This paper describes an architecture for supporting real-time collaboration in concurrent engineering within a distributed virtual environment. This architecture integrates a multiperspective distributed virtual environment with a standard product model and supports interaction among users through shared objects. The initial implementation of this architecture supports accurate assembly modelling and kinematic simulation for virtual prototypes and runs on a network of SGI Indy workstations over an ATM network. This environment enables designers to test the assembly and disassembly task within a distributed virtual environment. The realistic manipulation of the assembly models within the virtual environment is supported by constraint-based 3D manipulation techniques. The shared objects, that support collaboration, encapsulate product information in a standard format based on the developing draft ISO standard STEP (a standard for the exchange of product data).
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