Mixing Real and Virtual Realities in the Manufacturing Way

Faculty

Professor Andrew YC NEE
Professor of Manufacturing Engineering
DEng(UMIST), PhD(Manc)
Active Member CIRP (1990), Fellow SME (1990)
REMOVEmpeneeyc@nus.edu.sg
http://serve.me.nus.edu.sg/neeyc/
Tel: +65-6874-4783
Fax: +65-6779-7454

Assistant Professor Soh-Khim ONG
Assistant Professor
BEng (Hons) NUS, PhD NUS
REMOVEmpeongsk@nus.edu.sg
http://serve.me.nus.edu.sg/ongsk/
Tel: +65-6874-2222
Fax: +65-6779-1459

 

Research Fellow

Dr Miaolong YUAN
PhD, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Mechanical Engineering Department, NUS
REMOVEmpeyml@nus.edu.sg
Tel: +65-8754-4652

 

Researchers

 

Introduction

In the current highly competitive business and manufacturing environment, the manufacturing industry is facing constant challenges of producing innovative products at reduced time-to-market. The increasing trend of globalized manufacturing environments requires real-time information exchanges between the various nodes in a product development life cycle, e.g., design, setup planning, production scheduling, machining, assembly, etc., as well as seamless task collaboration among these nodes.

An innovative and effective solution to overcome these problems is the application of augmented reality (AR) technologies to simulate and improve these manufacturing processes before they are carried out. This would ensure that activities such as design, planning, machining, etc., are done right-the-first-time without the need for subsequent re-works and modifications.

AR is a novel form of human-machine interaction that overlays computer-generated information on the real world environment. AR enhances the existing environment rather than replacing it as in the case of virtual reality (VR). The information display and image overlay are context-sensitive, which means that they depend on the observed objects. This novel technique can be combined with human abilities to greatly benefit manufacturing and maintenance tasks.

Research on the manufacturing applications of AR is a strong and growing area. The challenge is to design and implement integrated AR manufacturing systems that could enhance the manufacturing processes, as well as product and process development, leading to shorter lead-time, reduced cost and improved quality. The ultimate goal is to create a system that is as good as the real world, if not better and more efficient.

The combined effort of Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA) and the Manufacturing Engineering Division, consisting of Prof Andrew Nee, Prof Kamal Youcef-Toumi, Dr S K Ong and Dr Yuan Miaolong, together with five PhD students, are embarking on a series of manufacturing projects using AR technologies.

 

Projects Descriptions
  1. CNC machining simulation using virtual workpieces and real cutting tools and machining environment allows users to better visualize the machining conditions and to avoid tool collision with fixture and other components.
  2. An AR-assisted manufacturing planning round-table discussion allows the different users such as designer, process planner, machinist, assembly operator, etc to jointly discuss, modify and view a virtual component according to their viewpoints by wearing head-mounted displays.
  3. Designing and assembling modular fixtures using AR-assisted instructions and providing feedback to the workpiece designer in improving the locating, securing, and ease of machining the workpiece, allowing it to be designed right-the-first-time.
  4. AR-assisted assembly of complex parts allows the assembly sequence to be optimized and provides real-time guidance in training assembly operators, as well as providing them with a 'feel of the goodness' of the parts during assembly.
  5. AR-assisted design of mechanisms provides information on assembly, motion, and the functioning of the component to the designer in improving the design, and in verifying the specified motions. It also permits virtual parts to be assembled together with real parts.

 

Publications

Selected augmented reality publications of faculty and students are listed below.

  1. S.K. Ong and A.Y.C. Nee, Virtual and Augmented Reality Applications in Manufacturing, Springer Verlag, 2004, ISBN 1-85233-796-6.
  2. Registration Using Projective Reconstruction for Augmented Reality Systems, M.L. Yuan, S.K. Ong and A.Y.C. Nee, 2004, ACM SIGGRAPH International Conference on Virtual-Reality Continuum & its Applications in Industry, SIGGRAPH VRCAI Conference, 16-18 June 2004, Singapore.
  3. Registration Using Projective Reconstruction for Augmented Reality Systems, M.L. Yuan, S.K. Ong and A.Y.C. Nee, 2004, SMA Symposium, 19-20 January 2004, Singapore.
  4. The Virtual Interaction Panel: An Easy Control Tool in Augmented Reality Systemss, M.L. Yuan, S.K. Ong and A.Y.C. Nee, 2004, 17th Annual Conference on Computer Animation & Social Agents, CASA2004, 7-9 July 2004, Geneva, Switzerland.

 

2002/2003 Final Year Students Design Projects

Two groups of Mechanical Engineering Stage 4 System Design Project ME4102 students for the 2002/2003 academic years have carried out a paper design project to each design an AR system for product assembly and product maintenance respective. Below are a mock-up of an AR automobile maintenance system developed using Flash media by these students and a mpeg movie of an AR system with annotations added to the airplanes.

Mock-up of an AR Automobile Maintenance System.

Movie of annotations added to airplanes.

 

Enquires & Contact Information

Dr SK Ong
Mechanical Engineering Department
National University of Singapore
10 Kent Ridge Crescent
Singapore 119260
Email: REMOVEmpeongsk@nus.edu.sg
Tel: (65) 6874 2222
Fax: (65) 6779 1459

 

Online since 6 April 2004. Last updated 21 May 2004.
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