Virtual reality applications in manufacturing industries: Past research, present findings, and future directions

Abstract

Today, manufacturing industries are trying to improve their competitiveness by combining manufacturing per se with information technology. Virtual reality is being used in product development processes in manufacturing enterprises as a helpful technology to achieve rapid consolidation of information and decision-making through visualization and experience. In this article, 154 articles relevant to virtual reality's application to manufacturing were surveyed and analyzed. For this, (1) an analysis map was created, based on a virtual reality technology classification and the new product development process; (2) the articles investigated were located on the map; and (3) bibliometric analyses were carried out. Trends in past and present research were examined and future virtual reality research directions and application plans for manufacturing enterprises are discussed.

On the Design of Virtual Reality Learning Environments in Engineering

“…Within the engineering field, nowadays VR is being effectively used in engineering education [2][3][4][5] since the use of VR presents several advantages, namely: (i) VR allows simulating in real time the use of otherwise unavailable expensive laboratory equipment [6][7][8][9]; (ii) the use of VR avoids potential damages to a real machine caused by students' misuse during practical classes [9]; (iii) VR solves the difficulty of developing practical classes in a real laboratory environment when the groups are overcrowded [10]; (iv) VR improves the prevention of occupational hazards [11][12][13][14][15]; and (v) VR allows the students to interact with complete manufacturing processes, which would be practically impossible otherwise [16][17][18]. This paper deals with didactic virtual resources designed by means of VR systems.…”

Testing and verification through virtual product models: A survey and look ahead

“…3) Eventually pave the way for the deployment of almost entirely automated virtual verification procedures. The appearance of the new integrated tight-loop software services is timely and in line with current trends in engineering and manufacturing [23], [24], [25]. Software capable of simulating various physical phenomena (e.g., stress, heat transfer, acoustics, hydrodynamics, dynamics, durability etc. )…”

Multi-Embodiment of Digital Humans in Virtual Reality for Assisting Human-Centered Ergonomics Design

“…Pontonnier et al [36] investigated the difference between ergonomics evaluation in physical environment and VR with results suggesting that although VR is slightly inferior to physical environment, the difference is insignificant and the potential of VR is greater. VR is widely utilized in manufacture [5], industrial workstation [29] design and usability evaluation. It is also getting attention on universal design, for evaluation against a target user group [18,48].…”