FACTORY MACHINES SIMULATION USING VIRTUAL REALITY

FACTORY MACHINE SIMULATION USING VIRTUAL REALITY

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) is a very helpful and valuable work tool for the simulation of manufacturing systems. It  provides benefits, which can be reached with many different system configurations. This study focuses on “factory machine simulation using Virtual Reality”. The study  reviews some of the most recent developments that have been made in this way and proposes a general methodology for the creation of virtual environments applicable in factories

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1: Background

Virtual Reality is a technological medium enabling the user to be present in a virtual world. A virtual world could be anything – explore Mount Everest in 360 degree video or experience your dream home made into reality, virtually. The ability to fully immerse the user into any desired environments is what serves as a VR’s primary tool and functionality. Virtual Reality is a fast-growing technology, and it is becoming highly accessible to both private people and businesses. VR has already become a powerful tool in gaming industry, and it is now transforming multiple industries. Virtual Reality marketing trends suggest, that early adopters will embrace the window of opportunity technology has created.

Factories rely heavily on machines for manufacturing/producing materials/products. Many of these machines are either complicated or too big to provide a demo of. Simulating machines in virtual reality allows us to get a true understanding of the working and look and feet of the machine. VR allows us to simulate various factory machine workings and how machines react to various types of settings and materials. It is also very useful in factory machine layout design and planning so as to get best production output from a factory/industry. So here we simulate various machines in a factory layout so as to get a good idea of the over functioning and working of a factory process. Also it is very useful in factory process automation.

In recent years, simulation modeling and analysis have been enhanced significantly by increasingly powerful computational platforms. This has enabled development of high-fidelity models of manufacturing systems, at least from a computational perspective. Such high-fidelity modeling has important benefits in prototyping system performance; however, it must be supported by an underlying modeling discipline, or structured approach to modeling factory operations. Therefore , this paper intends to examinethe use of  virtual reality in a factory machine simulation

1.2: Problem Statement

While there has been many virtual reality systems produced, there is not a sufficient literature on a simulation environment that is interchangeable for use in a factory setting. This research will work to address this problem by proposing a  preliminary platform for creating a simulation that can be used in a factory setting.

1.3: Objectives

The primary objective is to develop a factory machine simulation using virtual reality.  A secondary objective is to create a model environment that can be used within a virtual reality platform. It is important to ensure that the model is flexible enough to be adjusted for scenarios that are created in the future.

1.4 Motivation

The motivation for this study is to contribute to the ongoing and evolving growth of virtual reality systems and their use by the general public. Technology is ever changing and the age of simulation is still in its infancy. While it is common for simulation to be used in industry for strategic planning or analysis, the application of virtual reality simulation is still a new idea. This study serves as a contribution to the virtual reality world and its ongoing development to be useful for society.

1.5 Significance of the Study

Setting the framework for the method to create the building and how to use it within a virtual reality system will contribute a new use for live virtual simulation and application in the running of factory machines.  This research  can help others develop a platform for their own virtual reality system. The accuracy and care taken to create a  model that best recreates the actual real-world environment is crucial to helping aid in the immersive effect (Zhenbo, Jun, & Jauregui, 2009).

FACTORY MACHINE SIMULATION USING VIRTUAL REALITY