An Interactive Virtual Training System for Assembly and Disassembly Based on Precedence Constraints

Compared with traditional training modes of assembly/disassembly, the virtual environment has advantages for enhancing the training quality, saving training resources, and breaking restrictions on training equipment and place. In order to balance the training quality, experience quality, and especially training costs, an interactive virtual training system for assembly and disassembly is discussed in this paper. The training is based on assembly precedence constraints among assembly paths. Also, the developer interface and the user interface are both provided for facilitation of the management, development, and modification of training contents. Two important modes of user interfaces are provided and based on immersive virtual reality (VR) devices and conventional desktop devices (the computer screen, keyboard, and mouse) for different economic conditions. Meanwhile, to improve the development efficiency of the training contents, the system is programmed as a software development kit providing the developer interface with parameter-input fields for Unity3d the virtual simulation engine. Finally, two subjective evaluation experiments are conducted to evaluate the usability in the training experience of interaction and precedence constraints via the desktop interface, and explore the difference of usability in the training experience between immersive VR environment and desktop environment provided by the training system.