Eberhard Bluemel

Contact Information

Fraunhofer Institut Fabrikbetrieb und –automatisierung (IFF)

bluemel@iff.fhg.de
http://www1.iff.fhg.de/iff/pvt/pvtseiten/english/

Interest in Motion Planning:

  • Application fields: VR-based Development and Training Environments

Title of Talk

Virtual Reality for Training Environments

Abstract

The Fraunhofer Institute IFF develops VR-based Development and Training Environments (VDTE) for application in the design process of complex machinery and for the training of operators, assembly and maintenance staff. It is intended to integrate motion planning strategies with the VR-based Environments for collision detection or path finding.

The development efforts focus on:

The VR cernel of VDTE will consist of three main elements. First a systematic data structure, especially developed for the specific needs of VR development and training scenarios, second a set of authoring tools to fill and maintain scenario data and information and third the runtime system for performing application sessions.

Scenario Data Structure:

The formalisation of the required information and data lead to three levels: the geometry, the object and the instructional level. The degree of abstraction is increasing from geometry to the instructional level. For all levels, we have defined a formalized way of how to describe the information.

Authoring Tool Set:

In order to assist the author in gathering all information for setting up and maintaining the scenario file for the application, a set of authoring tools will be provided. The authoring tools will be integrated by a unified GUI. Among others, the following features will be provided for the author:

  • Support for CAD data import / export from / to various 3D CAD-Systems
  • Polygon reduction and generation of level of details (LODs)
  • Editing functionalities for all scenario layers (objects, properties, hierarchy, causalities,...)
  • Linking properties with objects
  • Defining relationships between object stati
  • Editing animations of objects
  • Configuration of LODs
  • Defining viewpoints
  • Editing structured lessons
  • Authoring of descriptions and other documentation related to objects, properties, tasks lessons, etc.

The Application-oriented System

During the application session, the runtime system is used. Developer, Tutor and trainee are users of the runtime system but have different requirements and therefore need specific functionality.

Projects (Among others):

ESPRIT 29107 TRAIMWE "Training in Industry Multiple-site and multiple-user Without Equipment frame"
Co-ordinator: Fraunhofer IFF (D), Dept. PVT
Partner: GIAT Industries (F), Eurocopter (F), MAN Roland (D), ROBOTIKER (E), TU Crete (G)
Duration: 10/1998 – 03/2001
Contents: Development of VR-based Trainingssystems for Maintanance Staff,
Scenario design
Interoperability

BRITE-EURAM BE-S2-5552 VDTU-Prodep „Virtual Development and Testing Unit for Product Development Processes"
Co-ordinator: Fraunhofer IFF (D), Dept. PVT
Partner: TBM Annaburg (D), Kone-Ketonen (FI), MOWI Systems (S), Artikon GmbH (D), Princess Interactive (D)
Duration: 1998 - 2000
Contents: Simulation of a harvester and harvesting process using a Virtual Reality Environment
Usage for Operator Training
Usage for Product development (harvester parts)
Florent Lamiraux
Last modified: Thu Jun 22 16:23:51 MET DST 2000