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A Low Cost Virtual Reality Human Computer Interface for CAD Model Manipulation

Abhishek Seth, Shana S. Smith, Mack Shelley, Jiang Qi

Iowa State Univeristy Department of Mechanical Engineering/ Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering/ Statistics Department/ Statistics Department Ames, IA 50011

Introduction

Present CAD systems use 2D computer interfaces, e.g. a standard display monitor, keyboard, and mouse, to generate and interact with CAD models. However, the 2D nature of a standard monitor, keyboard, and mouse, tend to restrict interaction with complex 3D models. Creative programming has enhanced the capabilities of 2D interface techniques, to a certain extent, but has never been successful in making user interaction with 3D CAD models naturally intuitive and completely efficient. Using a 2D interface, designers could miss design errors that might be clear in a 3D interface.

Object manipulation problems in today’s CAD systems are also well documented (Chu, et al. 1998). For example, most CAD systems only allow a single object manipulation transformation at a time, e.g. either rotation about an axis or translation along an axis. Thus, to attain a desired model view, a designer must perform a series of transformations. The process is often neither natural nor intuitive, compared to manually manipulating a 3D physical object.

However, recently, VR has provided an unprecedented human-computer interface that is better suited for interacting with 3D models (Perles, 1999). VR empowers users to see and analyze abstract and complicated features by mapping high-volume, multidimensional data into meaningful stereo displays and by enabling intuitive 3D interactions (Singh, 1996).

Yuan and Sun (1997) used data glove devices to perform mechanical assembly in virtual environments. They used different hand shapes (postures) to generate four discrete control commands for performing assembly tasks. They concluded that the use of an intuitive 3D interaction device in virtual environments requires less user training time and increases work productivity.

Jayaram et al. (1999) used a Cyber Glove, Head Mounted Display (HMD), and electromagnetic tracking devices to create a Virtual Assembly Design Environment (VADE) for addressing mechanical system assembly issues in virtual environments. They used HMD’s to generate high-resolution real-time stereo views of an assembly process. Their system facilitated

Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education

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Smith, S. (2005, June), A Low Cost Virtual Reality Human Computer Interface For Cad Model Manipulation Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--15217