Research Article

Virtual reality for aircraft engines maintainability

Aiert Amundarain^a1, Diego Borro^a1, Alex García-Alonso^a2, Jorge Juan Gil^a1, Luis Matey^a3 and Joan Savall^a1

^a1 CEIT (Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones Técnicas de Guipúzcoa), Lardizábal 15, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain ,

^a2 University of the Basque Country, Lardizábal 1, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain

^a3 University of Navarra, Lardizábal 13, 20018 San Sebastián, Spain

Abstract

REVIMA is a virtual reality system for maintainability simulation in Aeronautics. It comprises both hardware and software developments, plus system integration. REVIMA required the design of a new haptic system. It is used both to track hand movements and to return force feedback that provides the sensation of working with a physical mock-up. The main software modules are: image generation, collision detection and control. System integration is based on two LAN connected PCs that share the different tasks and data. The visualization module has been built using low-cost graphic systems, and we have thoroughly analysed this problem to achieve a drawing frame rate acceptable for simulation analysis. The models comprise more than two thousand different elements that require about two million polygons to describe their shapes. Different organization strategies have been tested in order to achieve the real simulation goal. We also present the different visualization algorithms we have used.

(Received June 30 2003)

(Accepted October 20 2003)

(Online publication April 29 2004)

Key Words:

• virtual reality ;
• real time visualization ;
• maintainability ;
• haptic

Correspondence:

^c1 aamundarain@ceit.es