A review of virtual reality and haptics for product assembly (part 1): rigid parts

Purpose - Virtual reality (VR) for product assembly has been studied for more than 20 years but its practical application in industry is still very much in its infancy. Haptics is a new and important interaction method for VR and a strong and growing research area, however, it still remains a virtually unknown concept for industrial application. Design/methodology/approach - This paper provides a comprehensive survey of VR and haptics for product assembly, from rigid parts to soft cables. Findings - Some new ideas and research progresses in recent years are especially investigated. First the concepts and classifications of virtual assembly are introduced and the different virtual environment systems for product assembly are discussed. Then the major research groups, typical systems and major research issues are explored in detail, treating rigid parts and soft cables separately. Lastly, the barriers preventing successful application of virtual assembly are discussed and future research directions are also summarized. Originality/value - The paper provides an overview and analysis of VR and haptics for product assembly, including both rigid parts and soft cables.