Immersive Virtual Reality : Engineering Application in

Space Environment Author: Matthew Lau

Supervisor: Mr. John Page, Dr. Nathan Kinkaid

Research Theme: The Digital Future

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Background:

Immersive virtual reality is a fast developing technology in which the user is ‘tricked’ into a computer simulated environment by means of

manipulating the user’s senses, mainly through sight, hearing and touch. The user will feel his/her presence in the virtual environment rather

than the physical world and hence the user is immersed into a virtual reality. Immersion technology has found its use in different fields

including the gaming, medical and military fields.

Future Improvements:

Improving textures and physics interaction to enhance realism of the

immersion

Integration with other sensory controls such as a data glove that provides

input and feedback

Adding avatars to simulate human interactions

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Methodology:

Aim:

Investigate the current immersion technology for space engineering

applications

Assess current virtual reality engines based on their suitability for

engineering purposes

Explore the effect of immersion experience in stimulating innovative space

design

Results and Discussions:

o Precise physics needs to be implemented in the engine for meaningful engineering use, in addition quality of the texture significantly affects the realism of the immersed

environment

o Immersion enabled the user to experience the virtual environment and hence allowing a deeper understanding to what the user previously perceived, stimulating

potential innovative designs

o Motion sickness is a major concern due to the disorientation within the immersed space environment

o Most commercially available virtual reality engines are gaming engines, however they are capable of delivering accurate physics required for engineering applications.

o The realism of the immersion experience can be enhanced by integrating with suitable devices depending on the applications

o Engineering software generates models that have better control over physical properties such as dimensions however less capable of applying textures when compared

to models generated from graphics design software

Conclusion:

Immersive virtual reality has shown potential in engineering application in a space environment however future

improvements are needed to provide more sense of realism

There is a lack of available engineering virtual reality engines however gaming engines are viable substitutes

The use of immersion has potential in stimulating innovative design due to the user’s experience in unfamiliar

environments

Texture and

Physics

Implementation

Model

Importation

into Engine

Virtual Reality

Engine

Experimentation

Engineering

Model

Construction Immersion

Testing

Existing Virtual

Models

Motivation:

Despite the many great uses of immersive virtual reality, there has been a lack of engineering

application of this technology.

Currently, immersion technology has trended towards the gaming industry which focused on

graphics more than physics which is the opposite for ideal engineering applications

Space environment is hostile and unknown to many, including engineers thus it is difficult to

enable efficient space design

Refinement Refinement

Figure 5.) Immersion testing set-up

Joystick – movement

control

Oculus Rift - Head Mounted

Display

Unity3d – Virtual Reality

software

Figure 1.)

Immersive Virtual

Reality

Figure 2.) CATIA model of

the International Space

Station

Figure 3.) Virtual Reality

Engines

Figure 4.) Immersion

testing with Oculus Rift

Figure 6.) Virtual

Environment outside the

International Space

Station