Computerized Human Body Modeling and Work Motion-capturing in a 3-D Virtual Clothing Simulation System for Painting Work Clothes Development

Abstract

By studying 3-D virtual human modeling, motion-capturing and clothing simulation for easier and safer work clothes development, this research aimed (1) to categorize heavy manufacturing work motions; (2) to generate a 3-D virtual male model and establish painting work motions within a 3-D virtual clothing simulation system through computerized body scanning and motion-capturing; and finally (3) to suggest simulated clothing images of painting work clothes developed based on virtual male avatar body measurements by implementing the work motions defined in the 3-D virtual clothing simulation system. For this, a male subject's body was 3-D scanned and also directly measured. The procedures to edit a 3-D virtual model required the total body shape to be 3-D scanned into a digital format, which was revised using 3-D Studio MAX and Maya rendering tools. In addition, heavy industry workers' work motions were observed and recorded by video camera at manufacturing sites and analyzed to categorize the painting work motions. This analysis resulted in 4 categories of motions: standing, bending, kneeling and walking. Besides, each work motion category was divided into more detailed motions according to sub-work posture factors: arm angle, arm direction, elbow bending angle, waist bending angle, waist bending direction and knee bending angle. Finally, the implementation of the painting work motions within the 3-D clothing simulation system presented the virtual painting work clothes images simulated in a dynamic mode.