Franziska Pürzel

Virtual reality-aided planning for energy-autonomous factories

The consideration of energy-related parameters is already in the planning phase an important step towards an energy-autonomous factory. Using Virtual Reality (VR) gives planners an important basis for decision-making with regards to drafting the layout. This potential should also be used for incorporating energy-related parameters. This paper introduces the coupling of a 2D planning system with a VR environment as the basis for the development of an energy-sensitive planning system. A prerequisite for considering energy-related parameters is recording and visualizing them. Therefore, the second part of the paper deals with energy visualization within a machine at the micro level.

A Framework for User Tests in a Virtual Environment

This paper describes the setup and development of an innovative framework for conducting user tests in a virtual environment. As it is the main purpose to evaluate the user’s reactions to user interfaces on mobile devices, an Android-based smartphone and a tablet computer were linked to a Virtual Reality (VR) system. The framework allows user interaction to trigger certain events in the immersive environment and vice versa interaction with the virtual environment can trigger interface behaviour. For hand-free navigation through the virtual scene a Wii Balance Board is used. The framework is the basis for user tests to be conducted within the uTRUSTit (Usable Trust in the Internet of Things) project supported by the EU under the Seventh Framework Programme.

Intuitivere Produkt-FMEA mittels Virtual Reality

Kurzfassung Dieser Beitrag beschreibt die Nutzung der Virtual Reality (VR)-Technologie zur Optimierung von Qualitätsmanagement-Methoden am Beispiel der FMEA. VR fungiert hierbei nicht nur als unterstützendes Visualisierungswerkzeug, sondern bildet das Kernstück zur Interaktion und Darstellung aller relevanten Informationen. Die VR-Technologie ist durch die realitätsnahe 3D-Darstellung in Kombination mit der Interaktion in sechs Freiheitsgraden besonders geeignet, komplexe mechanische Zusammenhänge zu veranschaulichen.

Real NC Control Unit and Virtual Machine to Improve Operator Training

This paper describes a coupling between a real NC control unit and a virtual machine and its application potentials for vocational training. First the Hardware-in-the-Loop coupling, including the setup of the machine model, the connection itself and the realized material removal process, is described. Based on that, possible application scenarios for vocational training are discussed. In addition expert opinions about the usability of the NC-VR setup and possible obstacles are presented.

Immersive Presentations: Enabling Engaging Virtual Reality Based Training and Teaching by Merging Slide-Based and VR-Based Elements

Training of the staff is a time consuming task. Today a lot of explanations are done at the built machine. Using Virtual Reality (VR) the staff could be trained at a virtual model. Presenting additional information like texts or diagrams besides the virtual model is essential for education purposes, but a time consuming process feasible only by experts. We are addressing this issue by presenting a concept to create Immersive Presentations and an App suite that enables the trainers to create VR based education scenarios augmented with additional information in an easy and comprehensible way on their own.