Research Of Interactive Technology For Virtual Assembly In Network Environment

Assembly design is a key factor for product development. It is a complicated process because assembly involves various product design phases and different kinds of work members. Therefore, the improvement of proficiency for assembly design is a problem in manufacturing industry. The progress of virtual reality technology provides a brand new method for assembly design. Combining with the features of virtual reality, virtual assembly can prove the validity of assembly operation. It can also find the problems of assembly process and modify the models in an immersive and multi-sensory environment in order to seek more advanced means for assembly design.This paper studies the interactive technology for virtual assembly in network environment. Based on the analysis of both home and abroad status quo of virtual assembly, this paper investigates the software and hardware architecture of virtual assembly system in network environment. It develops VR hardware interfaces based on Java platform, such as data glove, 3D position tracker and shutter glasses, etc. This system implements the function of stereoscopy and virtual hand grasp operation in virtual environment which depends on the collision detection technology proposed in this paper.This paper discusses several technologies as below. Firstly, a Web and desktop VR-based stereoscopy and multi-channel real-time interactive control system is developed. With 3D shutter glasses, this system provides immersive and real-time representation for Web-based product data 3D visualization using object-oriented technology, Java and Java3D, etc. Secondly, a data receiving module for driving virtual hand is designed according to interaction devices such as data glove and 3D position tracking system. It analyzes the methods of collision detection in Java3D and prevalent software packages with collision detection function, and implements collision detection between virtual hand and the objects in virtual environment. When it comes to collision response, visual feedback replaces haptic feedback so as to transmit information to users. Collision detection and collision handling work at different threads, simulating the manipulation mode of human in real environment. A semi-closed loop control is constructed which could partially act in penetration avoidance. Lastly, the simulation of moulds assembly is conducted base on virtual hand manipulation. Loading models with VRML format as objects manipulated, this system provides the means to generate and manage...