Abstract
The paper provides a novel approach to the implementation of virtual reality within planning and design of manual processes and systems. The use of hardware and software that is required to perform different production -- especially assembly -- tasks in a virtual environment, using CAD parts as the interactive elements, is presented. Considering the CAD parts, the format conversion problem is comprehensively described and solved using format conversion software to overcome the present poor data connectivity between the CAD system and VR hardware and software. Two examples of work processes have been made in a virtual environment: peg-in-hole and wall socket assembly. In the latter, the traditional planning approach of manual assembly tasks using predetermined motion time system MTM- 2 have been compared with a modern approach in which the assembly task is fully performed within a virtual environment. The comparison comprises a discussion on the assembly task execution times. In addition, general and specific advantages and disadvantages that arise in the immersive designing of production processes using virtual reality are presented, as well as reflections on teamwork and collaborative man-machine work. Finally, novel technologies are proposed to overcome the main problems that occur when implementing VR, such as time-consuming scene defining or tedious CAD software data conversion.
Highlights
Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated interface that imitates reality and allows user interaction in that imaginative world by specific interaction devices such as head mounted displays, haptic gloves, motion trackers and sensors
Thanks to the interaction devices, it is possible to interact with different objects within VR which help in carrying out different types of work or production processes
The widening availability of equipment and recent commercialisation of VR devices resulted in the easier simulation of processes in production plants such as virtual assembly, without too large investment, at least in the first stage of the research and implementation
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) is a computer-generated interface that imitates reality and allows user interaction in that imaginative world by specific interaction devices such as head mounted displays, haptic gloves, motion trackers and sensors. In the field of the shipbuilding industry, VR is applied in the study of the escape routes or army crew training in the vessels like submarines where problems with lack of evacuation space exist: “Simulation is the other important activity where jobs like painting and welding are known to be difficult and one of the most important processes in ship construction. These processes are cost-effective and directly related to the quality of the ship under construction.
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