New factory layout simulation and immersive VR-experience preview – case Logset Oy

The decision to build new manufacturing facility is one of the most important decisions for company as it requires a lot of resources. Uncertainty of the future will make the decision even harder for the management board. However, development in technology, regarding 3D-simulation software, Virtual reality applications and accessible computing power have made 3D modeling and simulation viable solution for factory planning. Therefore, 3D-simulation and Virtual reality are used in this research as methods to give valuable data and insight for the forest machines manufacturing case company’s decision makers. Visual Components 4.2-software is used in this research to model 3D-simulations. Results contain one assembly line simulation for harvester, one assembly line simulation for forwarder and two layouts to test partially combined assembly line performance. Assembly line simulations are made to build 3D-model of harvester and forwarder and assembly line simulation layouts are given to project researcher as a reference model as this thesis is part of a bigger research project. Harvester and forwarder are built from 3D-models provided by the case company following current assembly process steps. Two partially combined assembly line layouts are made to estimate performance metrics of the new factory, focusing on output volumes, cycle times and lead times of harvester and forwarder. 3D-simulation model for partially combined layout is run to estimate yearly production, showing output volume, mean cycle time and mean lead time for both machines in a different manufacturing scenarios. Results show basic performance metrics of the new factory and simulation can be viewed using Virtual reality-glasses by using Visual experience software, developed by Visual Components. First 3D-simulation model for partially combined assembly line revealed the problem areas and bottlenecks of the assembly lines. Second model is used to show how balancing assembly line and improvements in the manufacturing process can improve the performance of the factory. Results demonstrate that 3D modeling and simulation are advantageous methods for factory planning and Virtual reality can be used as a complementary method for visualization creating more immersive experience

Industry 4.0 and human factor: How is technology changing the role of the maintenance operator?

Abstract Industry 4.0 is revolutionizing not only the manufacturing industry but also maintenance strategies. As consequence of the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies, new skills are demanded to maintenance operators that has to be able to interact, as instance, with Cyber Physical Systems and robots. In this paper, we first investigate the state-of-the-art of Industry 4.0 technologies that are transforming operations and production management and finally we discuss how the role of maintenance operators is changed in a such digitalized environment. We found that, the maintenance Operator 4.0 should be able to find relevant information and predict events by a proper use of Big Data analytics, in addition to the ability of interacting with computers, digital databases and robots. Finally, the ability to rapidly adapt his skills to innovations is also strongly demanded

A novel haptic model and environment for maxillofacial surgical operation planning and manipulation

This paper presents a practical method and a new haptic model to support manipulations of bones and their segments during the planning of a surgical operation in a virtual environment using a haptic interface. To perform an effective dental surgery it is important to have all the operation related information of the patient available beforehand in order to plan the operation and avoid any complications. A haptic interface with a virtual and accurate patient model to support the planning of bone cuts is therefore critical, useful and necessary for the surgeons. The system proposed uses DICOM images taken from a digital tomography scanner and creates a mesh model of the filtered skull, from which the jaw bone can be isolated for further use. A novel solution for cutting the bones has been developed and it uses the haptic tool to determine and define the bone-cutting plane in the bone, and this new approach creates three new meshes of the original model. Using this approach the computational power is optimized and a real time feedback can be achieved during all bone manipulations. During the movement of the mesh cutting, a novel friction profile is predefined in the haptical system to simulate the force feedback feel of different densities in the bone

Future directions for the development of Virtual Reality within an automotive manufacturer

Virtual Reality (VR) can reduce time and costs, and lead to increases in quality, in the development of a product. Given the pressure on car companies to reduce time-to-market and to continually improve quality, the automotive industry has championed the use of VR across a number of applications, including design, manufacturing, and training. This paper describes interviews with 11 engineers and employees of allied disciplines from an automotive manufacturer about their current physical and virtual properties and processes. The results guided a review of research findings and scientific advances from the academic literature, which formed the basis of recommendations for future developments of VR technologies and applications. These include: develop a greater range of virtual contexts; use multi-sensory simulation; address perceived differences between virtual and real cars; improve motion capture capabilities; implement networked 3D technology; and use VR for market research

Mekaanisen kokoonpanon harjoitteluun tarkoitetun virtuaalitodellisuuteen perustuvan ohjelman suunnittelu ja toteutus

Although virtual assembly has been studied for over 20 years, it has not yet reached a state where it would enjoy widespread usage outside of academia despite the possible cost savings and improvements in the effectiveness of the training. Even though there have been multiple separate studies on virtual assembly, hand-based interaction, and assembly assistance, we have not found applications that would combine all of these to provide a complete assembly training experience. The goal of this thesis was to design and implement a virtual reality application for mechanical assembly training. In our application, we provide a natural user interaction by using a Leap Motion controller, a hand tracking device mounted onto a virtual reality headset. The application was implemented using the Unity game engine and supports both Oculus and SteamVR compatible VR headsets. Unlike most of the previous systems, we combine the use of hand-based interaction, assembly simulation, and context-aware assembly guidance to create an all-in-one VR assembly solution. As a part of our implementation, we propose a new method for assembly guidance and validation that works by matching assemblies built by the user to the assembly the user is supposed to build. Based on the user testing results, there is an interest in this kind of application. Although the inaccuracies with the hand and finger tracking hindered the usability of the application, the users described the application as surprisingly easy to use once they learned how to overcome these issues.Siitä huolimatta, että virtuaalista kokoonpanoa on tutkittu yli 20 vuotta, ja se voisi tarjota sekä kustannussäästöjä että jopa parantaa harjoittelun tehokkuutta, se ei ole vielä saavuttanut vakiintunutta asemaa akateemisen tutkimuksen ulkopuolella. Vaikka virtuaalisesta kokoonpanosta, käsipohjaisesta vuorovaikutuksesta ja kokoonpanon avustamisesta on tehty useita erillisiä tutkimuksia, emme ole löytäneet sovelluksia, jotka yhdistäisivät kaikki nämä kokonaisvaltaisen harjoitusalustan tarjoamiseksi. Tämän diplomityön tarkoituksena oli suunnitella ja toteuttaa virtuaalitodellisuuteen perustuva työkalu mekaanisen kokoonpanon harjoitteluun. Ohjelmamme tarjoaa luonnollisen, käsien seurantaan perustuvan käyttöliittymän hyödyntämällä virtuaalilaseihin kiinnitettyä Leap Motion -ohjainta. Sovellus toteutettiin käyttäen Unity-pelimoottoria ja sovellus tukee sekä Oculus- että SteamVR-yhteensopivia virtuaalitodellisuuslaseja. Toisin kuin useimmat vastaavat järjestelmät, meidän työkalumme yhdistää käsin tapahtuvan interaktion, kokoonpanosimulaation ja kontekstisidonnaiset kokoonpano-ohjeet tarjoten kokonaisvaltaisen sovelluksen virtuaalisen kokoonpanon harjoitteluun. Osana työkaluamme kehitimme uuden menetelmän kokoonpanon aikana tapahtuvien virheiden havainnoimiseen ja kontekstisidonnaisten kokoamisohjeiden muodostamiseen. Kehittämämme menetelmä perustuu vastaavuuksien etsimiseen käyttäjän kokoamien tuotteiden ja tavoitteena olevan tuotteen väliltä. Käyttäjätestauksesta saatujen tulosten perusteella tämänkaltaiselle sovellukselle olisi kysyntää. Vaikka käsienseurantalaitteen epätarkkuus haittasi sovelluksen käytettävyyttä, käyttäjät luonnehtivat sovellusta yllättävän helppokäyttöiseksi opittuaan työskentelemään sovelluksen parissa

The Virtual Manufacturing concept: Scope, Socio-Economic Aspects and Future Trends

International audienceThe research area "Virtual Manufacturing (VM)'' is the use of information technology and computer simulation to model real world manufacturing processes for the purpose of analysing and understanding them. As automation technologies such as CAD/CAM have substantially shortened the time required to design products, Virtual Manufacturing will have a similar effect on the manufacturing phase thanks to the modelling, simulation and optimisation of the product and the processes involved in its fabrication. After a description of Virtual Manufacturing (definitions and scope), we present some socio-economic factors of VM and finaly some "hot topics'' for the future are proposed

Overview on agent-based social modelling and the use of formal languages

Transdisciplinary Models and Applications investigates a variety of programming languages used in validating and verifying models in order to assist in their eventual implementation. This book will explore different methods of evaluating and formalizing simulation models, enabling computer and industrial engineers, mathematicians, and students working with computer simulations to thoroughly understand the progression from simulation to product, improving the overall effectiveness of modeling systems.Postprint (author's final draft

Special Session on Industry 4.0

No abstract available