Desktop virtual reality for maintenance training: an object oriented prototype system (V-REALISM)

Virtual reality (VR) provides an intuitive and immersive human-computer interface, which can be an efficient tool for maintenance training. In this paper, a low-cost VR application for maintenance training, which is an object oriented prototype desktop VR-enabled system for maintenance (V-REALISM), is presented. It has successfully integrated a novel disassembly sequence planning technique and evolutionary algorithms with virtual reality using the object oriented methodology. Details of the system architecture design and its implementation are presented. A case study on the maintenance of a centrifugal pump system in a virtual workshop environment was used to illustrate the performance of the V-REALISM. The result shows the potential of desktop VR to maintenance training in cost reduction. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.