Training
Solutions

Collaborative CAD Training and Maintenance Simulator

Client: Industrial (confidential)

Application: Testing maintenance tasks on existing CAD models; training users for new maintenance tasks.

Equipment Used: WorldViz Vizard 3D software toolkit, 5-walled CAVE with retractable ceiling, Motion Analysis Corp. motion tracking system for four users, four Sensics xSight head-mounted displays, ten rack-mounted server CPUs running nVidia Quadro/GeForce graphics cards, Anark Core server and workstation software.

Partners: System was developed as a group with Motion Analysis (Lead contractor), WorldViz, Mechdyne, Sensics, and Anark.

Overview

One of the world’s largest industrial manufacturers commissioned Motion Analysis to construct an integrated simulation system that would allow users – wearing both head-mounted displays and operating a CAVE – to collaborate in training and maintenance tasks on real-world CAD data. The customer’s large CAD database is converted via Anark Core software and simplified for real-time 3D rendering tasks. WorldViz Vizard software then reads these 3D models, and annotates them with tags that describe the maintenance task to be performed. Vizard runs on a cluster of ten computers, rendering the 3D models onto four walls of a CAVE, and to four users each wearing a stereo head-mounted display (HMD). Each of the HMD and CAVE users can use their hands to grab and manipulate parts of the 3D model, testing for reachability, assembly ordering, and group collaboration. The customer will be using the system to train personnel, improve product designs, cut down on design time and costs, and reduce errors before construction.

Vision

Lead contractor Motion Analysis asked WorldViz to be a part of the project team, bringing their extensive software and integration experience to the table. While each team member provided components needed for the project, the WorldViz Vizard software toolkit was the platform of choice for seamlessly integrating all components into one single system. Of particular importance was the WorldViz LiveCharacters module, a unique product allowing real-time motion capture information to be used for representing live human beings in a virtual environment. WorldViz played a key role in the design of the overall system by creating an architecture based on a cluster of systems running the Vizard software, which distributes the processing for the individual CAVE walls and HMD users.

Hardware Integration

Motion Analysis performed the construction of the motion capture system, which included thirty cameras to capture the motion of the users in the walking space. Mechdyne performed the construction of the CAVE display, which included a FLEX CAVE system with retractable ceiling and movable walls, 5 projectors, and an InterSense IS-900 motion tracker. Sensics provided four wide field of view head-mounted displays.

Leveraging WorldViz's experience in the VR industry, these diverse components were all integrated and distributed across the cluster of rendering systems. WorldViz technicians were onsite during the hardware installation to oversee the overall integration of components, and to establish connectivity with the Vizard software. WorldViz experts worked with the customer to train their staff in the overall use of the system, and provided demonstrations to a number of visitors.

Software Application Development

WorldViz created a specialized 3D training application for the customer based on the Vizard VR software toolkit. The application is capable of taking CAD data from a wide range of systems, and loading it into the collaborative virtual environment. Users in both the CAVE and HMDs are able to move around the loaded 3D models, as well as see each other as avatars and communicate with each other. Furthermore, users are able to use their hands to reach in and manipulate parts of the CAD model, opening doors, lifting panels, and removing components.