Immersion Equipment Research Articles

Development of a virtual teaching module for advanced semiconductor fabrication and its learning effectiveness analysis

AbstractSemiconductor fabrication is the process of manufacturing semiconductor devices, typically integrated circuits (ICs) such as microprocessors and memory. This involves transferring circuit diagrams onto a silicon wafer using photomasks and photoresists. After a series of fabrication processes, ICs are created on the wafer surface and then diced into individual chips, which are packaged and tested with quality control procedures to become the final products. Virtual reality (VR) simulates imaginary experiences or environments difficult to achieve in the real world through human senses and immersive equipment, allowing users to interact in a virtual 3D space in real time, making it well suited for applications in science education and industrial training. This study transforms the essential knowledge of advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes into an easily understandable virtual teaching module, thereby creating educational resources for high school and college students. The objective is to enhance their scientific and technological literacy, yielding substantial benefits for the general public. This study utilized VR technology to simplify and clarify the knowledge about the semiconductor manufacturing process, making it more engaging for learners. The virtual teaching module's learning content includes an overview of wafer preparation, semiconductor fabrication, chip packaging, and IC testing. Users can interact with the virtual teaching module and conduct virtual experiments to enhance their understanding by trial and error. Experimental results show that it can improve students' learning achievement and learning motivation. Therefore, the virtual teaching module is suitable for high‐school students and the general public to understand semiconductor technology and its applications. The effectiveness of the virtual teaching module is heavily dependent on the availability and quality of VR hardware and software. Limited access to advanced VR equipment or technical issues could have affected the learning experience, thereby influencing the learning outcomes.

A virtual-reality spatial matching algorithm and its application on equipment maintenance support: System design and user study

Equipment maintenance support is an important technical measure to maintain the equipment’s expected performance. However, the current maintenance supports are mainly completed by maintainers under the guidance of technical manual or additional experts, which may be insufficient for some advanced equipment with rapid update rate and complex inner structure. The rising technology of augmented reality (AR) provides a new solution for equipment maintenance support, while one of the key issues limiting the practical application of AR in maintenance field is the spatial matching issue between virtual space and reality space. In this paper, a virtual-reality spatial matching algorithm is designed to accurately superimpose the virtual information to the corresponding actual scene on the AR glasses. In this algorithm, two methods are proposed to help achieve the stable matching of virtual space and reality space. In detail, to obtain the saliency map with less background interference and improved saliency detection accuracy, a saliency detection method is designed based on the super-pixel segmentation. To deal with the problems of uneven distribution on the feature points and weak robustness to the light changes, a feature extraction and matching method is proposed for acquiring the feature point matching set with the utilization of the obtained saliency map. Finally, an immersive equipment maintenance support system (IEMSS) is developed based on this spatial matching algorithm, which provides the maintainers with immediate and immersive guidance to improve the efficiency and safety in the maintenance task, as well as offers maintenance training for inexperienced maintainers with expanded virtual information in case of limited experts. Several comparative experiments are implemented to verify the effectiveness of proposed methods, and a user study of real system application is carried out to further evaluate the superiority of these methods when applied in the IEMSS.

Rapid qualification of fused filament fabrication thermoplastics for cryogenic applications

Thermoplastic additive manufacturing (AM) is an attractive process for fabricating cryogenic componentry, due to the potential for rapid, on-site parts replacement. However, using a process intended for low-feature prototypes in such a demanding application creates survivability concerns. AM further introduces significant material variability that complicates materials qualification. Herein, a highly-repeatable test procedure is developed to qualify as-manufactured samples. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is used to produce both test samples and custom immersion equipment for cryogenic tensile testing, and data quality is improved by modifying the ASTM Type IV geometry. Tensile strength is measured directly, while elastic modulus is calculated using temperature measurements and thermomechanical model fitting. Via this methodology, cryogenic performance is characterized for Polylactic Acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), and Glycol-Modified Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETG). PLA notably demonstrates acceptable strain to failure of 2.6 % and a favorable increase in strength from 47 to 120 MPa when cooled. Testing of carbon fiber filled PLA (CF-PLA) finds a remarkable 250 % increase in strength, from 37 to 130 MPa. Both materials withstand 10 high-stress thermal cycles with mild strength gain, causing a loss of room temperature ductility in neat PLA but not CF-PLA. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) indicates a β-transition at −20 to −40 °C, which correlates with the observed changes. These findings show AM thermoplastics are promising for use in cryogenic laboratory environments, and could be modified for use in production applications.

Buoyant ascent rate profiles for the MK10 and MK11 submarine escape and immersion equipment

Introduction: Since the U.S. Navy transitioned from the MK10 to the MK11 submarine escape and immersion equipment (SEIE) there has been an increase in the incident rate of pulmonary barotrauma during submarine escape training. This study compares ascent rate profiles of the MK10 and MK11 SEIE to determine if ascent rate differences between the escape suits are associated with an increase in pulmonary barotraumas. Methods: Buoyant ascent rates of the MK10 and MK11 SEIE were compared using weighted manikins equivalent to the 1st, 50th, and 99th percentile body weight of a submariner. Human ascents using the MK11 (n=126) were compared to human ascents in the same trainer wearing the MK10 (n=124). Results: Manikin mean ascent times were faster for the MK10 compared to the MK11 (5.19 seconds vs 5.28 seconds, p < 0.05). Terminal velocity (Vt) was affected by manikin weight (p < 0.001). Human trials confirmed the manikin results. The average mean ascent velocity for the MK10 group was 0.155 meters/second faster than the MK11 group mean ascent velocity (p < 0.001). Mean ascent velocity was inversely correlated with all anthropometrics for the MK10 group (p < 0.01). Neither height nor body mass index showed a significant association with mean ascent velocity for the MK11 group. Conclusions: The Vt of buoyant ascents are significantly affected by body weight. As the mean ascent rate of the MK11 is slower than that of the MK10, ascent rate profile differences between the suits do not appear to explain the recent increase in pulmonary barotrauma incident rates during escape training.

INCREASING THE PRODUCTIVITY OF PILE DIVING IN ORCHARDS AND VINEYARDS BY USING HYDROJET TECHNOLOGY

The need to solve the problem of reducing labor intensity, reducing the volume of earthworks, as well as reducing the time of the process of sinking piles in orchards and vineyards. Currently, the theoretical issues of the dynamics of piles when they are immersed in the soil have not been developed to the extent required by practice. The primary task here is to study the process of sinking the pile into the soil in order to achieve the required depth of immersion with minimal damage to the structure of the pile itself, and for it to perform the work that is set before it. Naturally, in the process of sinking piles into the soil, not only elastic, but also viscous, plastic properties of the soil are manifested and its destruction occurs. The theoretical tasks of sinking the pile into the soil, taking into account the viscous, plastic properties of the soil environment and the deformation characteristics of the pile material, have not been investigated. Nowadays, in connection with the circumstances that are currently happening in Krane, in the Vinnytsia region, the percentage of people's involvement in agricultural affairs is growing significantly, namely: in the planting of new garden and grape plantations and lands. There is a demand for immersion equipment that can quickly and efficiently perform the assigned tasks. Therefore, increasing the productivity of the process of sinking piles in orchards and vineyards through the use of hydrojet technology is an extremely relevant topic. The purpose of the article is to increase the productivity of the process of sinking piles in orchards and vineyards by using hydrojet technology. Creation of favorable conditions for the intensification of the production process and the application of effective methods of action on its object; continuous implementation of technological movement; reduction and general elimination of the use of unproductive labor; in particular, when performing auxiliary operations; management of the dynamic state of the system in which technological action takes place; the multifunctionality of the technological process and the harmonious combination of its main structural components are, for the most part, trends in the development of technical progress in the implementation of pile sinking.

Informatization of vocational education through the implementation of the model of the center of immersive technologies

Problem statement . Every year, immersive equipment becomes more accessible, and the material and technical base of educational organizations is filled with new innovative devices. An urgent scientific task is the development of methods and tools for the implementation and usage of immersive devices in the educational process. Methodology. The authors describe approaches to the informatization of education based on the model of the center of immersive technologies (CIT), which contributes to the solution of managerial, methodical, pedagogical and technical problems associated with the application of immersive technologies in the educational and career guidance processes of educational organizations. The main functions of the CIT model are divided into three components: training students of secondary vocational education (SVE) in working professions, the realization of short programs for advanced training and assessment of qualifications, career guidance of schoolchildren. The key users of the CIT model are SVE students, schoolchildren and their parents, the management team of the educational organizations, teachers. The CIT model can be implemented in any organization that has immersive equipment (VR/AR) and human resources. Results. The implementation of immersive simulators in teaching students in professional programs, educational practice, as well as in organizing and conducting professional excellence championships demonstrates approximately equal effectiveness in comparison with traditional teaching methods, except for the cases in which it is important to develop tactile skills in working with certain equipment. Using the example of the execution of VR simulators in the teaching of the subject “Technology” in the school course, the advantage of learning on real machines is demonstrated. It was discovered that the maximum pedagogical effect is achieved by adding VR simulators to the training course and by using a combined approach. VR simulators are necessary for work in the absence of workshops and serve as an important didactic propaedeutic tool when they are available. Conclusion. The domestic and foreign experience of using immersive technologies in educational and outreach activities is analyzed, the development projects of the Russian Federation in the field of immersive technologies are considered. The relevance, theoretical and practical significance of the development and implementation of the CIT model are substantiated. The results of approbation in educational institutions of secondary vocational and basic general education are presented.

Videogames as a Digital Attempt to Touch the Mythological

The article deals with the analysis of video games and the use of VR technologies in the gaming sphere. The trend towards increasing gamification of modern man's being is examined and problematized. The main question raised by the author is what is the actual status of video games in the existence of modern man.
 The aim of the research is to study the ontoanthropology of video games, and VR games in particular, and search for their correlates with archaic practices. This, in turn, led to the consideration of the ontoanthropology of the virtual and the ontoanthropology of the game as its variety.
 The author comes to a conclusion that video games are a substitute for initiation which is most fully and safely performed by means of immersive equipment and taking rite-ritual activity into virtual reality. The results of the study can be used for an expert assessment of video games, identifying the prospects for their implementation in pedagogical, psychological or other consulting activities aimed at achieving a sense of inner transformation of the person in the direction of greater completeness and authenticity of existential experience. The findings can form the basis for philosophical conceptualization of modern mechanisms of digital identity formation and contribute to the growth of socio-humanitarian reflection on the problem of human self-identification and methods of achieving a sense of ontological fundamentality and wholeness of being in a virtual reality.

A Systematic Scoping Review of Human-Dog Interactions in Virtual and Augmented Reality: The Use of Virtual Dog Models and Immersive Equipment

Virtual reality is beneficial from a research and education perspective as it allows the assessment of participants in situations that would otherwise be ethically and practically difficult or impossible to study in the real world. This is especially the case where the assessment of human behaviour in the presence of stimuli (e.g. an aggressive dog) is being measured which could potentially constitute a risk in a real-world environment (e.g. a dog bite). Given that the dog is the most popular companion animal species, to date there is limited research that identifies and reviews the use of virtual and augmented reality directly relating to human-dog interactions. Furthermore, there also appears to be no review of the equipment and dog model specifications, such as dog breed and behaviours, which are currently used in these studies. As a result, this systematic scoping review searched ten databases to assess the current use and specifications of dog models which directly focused on human-dog interactions. Ten articles were identified. Six related to assessment or treatment of dog fear/phobia (cynophobia), three included multiple animal phobias, including dogs, and one article investigated the human and virtual dog interactions whilst walking. Six articles used a single breed (German Shepherd, Beagle, Doberman, and Rottweiler). Both the breed and behaviours displayed lacked justification and were often not evidence based. Specific measurements of model quality (e.g., polygons/vertices) were reported in only two articles which may affect repeatability and make comparisons between studies difficult. The virtual reality equipment (e.g. CAVE, head mounted display) and navigation methods (e.g. joystick, mouse, room scale walking) used varied between studies. In conclusion, there is a need for the accurate development and representation, including appearance and behaviours, of dog models in virtual and augmented reality. This is of high importance especially as most of the research covered in this review was conducted with the aim to treat the fear or phobia of dogs.

Case Series of Arterial Gas Embolism Incidents in U.S. Navy Pressurized Submarine Escape Training From 2018 to 2019.

The goal of Pressurized Submarine Escape Training (PSET) is to prepare future submariners for the physical and mental challenges of escaping a disabled submarine and promote proper handling of the Beaufort Ltd Mk 11 Submarine Escape and Immersion Equipment suit. Training participants are only permitted to enter PSET after strict health screening protocols have been met to optimize trainees' safety. Before PSET, trainees are given detailed, one-on-one instruction on proper ascent mechanics by specially trained Navy Dive instructors. Since the reinstatement of PSET by the U.S. Navy, four incidents of arterial gas embolism (AGE) have occurred in submarine trainees with a 10-year period (2009-2019). Of these four incidents, three were observed within a couple months of each other from 2018 to 2019. A comprehensive review of AGE history, epidemiology, dive physiology, pathophysiology, and management was completed. Prompted by the recent incidents relative to the low reported incidence rate of AGE in historical PSET training, reported potential risk factors were compared with better understand potential etiologies of AGE in already medically screened individuals. Risks and benefits of PSET were listed, compared, and analyzed. The relative safety and cost effectiveness of this rigorous form of training was reconfirmed.

Design and Development of “VR + Arduino” Immersion Interactive Experiment Case

In order to guide students to master Arduino development board, sensors, unity3d and other software and hardware application methods, familiar with the development process of virtual reality and intelligent hardware control platform. Learning from the WeChat "jump and jump" finger game, based on virtual reality technology and Arduino intelligent hardware control platform, the virtual intelligent fitness device with good immersion, strong interactivity, and combining entertainment, exercise and virtual experience is developed and designed. The "virtual reality + Arduino" immersion interactive experimental platform provides immersive and interactive immersive helmet and desktop screen display modes, uses a variety of intelligent control methods such as in-situ jumping action or grip to replace the finger pressing action in WeChat to control the jump of the game model, and can choose the sky, ocean, land and other fitness Scene, to achieve physical exercise and intellectual purposes. In the process of case design and production, virtual reality immersion equipment, grip and running pad are combined with fitness to cultivate students’ comprehensive practical innovation ability.

Dynamic corrosion behavior of AZ80 magnesium alloy with different orientations in simulated body fluid

Two specimens were prepared along the normal (ND) and transverse (TD) directions of the AZ80 magnesium alloy rolled sheet, respectively, and the other specimen was prepared along the normal direction at 45° (ND45). Three specimens (ND, ND45 and TD) were immersed in dynamic immersion equipment for in-situ electrochemical test. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to investigate the static and dynamic corrosion behavior of the specimens in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results indicated that the specimens with different orientations exhibited anisotropy of corrosion performance. The electrochemical corrosion resistance of the specimens decreased in the following order: TD > ND45 > ND. The electrochemical corrosion resistance of the specimens decreased with increasing flow rate. The specimens immersed in SBF solution suffered localized corrosion, and the corrosion degree at the edge position of the specimen was higher than that at the middle position in dynamic environment. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations showed that with the increase of flow rate, the increase of shear stress and mass transfer coefficient led to the intensification of localized corrosion. The effect of initial texture and flow rate on the corrosion behavior of magnesium alloy was discussed.

Сучасна практика та перспективи інноваційного розвитку соціальних комунікацій в AR- та MR-просторі на основі новітнього імерсивного обладнання

Сучасна практика та перспективи інноваційного розвитку соціальних комунікацій в AR- та MR-просторі на основі новітнього імерсивного обладнання

Теоретические и прикладные аспекты использования технологий виртуальной реальности в высшей школе

Lack of knowledge about virtual reality often hinders the introduction of these technologies in education. Consideration of theoretical and applied aspects allows to eliminate this drawback through a comprehensive study of these technologies. As a theoretical aspect, an analysis of the development of educational programs of virtual reality is given, as well as approaches to work in educational environments of virtual reality. In the application aspect, specific hardware and software of virtual reality is described. Personal computers, virtual reality glasses and complex systems of user interaction with virtual reality, such as virtual simulators, are listed as immersive equipment. The software is reviewed in accordance with the described hardware, examples of free software are also given. Based on the available research and personal experience of using virtual reality technologies in the educational process of higher education, it is concluded that these technologies are eff ective in improving the quality of education.

Immersive and Haptic Educational Simulations of Assembly Workplace Conditions

Abstract The paper presents a number of different approaches for creation of realistic immersive educational simulations of conditions of a workplace for assembly operations with aid of haptic and Virtual Reality systems. Such simulations can be used for effective training of future operators of a given workplace and testing its ergonomic quality without need of building a physical prototype. The authors have devised several different approaches to preparation of virtual workplace prototypes for training. The basic approach is utilization of immersive VR systems (Head-Mounted Devices combined with user tracking solutions) to create an interactive simulation of a workplace, on the basis of its CAD model and specification of a realized process. The second approach is using a haptic manipulator with force feedback for interaction with a virtual workplace, for more realistic feeling of a realized activity. The third, novel approach is combination of the two previous approaches. A special system was designed and built for this purpose. It uses a large-space robot to allow haptic feedback for a user equipped with an immersive set of devices. More and more often virtual prototypes of the workplaces replace the physical ones as an innovative training solutions that allow to train the future operators or improve ergonomic quality of the workplace. The reason for that is the reduction of costs needed to develop the real prototype of the workstation as well as ability of complex virtual workplaces to change the variants in order to investigate different situations. Usually such workplaces - created as interactive Virtual Reality applications - consist of a visualization operated with aid of advanced Virtual Reality systems and devices. Implementation of an immersive equipment increases sense of user's presence and use of haptic devices with force feedback makes the experience more similar to reality. The level of realism is a very important factor in an immersive and haptic simulations of workstations for training purposes. As a form of instructional simulation, also called educational simulation, immersive and haptic simulations are a powerful learning tools that require trained users to complete tasks or to solve specific problems within VR environment that replicates the real workplace conditions19. Trainings conducted is this way are particularly beneficial when real activities and task conducted at the workplace is too dangerous, too costly or even almost impossible to do. The two basic approaches presented by the authors are innovative and important on their own, but they usually do not mix, as state-of-the-art haptic devices are stationary. Their application heavily limits spatial freedom of a user, which does not affect the level of realism of presented simulations in a positive way. In order to fully simulate the conditions of an assembly workplace, tactile input must be available, with simultaneous immersion of a user into a Virtual Environment (VE) using a HMD or a CAVE system combined with the user tracking solution. The third approach to simulation of workplace conditions, proposed by the authors, allows to bring a realistic force feedback into an immersive visualization. Thanks to this, operations like assembling a threaded joint between two parts can be trained more realistically than before, without need of building a full physical workplace.

Analysis of KrF excimer laser beam modification resulting from ablation under closed thick film flowing filtered water

The application of a closed thick film flowing filtered water to immerse the ablation etching mechanism of an excimer laser poses interesting possibilities concerning debris control, modification of machined feature topography and modification of the ablation rate. Furthermore, these parameters have been shown to be dependent on flow velocity; hence, offering further user control of machining characteristics. However, the impact of this technique requires investigation. This contribution offers comparison of the calculated ablation pressure and the effect on feature surface characteristics given for laser ablation of bisphenol A polycarbonate using KrF excimer laser radiation in ambient air against laser ablation of the same substrate under closed thick film flowing filtered water immersion. Also, an impact of such immersion equipment on the optical performance of the micromachining centre used is quantified and reviewed. The pressure is calculated to have risen by a magnitude of 48, when using the liquid immersed ablation technique. This increase in pressure is proposed to have an increased surface roughness, promoting the number of asperities with a surface area lower than 16 μm 2; resulting in a diffuse reflection of light and an apparent darkening of features. The focal length of the optical system was accurately predicted to increase by 2.958 mm, when using the closed flowing liquid immersion equipment. This equipment is predicted to have increased the optical depth of focus via reduction in the angle of convergence of the two defining image rays; yet the perceived focus, measured discretely by mean feature wall angle, was found to be 25% smaller when using the closed thick film flowing filtered water immersion technique instead of similar laser ablation in ambient air. A compressed plume interaction is proposed as a contributing factor in this change.

Nondestructive evaluation of ceramic preforms

In order to identify and eliminate flawed ceramic preforms prior to metal infiltration, several approaches for nondestructive evaluation were studied. The techniques chosen include immersion ultrasonics, scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM), and radiography. Undesirable irregularities in the preforms include cracks, voids, density gradients, and shot. The latter represents spherically shaped particles of alumina, with diameters that may exceed ten times that of the fibers, and that are incorporated into the porous fiber preform. It is generally thought that shot with sizes greater than 100 μm affects the mechanical properties of the resulting metal matrix composite. With the aid of SAM and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), shot in near-surface areas could be evaluated. Cracks and voids could also be located using SAM and SEM. On a larger scale, the ultrasonic immersion equipment was capable of detecting and quantifying density gradients, which were verified using radiographic techniques. Examples will be given to illustrate the sensitivity and resolution of the various techniques with regard to examination of the flawed preforms. [Work supported by Center for Advanced Materials, Pennsylvania State University.]

Ultrasonic Immersion Equipment for Flaw Inspection of Steel Billets

水浸超音波探傷法は,探触子と被検査材が直接接触しないので鋼材の表面アラサなどの影響が直接法にくらべて少なく,超音波の送信,受信が安定して行なわれるという利点がある。そのために,鋼材内部欠陥の自動探傷に広く使用されている。昭和42年12月特殊鋼圧延鋼材の内部欠陥を自動的に検査することを目的として,大同製鋼(株)星崎工場に水浸超音波探傷装置が設置された。その後の操業実績から作業能率,検査精度などの点で従来の直接法と比較し優れていることが立証されたので,ここにその設備概要,直接法と比較した場合の特性の相異点および稼動初期の問題点について報告する。