Design and evaluation of a high- fidelity virtual reality manufacturing planning system

Manufacturing applications of virtual reality (VR) technology are growing. The challenge is to design, integrate, and evaluate VR simulation for manufacturing Systems that improves the effectiveness of the planning process. In this paper, we discuss the technical infrastructure necessary to design a collaborative virtual manufacturing planning system. We describe the VR system setup and the integration of hardware and software to produce high-fidelity virtual simulation for manufacturing planning purposes. The designing guidelines are demonstrated by a high-fidelity VR simulation of a stamping process. The VR simulation also presents a method of visualizing computer-aided engineering content. Also, this paper assesses the factors that affect overall fidelity of the VR simulation. Objective evaluation of the VR simulation was conducted using the fidelity framework and the scales, whereas the subjective evaluation methods used were VR-simulation-driven data interpretation. The VR simulation was evaluated by a selective sample of 33 senior engineering students using a highly reliable scale (Cronbach's Alpha = .93) questionnaire that was designed to evaluate functionality, performance, and experience. The results of the subjective evaluation validate the evaluation of objective scales to be high-medium for the VR system used (M = 5.24, M = 5.11) respectively. Significant positive relationships were found between all factors, except distraction, which had a significant negative relationship with fidelity. Overall, the realism and sensory systems factors were found to be the main significant factors affecting the fidelity of the VR system.

Automated summary

This paper discusses the technical infrastructure necessary for designing a collaborative virtual manufacturing planning system, as well as the evaluation of the VR simulation using objective and subjective assessment methods. The results indicate that realism and sensory systems are the main factors affecting the fidelity of the VR system.