Spatial Mechanism Design in a Virtual Environment

该奖项提供资金，以开发一种新的创新方法来设计基于虚拟现实技术的空间机制。将创建一个虚拟环境，其中将包括各种视觉、音频和触觉交互设备，并用于设计新颖的空间机制。将产生新的空间机构设计分析技术，充分利用虚拟设计环境的能力，并将其纳入设计软件。机构操作工作空间内的物体的计算机模型将显示在虚拟环境中，考虑机构与这些物体的相互作用将成为设计过程的组成部分。这一发展将为虚拟现实在机械设计中的应用提供一个试验台。为实际应用而设计空间机构的一些主要挑战包括需要在三维空间中明确设计位置，并在其操作工作空间中核实这些机构的运作情况。如果成功，这项研究将产生一种计算机工具，利用新的空间机构设计方法来生成三维设计空间，设计者可以在其中综合空间机构，并获得设备的形式和功能的感觉。这将使空间机制能够被纳入许多产品，包括制造和自动化设备以及消费产品。作为这项研究的结果，空间机构设计方法方面的新进展和关于使用虚拟环境作为机械设计工具的新知识是可能的。

This award provides funding to develop a new and innovative approach to designing spatial mechanisms based on the use of virtual reality technology. A virtual environment, which will include a variety of visual, audio, and haptic interactive devices, will be created and used to design novel spatial mechanisms. New analytical techniques for spatial mechanism design, which fully utilize the capabilities of the virtual design environment, will be generated and incorporated into the design software. Computer models of objects within the operational workspace of the mechanism will be displayed in the virtual environment and consideration of the interaction of the mechanism with these objects will become an integral part of the design process. This development will be a testbed for the use of virtual reality in mechanical design. Some of the major challenges in designing spatial mechanisms for practical applications include the need to specify design positions in three-dimensional space and verify the operation of these mechanisms in their operational workspace. If successful, this research will result in a computer tool that utilizes novel spatial mechanism design methodologies to generate a three-dimensional design space in which the designer can synthesize spatial mechanisms and obtain a sense of the form and function of the devices. This would enable spatial mechanisms to be incorporated into many products, including manufacturing and automation equipment and consumer products. As a result of this research, new advancements in spatial mechanism design methodology and new knowledge pertaining to the use of virtual environments as a mechanical design tool are likely.