VR interaction for efficient virtual manufacturing: mini map for multi-user VR navigation platform
Paper in proceeding, 2024

Over the past decade, the value and potential of VR applications in manufacturing have gained significant attention in accordance with the rise of Industry 4.0 and beyond. Its efficacy in layout planning, virtual design reviews, and operator training has been well-established in previous studies. However, many functional requirements and interaction parameters of VR for manufacturing remain ambiguously defined. One area awaiting exploration is spatial recognition and learning, crucial for understanding navigation within the virtual manufacturing system and processing spatial data. This is particularly vital in multi-user VR applications where participants' spatial awareness in the virtual realm significantly influences the efficiency of meetings and design reviews. This paper investigates the interaction parameters of multi-user VR, focusing on interactive positioning maps for virtual factory layout planning and exploring the user interaction design of digital maps as navigation aid. A literature study was conducted in order to establish frequently used technics and interactive maps from the VR gaming industry. Multiple demonstrators of different interactive maps provide a comprehensive A/B test which were implemented into a VR multi-user platform using the Unity game engine. Five different prototypes of interactive maps were tested, evaluated and graded by the 20 participants and 40 validated data streams collected. The most efficient interaction design of interactive maps is thus analyzed and discussed in the study.

Interactive Map

Multi-User Collaboration Platform

Virtual Reality

Manufacturing

User-Oriented

Author

Huizhong Cao

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Production Systems

Henrik Söderlund

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Production Systems

Mélanie Despeisse

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Production Systems

Francisco Garcia Rivera

University of Skövde

Björn Johansson

Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Production Systems

Advances in Transdisciplinary Engineering

2352751X (ISSN) 23527528 (eISSN)

Vol. 52 335-345
978-1-64368-510-6 (ISBN)

11th Swedish Production Symposium, SPS2024
Trollhättan, Sweden,

PLENary multi-User developMent arena for industrial workspaces (PLENUM)

VINNOVA (2022-01704), 2022-09-15 -- 2025-09-14.

Subject Categories

Production Engineering, Human Work Science and Ergonomics

Other Mechanical Engineering

Interaction Technologies

Computer Science

Areas of Advance

Information and Communication Technology

Production

Driving Forces

Innovation and entrepreneurship

DOI

10.3233/ATDE240178

More information

Latest update

6/18/2024