Abstract
The use of virtual reality (VR) techniques for industrial training provides a safe and cost effective solution that contributes to increased engagement and knowledge retention levels. However, the process of experiential learning in a virtual world without biophysical constraints might contribute to muscle strain and discomfort, if ergonomic risk factors are not considered in advance. Under this scope, we have developed a digital platform which employs extended reality (XR) technologies for the creation and delivery of industrial training programs, by taking into account the users and workplace specificities through the adaptation of the 3D virtual world to the real environment. Our conceptual framework is composed of several inter-related modules: 1) the XR tutorial creation module, for automatic recognition of the sequence of actions composing a complex scenario while this is demonstrated by the educator in VR, 2) the XR tutorial execution module, for the delivery of visually guided and personalized XR training experiences, 3) the digital human model (DHM) based simulation module for creation and demonstration of job task simulations avoiding the need of an actual user and 4) the biophysics assessment module for ergonomics analysis given the input received from the other modules. Three-dimensional reconstruction and aligned projection of the objects situated in the real scene facilitated the imposition of inherent physical constraints, thereby allowed to seamlessly blend the virtual with the real world without losing the sense of presence.
Highlights
Over the past years, extended reality (XR) technologies gained much importance in different types of industries, such as the manufacturing, architecture, automotive, health care, entertainment etc
Virtual interactions facilitate the granular adjustment of conditions based on personalized preferences and needs and can become a valuable means of data gathering for ergonomic assessment and user-centered design
For most industrial machines, which are modeled with computer-aided design (CAD) tools, the automatic retrieval of the respective 3D models is easy
Summary
Over the past years, extended reality (XR) technologies gained much importance in different types of industries, such as the manufacturing, architecture, automotive, health care, entertainment etc. Already more than a decade ago it was suggested to include in DHMs valid posture and motion prediction models based on real motion data in order to assure validity for complex dynamic task simulations (Chaffin, 2007) Such computational approaches are still sparse, while the aim has mainly been on the development of proactive approaches to infuse human-factors principles earlier in the design process (Ahmed et al, 2018). The presented framework is built to address the lack of linkage between the real-time execution of training scenarios in VR and the offline optimization of ergonomics through a DHM-based approach This linkage allows to increase automation in the simulation process, as virtual objects designed in one of the modules are seamlessly transferred and utilized by the other
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