MRI: Development of a Virtual and Augmented Reality System for Research in Intelligent Design and Manufacturing

这个主要研究仪器项目的目的是开发一个虚拟和增强现实（VAR）系统，用于智能和协同设计和制造的研究。VAR系统将能够提供共存的虚拟和现实对象的三维可视化。我们开发VAR系统的方法是将商业虚拟现实系统与过去用于特征识别、对象识别和过程检查的图像采集硬件和软件集成在一起。包括显示设备、触觉设备、运动跟踪器、立体摄像机等在内的各种组件将集成到一个强大的VAR系统中，能够让用户沉浸在3d虚拟和增强环境中。该系统开发将解决以下问题：1)系统组件的校准、表征、控制和集成；2)立体视频采集和深度图计算；3)虚拟世界和现实世界之间的精确配准；4)快速碰撞检测和响应算法的开发。开发的VAR系统将用于研究以下主题，包括自由形式设计模型创建、协作模块化夹具设计、装配/拆卸分析和规划、VAR环境中的人类认知和协作、基于web的VAR应用协作基础设施支持以及分布式协作产品设计和开发。该项目预计将对提案机构的研究、教育、研究培训和基础设施建设产生重大影响。此外，它具有革新未来设计和制造实践的巨大潜力，包括广泛产品的网络化协作。

The aim of this Major Research Instrumentation project is to develop a virtual and augmented reality (VAR) system for research in intelligent and collaborative design and manufacturing. The VAR system will be capable of providing 3-D visualization of co-existing virtual and real objects. Our approach of developing the VAR system is to integrate commercial virtual reality systems with image acquisition hardware and software that has been used in the past for feature recognition, object identification, and process inspection. Various components including the display device, haptic device, motion tracker, stereo cameras, etc. will be integrated into a powerful VAR system capable of immersing the user in 3-D virtual and augmented environments. The system development will address the following issues: 1) calibration, characterization, control, and integration of system components, 2) stereo video acquisition and depth map calculation, 3) precision registration between the virtual and real worlds, and 4) development of fast collision detection and response algorithms. The developed VAR system will be used to perform research on topics including freeform design model creation, collaborative modular fixture design, assembly/disassembly analysis and planning, human cognition and collaboration in a VAR environment, web-based collaborative infrastructure support for VAR applications, and distributed collaborative product design and development.This project is expected to have significant impact on research, education, research training, and infrastructure building at the proposal institution. Also, it has high potential of revolutionizing the future practice of design and manufacturing, including networked collaboration, for a wide range of products.