Tools for Virtual Reality on display in Heidelberg
Heidelberg Germany, CADplace Germany organized a symposium on virtual reality at the Heidelberg SRH University. The key technology companies for complete VR solutions participated. Visitors attended the day-long presentations on VR problems & solutions and also were able to see the hardware, software, and complete solutions live and in person.
An entire VR system could be built with the solutions presented, from data acquisition (Faro Laser Scanners) to forced-feedback (Haption) to motion tracking (advanced realtime tracking) to stereo visualization (Schneider Digital), everything you need for a full or partial VR system was on display in one place. With this in mind, I started with data acquisition and spoke to the company Faro about their laser scanner solutions. Among their products on display, the Focus 3D large-scale laser scanner was a solution I thought was particularly interesting for architecture usage ort for anyone who needs to accurately measure and import into a CAD tool a large structural space. For example, if you have a project to redesign the entrance of an office building, the Focus 3D allows you to capture accurately the full 3D environment of the existing space which can be used as the basis for your redesign and new visualization of the building. Other Faro Laser solutions are appropriate for use in industrial design & manufacturing.
Moving on to the next form of data acquisition, the companies A.R.T. and LivingSolids had their solutions on display for the accurate capture of human movement. These products make it possible to very accurately capture the movement of the human body and use that information in your virtual environment. The company specializes in professional applications for virtual reality and augmented reality. The core of their system, the ARTtrack Controller and the DTrack2 software form the core of their solution. The solution can support up to 16 cameras.
Then there is the issue of visualizing your project. Here the company Schneider Digital were present as experts in providing a full range of large format and 3D stereo visualization systems : from the workstation built with the right performance requirements and professional quality graphics to the 3D display system and stereo-capable glasses. The Schneider workstations are based on FirePro graphics to deliver fast rendering, high-resolutions, and multiple display support for everything from single screen powerwalls to multi display, immersive, cave environments. Such solutions give professionals an edge over their competition whether they work in industrial design, architecture, or urban planning.
Other workstation solutions were also in attendance, including Tarox. Their office and portable workstation solutions can be customized and scaled to meet your exact needs. Fully equipped with professional CPUs from Intel and professional Quadro graphics, the Tarox workstations won't have any weak-points when put into action in your projects. And Tarox is a respected, professional German company having proven its abilities to service professional users.
One of the most interesting aspects of a VR solution is to feel what your are doing and not just see what you are doing in a virtual world. For that, the French company Haption demonstrated its force-feedback robotics solutions. I tested the manipulation of a part inside an automobile door of a design in CATIA and was surprised at the added level of realism provided through the force-feedback interface. As a graphics professional, I am very familiar with the benefits of a realistic visual environment for design, development, and testing, but the added sensation of feeling what you do was a real surprise for me, and it really does take the immersive environment to a level of usefulness and realism mostly unknown outside of a specialized industrial environment and research labs.
In summary, CADplace Germany and its partners provided a specialized venue for professionals in industry and academics to gather the information, which they need to successfully implement their VR projects, through the presentations, demonstrations, and conversations with the companies specialized in VR solutions.
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