Virtual Reality for Industrial Applications

Just a few years ago, virtual reality was regarded as more a toy than a tool. Today, however, it is becoming the enabling technology for man-machine communications. The rapid development of graphics hardware and soft ware makes its application possible. Besides building walkthroughs and landscape fly-overs with very realistic visual effects, we can recognize the trend toward industrial applications. This is because of the emerging need for tools for rapid product development. Especially in the aeronautical and automotive industries, companies have began to investigate and develop virtual reality tools for their own needs in co-operation with research or ganizations. In co-operation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics (IGD), the Computer Graphics Center (ZGDV) in Darmstadt established the German working group on virtual reality in 1993 as a forum for infor mation exchange between industry and research. German researchers, system developers, and industrial users have met several times in Darm stadt at the Computer Graphics Center. In these meetings they discussed the essential issues inherent in applying virtual reality to industrial appli cations and exchanged their latest research results and experiences.

The book gives a systematic view on the fundamental aspects of VR technology and its industrial applications. The book is based on up-to-date information provided by experts from research and industry. All the authors are leading VR researchers. Especially those from industry are pioneers of VR applications.

Klappentext

Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming the enabling technology for man-machine communications. Besides entertainment and architectural walkthroughs, VR can be used in industry for better design evaluations, concurrent engineering, etc. This book gives a systematic overview of the fundamental aspects of VR technology and its industrial applications, based on up-to-date information provided by experts from research and industry. All the authors are leading VR researchers. Especially those from industry are pioneers of VR applications. The book contains their newest research results and concrete application examples with illustrations and color images.

Inhalt
Beyond Walkthroughs.- I VR Techniques.- 1 VR-Techniques for Industrial Applications.- 2 Immersive User Interaction Within Industrial Virtual Environments.- 3 A Vision Based System Controlling the Virtual Tables Camera.- II From CAD to VR.- 4 Data Preparation on Polygonal Basis.- 5 SIMPLIFY Application Specific Data Preparation.- III Applications.- 6 Virtual Reality (VR) New Methods for Improving and Accelerating Vehicle Development.- 7 3D Realtime Simulation and VR-Tools in the Manufacturing Industry.- 8 Virtual Reality in Telerobotics Applications at CAE Elektronik GmbH.- 9 Experiences with Virtual Reality Techniques in the Prototyping Process at BMW.- Color Plates.- List of Figures.