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Work in Progress: Virtual Reality for Manufacturing Equipment Training for Future Workforce Development

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies Division (ELOS) Technical Session 2: Manurfacturing, Simulation, Safety, and Technical Writing

Tagged Division

Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies Division (DELOS)

Page Count

12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--44397

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/44397

Download Count

188

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Paper Authors

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Jaejong Park Prairie View A&M University

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Dr. Park is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State University and his research focuses on design for additive manufacturing, multiscale structural optimization methods, functional cellular structures, adaptive structures, and engineering education.

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Razaul Islam

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Cullan Alexander King

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Lai Jiang

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Xiaobo Peng Prairie View A&M University

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Xiaobo Peng is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Prairie View A&M University. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2005. His research interests include CAD/CAM, additive manufacturing, virtual prototyping, and engineering education.

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Bugrahan Yalvac Texas A&M University

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Bugrahan Yalvac is an associate professor of science and engineering education in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Culture at Texas A&M University, College Station. He received his Ph.D. in science education at the Pennsylvania State University i

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Abstract

The field of engineering design and manufacturing is experiencing a substantial paradigm shift across the globe due to the digitization of data, machine learning, and connected devices under the name Industry 4.0. The growing complication in advanced design and manufacturing requires engineers' profound understanding of innovative concepts from proper training and problem-handling skills. STEM education has not kept pace in adapting to the new trend from Industry 4.0, such as advanced engineering design, manufacturing, and their inter-relation into the classroom settings. To this end, this study focuses on modernizing an engineering laboratory course by developing Virtual Reality (VR)-based interactive simulations. Traditionally manufacturing laboratory activities involve a manual lathe, milling machine, drill press, and a CNC mill. Yet, due to space limitations, lack of equipment, teaching staff, and safety requirements, the laboratory experiments are conducted in groups of 3~4 students at a time. This infrastructure gives each student minimal hands-on experience each week, perhaps a couple of minutes at maximum. Starting from the Fall 2022 semester, a new virtual environment, a scaled-down version of an intelligent factory similar to the Virtual Learning Factory (VLF) model, has been developed and implemented in the junior-level manufacturing processes laboratory. It aims to allow students to learn the actual hands-on experience by providing interactive experience using VR Headsets and acquaint mechanical engineers' role in the new design principles and manufacturing standards of industry 4.0. The resulting paper will be based on this work-in-progress to share the findings and effects of new VR implementation in engineering education.

Park, J., & Islam, R., & King, C. A., & Jiang, L., & Peng, X., & Yalvac, B. (2023, June), Work in Progress: Virtual Reality for Manufacturing Equipment Training for Future Workforce Development Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--44397

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