Development of a network of virtual reality headsets with a shared environment for an industrial application utilizing Unity platform
Kudriavtseva, Veronika (2020)
Diplomityö
2020
School of Energy Systems, Konetekniikka
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2020061242944
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2020061242944
Tiivistelmä
VR technology was widely introduced to the public by gaming industry in the recent decade, and the technology then was further utilized in other areas, such as education, healthcare, construction, and automotive industries, to name a few. This work is focused on development of a virtual environment with a network of VR headsets for an industrial application as current VR applications for industrial use lack of interactions and teamwork.
The virtual environment in the research represents a simplified virtual copy of a real factory “Jotex Works Oy” with all the major equipment and areas. The developed system supports up to 20 concurrently connected via internet users. Users can see and hear each other in the environment, as well as interact with the environment. For the latter 5 types of interactions were implemented in the environment: interactions with user interface; interactions with whiteboard; interactions with objects, affected by gravity; interactions with objects, that become interactable only when two users are involved; and interactions with objects, which entail subsequent actions to happen. For the last type of interaction, the simplified lathe operation instructions, and interaction possibilities with it were developed.
The obtained performance results and feedback from users testing the environment confirm that environment provides smooth VR experience with average frame rate above 90 FPS, clear networked sound, and movements. Possible applications of the environment include the education industry in general, facility planning and advertising purposes for the real factory in particular.
The virtual environment in the research represents a simplified virtual copy of a real factory “Jotex Works Oy” with all the major equipment and areas. The developed system supports up to 20 concurrently connected via internet users. Users can see and hear each other in the environment, as well as interact with the environment. For the latter 5 types of interactions were implemented in the environment: interactions with user interface; interactions with whiteboard; interactions with objects, affected by gravity; interactions with objects, that become interactable only when two users are involved; and interactions with objects, which entail subsequent actions to happen. For the last type of interaction, the simplified lathe operation instructions, and interaction possibilities with it were developed.
The obtained performance results and feedback from users testing the environment confirm that environment provides smooth VR experience with average frame rate above 90 FPS, clear networked sound, and movements. Possible applications of the environment include the education industry in general, facility planning and advertising purposes for the real factory in particular.