays a whole range of new technologies to create the advanced computer solutions that will in the future support the whole cycle starting from the virtual design of fabric and garments through automated production up to virtual merchandising. Therefore, the students and textile professionals, already working in textile industries, should be given the knowledge needed for successful work with the new technologies, which will contribute to developing the textile information society of the future. This module of the e-learning course for innovative textile field informs the readers and course participants about new emerging technologies, which have a great potential for the textile-related industries: virtual prototyping of garments and 3D scanning. After a short introduction a chapter on recent advances in computer-aided technologies for textile applications starts this module. The most widely used CA* technologies are briefly described together with some new technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, 3D scanning and 3D printing. CIM concept of the factories of the future is presented. The third chapter deals with the simulation of specific mechanical properties of textiles. Geometrical, physical and hybrid cloth models are presented together with explanation graphics. Virtual reproduction of mechanical behaviour of textile forms uses the mechanical properties, measured by the measuring systems for objective evaluation of textile fabrics and different models for simulation of textiles. Modelling and simulation of virtual humans is presented in the fourth chapter. The chapter starts with 3D scanning describing the special equipment for capturing the human body in both standing and sitting postures. Reconstruction techniques needed for assuring the reliable 3D body models are described. These models can be then used for importing in commercial CAD/PDS systems. The fifth chapter introduces the garment prototyping and virtual fitting technologies. Described are all the attributes required for virtual prototyping of garments. This chapter also informs about the virtual fitting of garments for people with special physical needs - paraplegics. The results of several studies on this important topic are included at the end of the chapter. Each chapter has a list of used literature. The module is concluded by the Summary and multiple choice questions of three levels of difficulty.