engineering – Augmented & Virtual Reality Confabulation

October 9, 2018

Theorem Solutions Bringing Engineering Solutions App Digital Realities And ‘Visualization Pipeline’ Tech To AWE EU 2018

While what we would consider to be the ‘main’ events season is now over with the end of this year’s Oculus Connect, there are still a number of events in the pipeline that are set to be of particular interest to those interested in immersive technology.

Digital Realities HoloLens key art One such event is the 2018 European edition of the Augmented World Expo – better known as AWE – which will be taking place at the MOC Exhibition Centre in Germany from October 18th 2018 through to the 19th. There is, no doubt, a large number of announcements to come from European firms involved in what is increasingly being termed “XR”, and we now have confirmation of at least one firm who will be bringing new experiences not just to virtual reality (VR) via the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, but augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) too.

Engineering and manufacturing partner Theorem Solutions – which VRFocus last reported on in January upon the reveal of their unified immersive reality engineering solution app, Digital Realities – will be bringing their range of associated CAD and PLM utilising experiences to AWE EU 2018 along with launching its new ‘Visualization Pipeline’ server technology.

“To complement our Digital Realities experiences we are also launching our Visualization Pipeline technology, which is a server based technology that rapidly processes CAD data into a wide variety of formats for use in 3D Engines – Unity and Unreal, Photorealistic Rendering or AR/MR/VR tools, applications and with lightweight viewers.” Explains the firm in a statement. “Engineering and Manufacturing businesses are increasingly looking into the benefits of using AR, MR and VR to improve processes and collaboration, cut costs and make access to data easier. The Visualization Pipeline is helping to make that possible with a single application.”

Thoerem Solutions - Digital Realities

“Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Reality is everywhere at the moment and is making its way from the recreational gaming world into the commercial enterprise world. Integrating these innovative technologies into existing engineering and manufacturing workflows opens up new ways of working, and modernises current processes, futureproofing them as technology evolves, and ultimately saves organisations time and money in the long run.”

Attendees to AWE EU 2018 will be able to try out demonstrations of the upgraded Digital Realities experiences across a number of devices. Theorem Solutions will be locatable at stand #109 during the event.

VRFocus will bring you more news on the goings on at AWE as we get it.

April 30, 2018

Optis Talk About How VR Simulation Can Improve Manufacturing

Optis are a leading simulation company that have worked with various companies and brands to create high-fidelity simulations to simulate a product so its design can be previewed in full before it is built.

Nina speaks to Claire Pietu, Application Engineer for Optis World about the company’s working virtual reality (VR) and how this technology can help companies develop new products more cheaply and efficiently.

Pietu said that one of the advantages of the Optis system is that it can scan different materials for inclusion into the simulation, allowing companies to test out different types of materials without having to build a large, expensive prototype.

Optis aim to produce simulations that are true, and accurate, properly corresponding to how an object would react in the real world according to lighting, material properties and so on. Pietu says this is particularly important when people are making decisions based on a simulation model instead of a physical prototype.

One of the largest customers for the Optis VR software is the automotive industry, where almost every major automotive manufacturer uses Optis software to design new models, decide on interior lighting, headlight design, and more recently, the heads-up display. The company also works with producing simulations for military applications and in the electronics industry.

Pietu commented that VR allows for a more complete picture, due to its immersive nature. She said that some decisions are possible when simply looking at a scree, but the ‘presence’ of being in VR gives a much clearer picture of the reality of the simulation model and how it would be in real life.

OPTIS

In other contexts, Optis can use more interactive VR simulations that are not restricted to just visuals. Optis have produced demonstrations in VR featuring things like a production line where manufacturing businesses can pick up different parts to see if they will fit together smoothly.

The full interview is available to view below. Keep watching VRFocus for more news from the VR industry.

February 8, 2018

We Are Living in The Future: How XR Has Brought us into a Sci-Fi World

Science Fiction is dedicated towards exploring the fantastic things that might be possible in the future with science and technology. Often, they explore how these developments can be a two-edged sword. That doesn’t stop us from dreaming about what may be possible, but some of those possibilities are far closer that you might think, thanks to developments in immersive technologies like virtual reality (VR).

Remote Conferencing

Have you seen Kingsman: The Secret Service? If not, you should, because its a brilliant film. There’s a couple of scenes where characters are sat at a conference table, but most of the seats are empty – until you see the view through the glasses they are all wearing and realise that other people are there as augmented reality (AR) avatars.

There has already been a huge rise in VR and AR tele-conferencing software, with companies such as Hyperfair producing enterprise-based social VR to allow users collaborate with colleagues from all over the world, bringing up virtual prototypes and designs for others to examine, comment or improve upon.

Medical Technology

One of the low-key but impressive things about Star Trek technology was its ability to just let someone lay on a bed and wave a device over them to discover what ailed them. Though this kind of magical technology is still a few years away, VR and MR bring us tantalisingly close.

Doctors can now take advantage of immersive imaging technology to overlay X-Rays, ultrasound or MRI images on a patient, giving significant insight during complex surgical procedures. It is also possible to simultaneously take advantage of the tele-conferencing technology mentioned above to consult with world experts on the procedure being conducted.

VRSurgery_Header

Design and Prototyping

When the Iron Man movie came out in 2008, almost everyone I knew – and myself – really, REALLY wanted for those magical holographic display interfaces that Tony Stark uses to be real. The easy, intuitive nature of simply using your hands to pick up, turn expand or throw away something cannot be over-stated.

This idea is starting to seep into reality with the use of finger-tracking, haptics and immersive CAD technologies. The newly emerging generation of haptic gloves allows for a level of precision when interacting with VR, AR and MR objects that has previously been out of reach. Some companies are also already using things like the HoloLens for inexpensive prototyping options. Though this still requires a headset, very soon developments in light field technology could mean we are all using magical holographic interfaces.

Volvo Hololens

Education and Training

Many of us dream of acquiring new skills, whether that is learning how to play an instrument or getting into martial arts, or simply trying to keep fit. The impossible fantasy of having new skills downloaded into your brain like in The Matrix might still be pure fantasy, but another idea from The Matrix, the training program, is moving ever closer to reality.

If you are trying to take up regular running its difficult to remain enthusiastic if you are jogging through a typical grey, overcast English day. Similarly, its easy to feel ridiculous trying to practice your drumming skills in your garage, surrounded by dusty boxes and broken furniture.

With VR, you can strap on a headset and enter your own training program, which can become any environment you like. Want to jog across an idyllic tropical beach? Or drum on stage at the Albert Hall? There’s a VR app for that.

May 22, 2017

Theorem Solutions Presenting Digital Realities in Engineering and Manufacturing Seminars

Earlier today VRFocus published a feature regarding the various different terms and technology in the wearables space. These of course contained the three terms we use most here on the website virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR), and throughout the week we do our best to bring you news on all three. As each of have their different uses in entertainment and, of course, also in industry.

Understanding how each can play their part is, of course, one of the challenges and opportunities of the technology and it’s something that Theorem Solutions are looking to address in a forthcoming, one day, two-part seminar on ‘Digital Realities in Engineering and Manufacturing’ to be held at the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry, UK on Wednesday 7th June 2017.

Comprising of two half-day seminars sessions are set to include discussion on the positioning of the industry and it’s financial needs, how existing technology can help with CAD and related businesses now and also in the future. As well as demonstrations of all three technologies in action, with the HTC Vive and Microsoft Hololens in use for VR and MR respectively.

Interested parties can register and find out more information at the Theorem.com website. VRFocus will be bringing you more news and information on tech events involving AR, VR and MR soon.

March 15, 2017

Life In 360°: Below The Surface

From an ancient wonder on Monday to a modern day engineering feat today.

We’ve visited the city of Seattle a few times on VRFocus for one virtual reality (VR) project or another but those have been somewhat higher than today’s video. In fact we’re going to a place we’ve not yet been on Li360 – we’re journeying underground. It’s time to see a side of Seattle you’ve likely never invisioned and the massive machinery that is in use at projects around the globe that people very seldom think about.

The SR99 tunnel is, right at this moment, being built a couple of hundred feet below the surface of the city. A giant boring machine slowly but surely chewing through earth, rock and anything else in the way. Alaskan Way Viaduct Program Administrator Joe Hedges explains how the boring machine named Bertha operates, shows the outer wall rings being put in place and the 360 degree camera even takes you right inside the cab.

It’s a rarely, if ever seen view of an engineering marvel at work, creating another engineering feat as it operates.

VRFocus will be back on Friday for another example of Life In 360°.

March 11, 2017

How VR Tools Train Dassault Aircraft Mechanics

Students working to become mechanics for Dassault Falcon business jets have begun using virtual reality (VR) to help with their training.

VR headsets can be used to view a mock-up of the types of aircraft the trainee mechanics will be working on, which are based on the original CAD drawings for a high degree of accuracy. The advantage of this is that multiple students can be trained simultaneously, when they would not all be able to fit into the tight confines of the aircraft in real life.

dassault falcon

Also, as demonstrated by one of the trainers, it is also possible to demonstrate the inner workings of parts such as the inside of the aircraft wing, which would not usually be practical to demonstrate in reality, due to the size of the part and how difficult and time-consuming it is to assemble and disassemble.

The CAD-based mock-ups allow for the different components to be colour-coded for clearer identification during learning, but the system also has many high-quality HD photographs of the aircraft, allowing the students to see both the CAD mock-up and what it would look like in real life.

As seen in the below video of the Dassault VR mechanics (care of Aviation International News) It is also possible to isolate a particular system, such as the electrical system or engine system and show the entire aircraft, while highlighting just that system.

Dassault is not the first to use VR for training. The National Crime Scene Cleanup Association (NCSCA) are developing a system called ‘Safe Training VR’ to train on topics such as dealing with hazardous materials. Of course, VR is already being used extensively in the healthcare industry for various applications including training, such as the VR technology being used to train future dentists in Leeds, UK. Naval aviation is also discussing how to apply VR for training purposes.

You can watch a video on the training systems below, another example of how VR is changing the game for education in the school room and beyond. For more on VR in Education check out these VRFocus stories and features.

March 6, 2017

CNH Industrial Uses VR To Design New Tractors And Industrial Equipment

Agricultural manufacturing company CNH Industrial is using virtual reality (VR) to model tractors and industrial machines that currently do not exist by using VR to work out design flaws.

Designers and engineers at CNH Industrial are using VR prototypes for optimising new product designs, which enables them to reduce number of physical prototypes that need to be built, saving time and materials costs. It is now possible to run a large number of tests on a VR prototype, on mechanicals, electronics and even ergonomics and comfort using these ‘Digital mock-ups’, which means the design can be refined easier and a larger variety of designs can be produced.

CNH_Industrial

A network of high-performance computers consisting of over 2000 cores allows high-speed transmission of these digital mock-ups, which allows engineers to share designs, pull apart virtual components and collaborate to fix issues that arise during the design process, without needing to be in the same physical space.

“We live an age of digital revolution and we listen every day to words like virtual engineering, digital manufacturing and our people are very involved with this technology.” Gennaro Monacelli, Head of Design Analysis and Simulation at CNH Industrial said, “This technology will require new skills and new jobs, but our people are already prepared for this.”

Claudia Campanella, Ergonomics and HMI Manager added, “For me what is very exiting is staying in contact with people, understanding their needs and helping them stay well inside the product. With this information and technology, I can reproduce it inside the virtual world.”

CNH Industrial join a range of companies that are now using VR or Augmented Reality (AR) to help with design and engineering problems. From Visual Effects technicians using VR to get the perfect shot, to Aecom using the HoloLens to aid construction projects.

You can watch a video on CNH Industrial’s use of VR below.

VRFocus will keep you up to date on industrial and engineering applications of VR.