Title: Optimising assembly planning based on virtual reality and bionic algorithm

Authors: Xia Pingjun, Yao Yingxue, Liu Jiangsheng, Li Jianguang

Addresses: School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 422, Harbin 150001, P.R. China. ' School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 422, Harbin 150001, P.R. China. ' School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 422, Harbin 150001, P.R. China. ' School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 422, Harbin 150001, P.R. China

Abstract: Virtual assembly, as a typical application of Virtual Reality (VR), provides an efficient tool to optimise assembly planning and evaluation. In this paper, a VR-based Assembly Planning and Training System (VR-APTS) is introduced. Using a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) assembly model as input, the system can output one or several good assembly sequences with the application of an intelligent bionic algorithm. Key techniques in the development of VR-APTS are discussed. A novel information decomposition and transformation method is put forward to transform data from CAD to VR, and a geometric constraint-based virtual environment is set up to support interactive assembly planning and evaluation. First, an initial optimal assembly sequence is generated by virtual disassembly and ant colony optimisation algorithm. Then, this initial sequence is evaluated by virtual assembly simulation, a more practical and optimal assembly sequence is replaned. This is an iterative process until the best assembly sequence is obtained. An application case is studied to demonstrate the basic advantages of the system for assembly planning and training.

Keywords: virtual reality; assembly planning; assembly training; data transformation; bionics; ant colony optimisation algorithm; bionic algorithms; virtual assembly.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMTM.2006.010058

International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management, 2006 Vol.9 No.3/4, pp.265 - 293

Published online: 14 Jun 2006 *

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