Experimental Study of Virtual Tools With Attributes

Abstract

Use of synthetic and surrogate tools in training robots and planning events within virtual environments has tremendous potential in making programming of complex machines simple and easy. In our research we have experimented the use of attribute laden virtual tools in various tasks such as robotic-based grinding and welding processes. Such attribute laden virtual tools aid human operators in path planning as well as in making decisions about the process itself. In this paper we have tested our concepts of virtual tools and the use of attributes such as physical, reflex and command actions. Four sets of experiments were conducted with human subjects. Two kinds of virtual tools were used in these experiments, one with guide plane attributes and the other without them. One set of experiment tested human performance using the head mounted display interface and the effect of learning process in using the virtual tool. Results showed that there was marked improvement in task execution time using the tools laden with guide plane attributes over the unencumbered virtual tools. This paper discusses various future applications of these virtual tools in manufacturing. It is observed that unlike non-haptic visual interfaces, where no physical feed back is available to the user, attribute laden tools can provide a much easier interface to robots.