Integrating Active Tangible Devices With a Synthetic Environment for Collaborative Engineering

Published

February 1, 2001

Author(s)

Sanford P. Ressler, Brian Antonishek, Quandou (. Wang, Afzal A. Godil

Abstract

This paper describes the creation of an environment for collaborative engineering. in which the goal is to improve the user interface by using haptic manipulation with synthetic environments. We have integrated a multi-user synthetic environment with physical robotic devices to create a work environment. These devices can move under computer control or may be manipulated directly by the user. The work environment represents objects from the application domain such as a building construction environment or manufacturing cell. Collaborating engineers can discuss object interactions, such as crane planning or building placement using this environment. A physical representation of a work environment enables the user to perform direct, tangible manipulations of the devices which are mirrored in the synthetic environment. The direct physical manipulation of robotic devices offers the users a natural and efficient method of interacting with the synthetic environment.

Proceedings Title

Web3, Symposium |||ACM

Conference Dates

February 19-22, 2001

Conference Location

Paderborn, GE

Conference Title

Web3D Symposium

Pub Type

Conferences

Download Paper

Local Download

Keywords

tangible reality, user interfaces, virtual environments, VRML

Citation

Ressler, S. , Antonishek, B. , Wang, Q. and Godil, A. (2001), Integrating Active Tangible Devices With a Synthetic Environment for Collaborative Engineering, Web3, Symposium |||ACM, Paderborn, GE, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=151503 (Accessed October 11, 2025)