MRI: Acquisition of an Immersive Virtual Reality System for the South Jersey Technology Park at Rowan University

该项目寻求支持，以购买一个完全沉浸式，可导航和交互式的虚拟现实（VR）系统，通常称为CAVE®，为罗文大学成像和无损评估（NDE）实验室的研究项目提供先进的科学可视化支持。知识价值：我们描述了拟议收购的正在进行的项目活动的两个特定应用领域;与每个相关的知识价值如下：（a）为美国航天局火箭发动机测试台的综合系统健康管理开发虚拟现实平台：我们将扩大与美国航天局斯坦尼斯航天中心的合作，开发三维虚拟现实环境，以支持新星座火箭系统的测试。我们将开发新的数据融合功能，例如需要集成异构传感器数据的功能，以及实时生成VR环境中进化场景的沉浸式、交互式和可导航显示的功能。这一努力的结果将为地面操作和飞行中的空间系统提供一个更有用的框架，以更好地满足NASA的人类机器人技术登月（随后是火星）任务。(b)从数值3-D形状描述符合成颗粒骨料混合物：我们将使用沉浸式和交互式虚拟环境，使计算效率的3-D数值形状描述符的粒状土壤混合物的发展。这些描述符将用于开发捕捉实际土壤形态的现实离散元模型。从实践的角度来看，这一点很重要，因为对土壤特性的基本理解决定了任何类型基础设施项目的基础元件设计。更广泛的影响：拟议的沉浸式VR系统计划安装在新建的南泽西科技园，成像无损检测实验室设施将迁入该园区。南泽西科技园是新泽西州和罗文大学之间的合作努力，通过科学和技术举措的综合战略振兴南部新泽西地区的经济发展。收购CAVE®等先进的VR设施有可能吸引锚租户到该设施，并将在该地区发展高科技劳动力方面产生重大经济影响。此外，该项目将使参加工程诊所计划（初级和高级工程设计项目）和工程硕士课程的学生受益，他们将共同位于南泽西科技园。

This project seeks support to purchase a fully-immersive, navigable and interactive virtual reality (VR) system, commonly known as a CAVE®, for providing advanced scientific visualization support to research projects in the Imaging and Nondestructive Evaluation (NDE) Laboratory at Rowan University.Intellectual Merit:We describe two specific application areas of ongoing project activity for the proposed acquisition; the intellectual merit associated with each is provided below:(a) Development of VR platforms for the integrated systems health management of NASA's rocket-engine test stands: We will expand our collaborative work with NASA-Stennis Space Center and develop 3-D VR environments in order to support the testing of the new Constellation rocket systems. We will develop novel data fusion capabilities such as those requiring the integration of heterogeneous sensor data and the real-time generation of an immersive, interactive and navigable display of an evolutionary scenario inside the VR environment. The results of this effort will provide a more useful framework for both ground operations and in-flight space systems to better meet NASA's Human & Robotic Technology missions to the Moon (and subsequently, Mars).(b) Synthesis of particle aggregate mixtures from numerical 3-D shape descriptors: We will use the immersive and interactive virtual environment to enable the development of computationally efficient 3-D numerical shape descriptors of granular soil mixtures. These descriptors will be employed in developing realistic discrete element models that capture the actual soil morphology. This is important from a practical viewpoint because a fundamental understanding of soil behavior governs the design of foundation elements for any type of infrastructure project.Broader Impact:The proposed immersive VR system is planned to be installed in the newly constructed South Jersey Technology Park into which the Imaging & NDE lab facility will move. The South Jersey Technology Park is a collaborative effort between the State of New Jersey and Rowan University to revitalize the economic development of the Southern New Jersey region through an integrated strategy of science and technology initiatives. The acquisition of an advanced VR facility such as the CAVE® has the potential to attract anchor tenants to this facility and will have a significant economic impact in the region in terms of the development of a high-technology enabled workforce. Furthermore, this project will benefit students enrolled in the Engineering Clinic program (Junior and Senior engineering design projects) and the MS in Engineering program, who will be co-located at the South Jersey Technology Park.