Analyzing the potential of Virtual Reality for engineering design review

Abstract Virtual Reality (VR) technology still needs to evolve, but as the pace of innovations accelerates, systems allow for more novel modes of visualization and interaction to support engineering design reviews. Currently, the classic design review process is often performed on a PC with the support of CAD software packages. However, CAD on a screen cannot always meet all the requirements in regard to the functional and ergonomic validations of complex 3D models. In this paper, the development and evaluation of a VR-based tool to support engineering design review is described. “VRSmart” visualizes CAD data and allows for an intuitive interaction. In a preliminary user study, the tool was checked for its usability and user experience. VRSmart was then evaluated in a real industrial environment and tested in an authentic design review. The results indicate that a VR-supported design review allows users to see slightly more faults in a 3D model than in a CAD software-based approach on a PC screen. Furthermore, VR reduces the risk of exclusion of certain professional groups from the design review process. In addition, the intuitive interaction with the VR system allowed for a much faster entry into the design review. In summary, VR will not replace the traditional design review process on screen, but it provides a useful addition to engineering companies.

[1]  Dirk Werth,et al.  Virtual remote inspection — A new concept for virtual reality enhanced real-time maintenance , 2017, 2017 23rd International Conference on Virtual System & Multimedia (VSMM).

[2]  Fabio Bruno,et al.  Product interface design: A participatory approach based on virtual reality , 2010, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[3]  Volker Wittstock,et al.  CAD to VR – A Methodology for the Automated Conversion of Kinematic CAD Models to Virtual Reality , 2016 .

[4]  Glyn Lawson,et al.  VR Processes in the Automotive Industry , 2015, HCI.

[5]  Hans-Jörg Bullinger,et al.  Virtual prototyping and testing of in-vehicle interfaces , 2003, Ergonomics.

[6]  Joaquim A. Jorge,et al.  IMPROVE: An innovative application for collaborative mobile mixed reality design review , 2007 .

[7]  Marcelo Gattass,et al.  Towards the use of cad models in VR applications , 2006, VRCIA '06.

[8]  John L. Salmon,et al.  CAD Integration in Virtual Reality Design Reviews for Improved Engineering Model Interaction , 2016 .

[9]  Conrad Boton,et al.  Supporting constructability analysis meetings with Immersive Virtual Reality-based collaborative BIM 4D simulation , 2018, Automation in Construction.

[10]  Umberto Cugini,et al.  Interactive Virtual Prototypes for Testing the Interaction with new Products , 2013 .

[11]  Ivan E. Sutherland,et al.  A head-mounted three dimensional display , 1968, AFIPS Fall Joint Computing Conference.

[12]  Hui Zhang,et al.  Head-mounted display-based intuitive virtual reality training system for the mining industry , 2017 .

[13]  Monica Bordegoni,et al.  Mixed reality distributed platform for collaborative design review of automotive interiors , 2012 .

[14]  Zdenek Hadas,et al.  Virtual reality in context of Industry 4.0 proposed projects at Brno University of Technology , 2016, 2016 17th International Conference on Mechatronics - Mechatronika (ME).

[15]  John Payne,et al.  AutoEval mkII - Interaction Design for a VR Design Review System , 2007, 2007 IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces.

[16]  Andrea Martini,et al.  A novel 3D user interface for the immersive design review , 2015, 2015 IEEE Symposium on 3D User Interfaces (3DUI).

[17]  Jan Zenisek,et al.  A virtual reality supported 3D environment for engineering design review , 2017, 2017 23rd International Conference on Virtual System & Multimedia (VSMM).

[18]  Judy M. Vance,et al.  Industry use of virtual reality in product design and manufacturing: a survey , 2017, Virtual Reality.

[19]  Qingjin Peng,et al.  VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNOLOGY IN PRODUCT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING , 2011 .

[20]  Sang Do Noh,et al.  ONESVIEW: An Integrated System for One-Stop Virtual Design Review , 2010, Concurr. Eng. Res. Appl..

[21]  Alcinia Z. Sampaio,et al.  Collaborative maintenance and construction of buildings supported on Virtual Reality technology , 2011, 6th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI 2011).

[22]  Sang Do Noh,et al.  Virtual reality applications in manufacturing industries: Past research, present findings, and future directions , 2015, Concurr. Eng. Res. Appl..

[23]  Jing Du,et al.  Zero latency: Real-time synchronization of BIM data in virtual reality for collaborative decision-making , 2018 .

[24]  Michael Lankes,et al.  Invisible Walls: Co-Presence in a Co-located Augmented Virtuality Installation , 2017, CHI PLAY.

[25]  Farzad Khosrowshahi,et al.  The Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality on Visualisation for a Design Review in Construction , 2010, 2010 14th International Conference Information Visualisation.

[26]  Kapil Chalil Madathil,et al.  An investigation of the efficacy of collaborative virtual reality systems for moderated remote usability testing. , 2017, Applied ergonomics.

[27]  Yong Tang,et al.  CAD Model's Simplification and Conversion for Virtual Reality , 2010, 2010 Third International Conference on Information and Computing.

[28]  Samira Sadeghi,et al.  Qualitative comparison of 2D and 3D perception for information sharing dedicated to manufactured product design , 2012, 2012 IEEE 3rd International Conference on Cognitive Infocommunications (CogInfoCom).

[29]  Daniel Mestre,et al.  Operators’ accessibility studies for assembly and maintenance scenarios using virtual reality , 2017 .

[30]  Rudolf Reinhard,et al.  flapAssist: How the integration of VR and visualization tools fosters the factory planning process , 2015, 2015 IEEE Virtual Reality (VR).

[31]  Christoph Bartneck,et al.  Implementing a low-cost CAVE system using the CryEngine2 , 2010, Entertain. Comput..

[32]  Monica Bordegoni,et al.  Designing interaction with consumer products in a multisensory virtual reality environment , 2013 .

[33]  Klaus Kremer.  A concept for virtual reality tools for design reviews , 1998, Proceedings Visualization '98 (Cat. No.98CB36276).

[34]  Susanna Aromaa,et al.  Virtual prototyping in design reviews of industrial systems , 2017, MindTrek.

[35]  Judy M. Vance,et al.  Virtual reality for assembly methods prototyping: a review , 2011, Virtual Reality.

[36]  Gabriel Zachmann,et al.  Virtual reality as a tool for verification of assembly and maintenance processes , 1999, Comput. Graph..