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，用于智能和协作设计和制造的研究。VAR系统将能够提供共存的虚拟和真实的物体的三维可视化。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，对象识别和过程检测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被集成到一个强大的VAR系统中，该系统能够使用户沉浸在3D虚拟和增强环境中。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）虚拟和真实的世界之间的精确配准，以及4）快速碰撞检测和响应算法的开发。该系统将用于自由设计模型的建立、组合夹具的协同设计、装配/拆卸分析与规划、VAR环境下的人类认知与协作、基于Web的VAR应用协同基础设施支持、分布式协同产品设计与开发等领域的研究，对科研、教育、科研培训、以及提案机构的基础设施建设。此外，它具有很大的潜力，可以彻底改变未来的设计和制造实践，包括网络协作，用于各种产品。

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.