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Abstract - Industrial virtual reality (IVR) facilitates the development and operation of factories and plants by enhancing communication among all the stakeholders involved and providing a visualization combining the different planning data with simulation data generated during development or real-time data acquired during operation. The major benefit derived from combining these heterogeneous data sources is the capability to evaluate and review a complete system's performance and consistency. Experience gained in numerous industry projects indicates that the acceptance and practicability of this technology is largely contingent on the labor required to procure, preprocess and synchronize data as well as the maintainability of the IVR models. This paper describes the workflows and methodologies used to integrate industrial data in interactive IVR semi-automatically to plan, review and operate factory systems and to train executives, technicians and workers.
Keywords: virtual reality, assembly simulation, Industry 4.0, digital factory
1 Introduction
Visualization is an indispensable tool for the validation of simulation models and the presentation of simulation results [1]. Simulation models of assembly operations based on manufacturing specifications frequently have a high level of detail (LOD) in response to the increased variety of models and complexity of assembly systems. Currently widespread and often schematic 2D visualizations are no longer able to meet these heightened demands.
One option is to use 3D visualizations based on industrial virtual reality (IVR) incorporating existing 3D assembly layouts, 3D product models, and process flows generated from simulation models. Rather than simulating assembly in detail for ease of product assembly, the goal here is to visualize the simulations at the stations in conjunction with a realistic representation of the stations, the stage of assembly of products including the components and tools to be provided, and assemblers' changes of location. This form of visualization permits a good evaluation of the simulated sequences, which goes beyond established standard 2D visualizations. 3D visualizations of assembly operations can be generated automatically by integrating the generated simulation data with the existing 3D data of layouts and products.
This paper sets forth the benefits of 3D visualizations of simulated assembly operations and presents a methodology for generating 3D visualizations of simulated systems and operations. It includes a discussion of the requirements imposed on the data provided, particularly interoperability. Prototype systems implemented...