EAGER: Investigation of a Next Generation Application Tool for Cybermanufacturing

这个早期概念探索性研究资助（EAGER）项目旨在创建和试验一个智能手机应用程序，使非专家也能访问制造服务。目前，大多数用于完成此类任务的设计和工程工具都价格昂贵，难以学习且使用不便。这些障碍限制了非专业人员获得制造服务的机会，从而限制了他们在产品创新方面的创造力。这项研究的结果将为基于网络的制造服务交付系统的发展需求提供新的见解，从而使美国经济、中小型制造商和社会受益。高中、大学学生和产业团体将参与实验，并建立网络社区，促进创新。计划中的其他活动包括在高中、大学和技术会议上的示威。这个跨学科项目将涉及制造工程、计算机科学和机械工程学科，并将创建新的学习模块，向这些学科的学生介绍使用虚拟现实工具和环境来创建基于3d的互动环境的概念。该研究涉及下一代网络制造软件的设计、创建和验证，该软件允许来自不同背景的用户使用虚拟现实环境交互式地设计和制造零件。核心功能将是修改给定设计的可访问性和简单性。与繁琐的计算机辅助设计（CAD）工具不同，这款基于智能手机的应用程序将允许用户在3D环境中直观地进行交互，他们可以使用智能手机或平板电脑上的触摸屏界面修改现有的设计；一套基本的设计将提供给消费者和家庭用品。该界面将在android平台上运行，向公众开放，并鼓励非专业用户轻松访问制造服务。

This EArly-concept Grant for Exploratory Research (EAGER) project aims to create and experiment with a smart phone app that enables access by non-experts to manufacturing services. Currently, most design and engineering tools to accomplish such tasks are expensive, difficult to learn and cumbersome to use. These impediments have limited the availability of manufacturing services to non-specialists, thereby limiting their creativity in product innovation. The results from this research will give new insights into the requirements for the evolution of a network-based manufacturing service delivery system to benefit the U.S. economy, small and medium-sized manufacturers and society. High school and university students and industry organizations will be engaged in experimentation with the system and the establishment of a cyber community to foster innovation. Other activities planned include demonstrations at high schools, universities and technical conferences. This interdisciplinary project will involve the manufacturing engineering, computer science and mechanical engineering disciplines and will create new learning modules to introduce students in those disciplines to concepts involving use of virtual reality tools and environments to create 3D-based interactive environments.The research involves the design, creation and validation of a next generation cybermanufacturing software to allow users from a cross-section of backgrounds to design and build parts interactively using a virtual reality environment. A core functionality will be accessibility and simplicity in modifying a given design. Unlike cumbersome computer-aided design (CAD) tools, this smart phone-based app will allow users to interact intuitively in a 3D environment, where they can modify existing designs using a touch screen interface on a smart phone or tablet; a base set of designs will be provided for making consumer and household items. The interface will operate on an android platform, be made available to the public, and encourage non-expert users to easily access manufacturing services.