In recent times, the term virtual has seen increasing usage in the mechanical engineering discipline as a qualifier to describe a broad range of technologies. Examples of usage include "virtual reality," "virtualprototyping," and "virtual manufacturing" In this chapter, the meaning of the term virtual reality (VR) is explained and the associated | CHAPTER 14 VIRTUAL REALITY A NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR THE MECHANICAL ENGINEER Tüshar H. Dani Rajit Gadh Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Wisconsin Madison Madison Wisconsin INTRODUCTION 319 Desktop VR Systems 325 325 Hybrid Systems VIRTUAL REALITY 319 VR FOR MECHANICAL VR TECHNOLOGY VR Hardware VR Software 320 320 322 ENGINEERING Enhanced Visualization VR-CAD 325 325 325 VR SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE 323 VIRTUAL PROTOTYPING MANUFACTURING AND VR 326 THREE-DIMENSIONAL COMPUTER GRAPHICS vs. YR 324 Immersive VR System 324 INTRODUCTION In recent times the term virtual has seen increasing usage in the mechanical engineering discipline as a qualifier to describe a broad range of technologies. Examples of usage include virtual reality virtual prototyping and virtual manufacturing. In this chapter the meaning of the term virtual reality VR is explained and the associated hardware and software technology is described. Next the role of virtual reality as a tool for the mechanical engineer in the design and manufacturing process is highlighted. Finally the terms virtual prototyping and virtual manufacturing are discussed. VIRTUAL REALITY The term virtual reality is an oxymoron as it translates to reality that does not exist. In practice however it refers to a broad range of technologies that have become available in recent years to allow generation of synthetic computer-generated and hence virtual environments within which a person can interact with objects as if he or she were in the real world reality . In other instances it is used as a qualifier to describe some computer applications such as a virtual reality system for concept shape design or a virtual reality system for robot path planning. Hence the term by itself has no meaning unless it is used in the context of some technology or application. Keeping in mind this association of VR with technology the next .
