Collaborative Research: Automatic Generation of Context-Dependent Simplified Models to Support Interactive Virtual Assembly

该奖项的目标是开发一种数学理论和计算框架，用于自动生成上下文相关的简化模型，以支持交互式虚拟装配应用。交互式虚拟装配正在成为评估拟议产品的装配简易性和培训装配操作员的重要工具。随着低成本个人虚拟环境的出现，交互式虚拟装配有望取代昂贵且耗时的物理原型和培训。然而，低成本虚拟环境中的实时交互只能通过明智的模型简化来实现。通过对模型简化、计算速度和精度三者之间相互作用的基本认识，建立了虚拟装配模型简化的优化框架，如果研究成功，将使交互式虚拟装配在低成本的个人虚拟环境中获得可证明的性能保证，从而显著增加虚拟装配技术在设计和培训应用中的使用。拟议的工作预计将导致：(1)通过消除一对一培训和减少使用物理原型来降低培训成本，以及(2)通过确保易于组装来改进装配设计。高效有效的培训方法将带来一支更灵活的劳动力队伍，能够迅速适应制造业不断变化的要求。此外，计划的研究和教育整合活动和推广活动将：(1)使研究生、本科生和高中生熟悉虚拟装配和模型简化技术的使用，以及(2)提高行业对虚拟装配在低成本个人虚拟环境中的潜在使用的认识。

The objective of this award is to develop a mathematical theory and computational framework for the automatic generation of context-dependent simplified models to support interactive virtual assembly applications. Interactive virtual assembly is emerging as an important tool for evaluating ease-of assembly of proposed products, and training assembly operators. With the advent of low cost personal virtual environments, interactive virtual assembly holds the promise of replacing expensive, and time consuming, physical prototyping and training. However, real-time interactions in low-cost virtual environments can only be achieved through judicious model simplification. Through a fundamental understanding of the interplay between model simplification, computational speed and accuracy, a framework will be developed for optimizing model simplification for virtual assembly.If successful, the results of this research will enable interactive virtual assembly with provable performance guarantee on low cost personal virtual environment, leading to a significant increase in the use of virtual assembly technology in design and training applications. The proposed work is expected to lead to: (1) reduction in training cost by eliminating one-on-one training, and reducing the use of physical prototypes, and (2) better assembly designs by ensuring ease-of-assembly. Efficient and effective training methods will lead to a more agile workforce that is capable of quickly adapting to the changing requirements of the manufacturing industry. In addition, the planned research and education integration activities and outreach activities will: (1) familiarize graduate, undergraduate, and high school students with the use of virtual assembly and model simplification technologies, and (2) increase awareness among industry about potential usage of virtual assembly on low cost personal virtual environments.