Real-virtual components interaction for assembly simulation and planning

Assembly motion simulation is crucial during conceptual product design to identify potential assembly issues and enhance assembly efficiency. This paper presents a novel assembly simulation system incorporating real-virtual components interaction in an augmented-reality based environment. With this system, users can manipulate and assemble virtual components to real components during assembly simulation using natural gestures through an enhanced bare-hand interface. Accurate and realistic movements of virtual components can be obtained based on constraints analysis, determination of resultant forces from contacts with real components and manipulation from the user's hands (forces and torques applied, etc.) during assembly simulation. A prototype system has been developed, and a case study of an automobile clutch was conducted to validate the effectiveness and intuitiveness of the system.