Intro to Simulation and Virtual reality – Intro to Simulation and Virtual reality – CE00166-1CE00166-1

►An overview of VR and simulationAn overview of VR and simulation►Practical application of theoryPractical application of theory►Module Leader - Bob HobbsModule Leader - Bob Hobbs►semester 1semester 1►Core Module for VR awardCore Module for VR award

What is the structure?What is the structure?

►Shared with Engineering SchoolShared with Engineering School►1 lecture (2hrs)1 lecture (2hrs) F14F14►1 practical tutorial1 practical tutorial K102K102

How is it assessed ?How is it assessed ?

►1 phased assignment based on tutorial 1 phased assignment based on tutorial workwork

►1 written report based on project work1 written report based on project work

What topics will I cover?What topics will I cover?► Principles and types of VRPrinciples and types of VR► Simulation methodsSimulation methods► GamesGames► SoftwareSoftware► Underlying mathematical conceptsUnderlying mathematical concepts► VRMLVRML► Real time data acquisition from VR input Real time data acquisition from VR input

devicesdevices► ProjectionProjection

What is Virtual reality?What is Virtual reality?

►emulating the real worldemulating the real world►making an electronic world seem realmaking an electronic world seem real►Being able to interact with the Being able to interact with the

electronic representationelectronic representation►moving within the worldmoving within the world►manipulating objects in the worldmanipulating objects in the world

types of VRtypes of VR►desktop collaboration desktop collaboration

►video image on screenvideo image on screen►computer tools - may be web-basedcomputer tools - may be web-based►video of room/work in progressvideo of room/work in progress►see other’s work projected on your desk!see other’s work projected on your desk!

► immersive VRimmersive VR►helmet/goggles, data glovehelmet/goggles, data glove

►Augmented VRAugmented VR►VR projected onto real life environmentVR projected onto real life environment

►physical world/VR mixesphysical world/VR mixes►Interaction between VR and external Interaction between VR and external

devicedevice

VR headsetsVR headsets

►small TV screen for each eyesmall TV screen for each eye►slightly different anglesslightly different angles►3D effect3D effect

inside VRinside VR

►scenes projected on wallsscenes projected on walls►realistic environmentrealistic environment►hydraulic rams!hydraulic rams!►real controlsreal controls►other peopleother people

Curved-Screen SystemsCurved-Screen Systems

Curved-Screen SystemsCurved-Screen Systems

VR Cave VR Cave

Me in the CaveMe in the Cave

How does VR workHow does VR work

►we live in a 3D worldwe live in a 3D world

►We have developed many methods to We have developed many methods to make sense of the world around usmake sense of the world around us

►VR techniques have to try to recreate VR techniques have to try to recreate these methodsthese methods

2D images can be confusing2D images can be confusing

shadows and high lighting shadows and high lighting create the illusion of 3Dcreate the illusion of 3D

but which is closer?but which is closer?

occlusionocclusion

Blue hazing with distanceBlue hazing with distance

► look at a distant hill or buildinglook at a distant hill or building fuzzy, less contrast, bluish tingefuzzy, less contrast, bluish tinge

►scattering effect of airscattering effect of air►brains get used to it:brains get used to it:

blue objects seem further awayblue objects seem further away red ones closerred ones closer

►use in visualisation and VRuse in visualisation and VR(also used in garden design!)(also used in garden design!)

PerspectivePerspective

binocular/stereo visionbinocular/stereo vision

bigger angle = closer

Involves the sensesInvolves the senses

►sight:sight: visual realism, 3D effects: shadows, visual realism, 3D effects: shadows,

etc.,etc.,

►sound:sound: surround sound, sub-seat woofers etc.surround sound, sub-seat woofers etc.

►touch:touch: feedback from(and to) touch-sensitive feedback from(and to) touch-sensitive

glovesgloves

Hurricane trackingHurricane tracking

Real world simulatorsReal world simulators

SimfactorySimfactory

VRML file formatVRML file format

►filename (URL) ends ".wrl”filename (URL) ends ".wrl” c.f. .html, .gif, .jpg etc.c.f. .html, .gif, .jpg etc.

►VRML 1.0 first line: VRML 1.0 first line: #vrml 1.0 ascii#vrml 1.0 ascii

►VRML 2.0 first line: VRML 2.0 first line: #vrml 2.0 utf8#vrml 2.0 utf8

►can have binary versions too can have binary versions too

contents of VRML filecontents of VRML file

►one or more nodesone or more nodes general formatgeneral format

DEF object objecttype {DEF object objecttype { fieldname value fieldname value . . . . . . } }

or simply:or simply: objecttype {objecttype { fieldname value fieldname value . . . . . . } }

spheresphere

#VRML V1.0 ascii

Sphere { radius 1}

add colouradd colour

#VRML V1.0 ascii

Separator { # groups things together Material { diffuseColor 1.0 0 0 # red green blue } Sphere { radius 1 }}

a conea cone

#VRML V1.0 ascii

Separator { Material { diffuseColor 0 0 1 # bright blue } Cone { height 3 }}

put them together ...put them together ...

#VRML V1.0 ascii

Separator { Separator { # for sphere Texture2 { filename "big_alan.jpg" } Sphere { radius 1 } } Separator { # for cone Material { diffuseColor 0 0 1 # bright blue } Cone { height 3 } }}

applicationsapplications

►SimulationSimulation►LearningLearning►Modeling BehaviorModeling Behavior►GamesGames

CrumbsCrumbs

Optical TomographyOptical Tomography

David BradyElectrical and Computer Engineering

UIUC

ArgusArgus

ArgusArgus►64 cameras in 14’ diameter, 8’ tall 64 cameras in 14’ diameter, 8’ tall

cylindercylinder►32 node dual processor Beowulf Linux 32 node dual processor Beowulf Linux

clustercluster►Cameras acquire 64 images in parallel Cameras acquire 64 images in parallel

at 60 Hz, synchronized and calibratedat 60 Hz, synchronized and calibrated►Computed data includesComputed data includes

3D computed tomography data volumes3D computed tomography data volumes Stereo pairs computed for any viewpoint in Stereo pairs computed for any viewpoint in

volumevolume►Storing images on disk allows control Storing images on disk allows control

over time dimensionover time dimension

Argus in ActionArgus in Action

TVR TVR