Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, 1997:
Proceedings of the Seventh International FAIM Conference

ISBN Print: 978-1-56700-089-4

ISBN Online: 978-1-56700-442-7

A REVIEW AND COMPARISON OF EMERGING VIRTUAL 3-D TOOLS FOR PRODUCT DESIGN

DOI: 10.1615/FAIM1997.920
pages 947-957

Abstract

Domestic and international competition has increased pressures for market expansion and product/process reevaluation, and the need for more effective and efficient design tools, capabilities, and methods. This paper presents a review and comparison of five emerging, virtual technologies and immersion environments that are under evaluation at a leading U. S. Government military vehicle research, development, and engineering center. The newer system technologies being tested include: Helmet Mounted Displays (HMDs), Binocular Omni Orientation Monitors (BOOMs), Stereoscopic shutter glasses, Holographic Imaging Systems (HISs), and the CAVE Automatic Virtual Environments (CAVEs). A tentative conclusion reached is that the use of one or more of these technologies has the potential to markedly improve product design environments. However, several shortcomings need to be addressed before each can become a viable alternative to present methods.