- interfacing the world

3D Stereo Distant Learning Demonstration

There is planned a distant learning project/demonstration with a base at the San Diego State University (SDSU), CA, USA, and a two-way transfer of data and response to the conference hotel.

In 1998 the Department of Mechanical Engineering at SDSU redeveloped a series of design courses using virtual reality (VR) as a tool to integrate the concepts of design, analysis and manufacturing into the introductory engineering design curriculum.

As the seminal project of these four classes, students are required to select a machine from the world around them and reproduce it in a 3D VR model. Each of these machines has an inherent physical law that governs an aspect of its function, and students are expected to write the software governing the simplified physics based on the equations of physics.

The premise of the curriculum is that while students may learn from using software, they may learn more by writing their own software. This required the selection of easy API's for graphics and networking (networking to foster collaboration between students).

This curriculum will be demonstrated at ICEE 2001 with posters, short presentations and demos.

TO SUM UP
Demos:
  1. The reproduction of a machine center
  2. A lifting crane on a bridge
  3. Rotor ride spinning
  4. Building "response" in an earthquake
Each of them will feature:
  1. building the machine
  2. converting to the Inventor/Java format
  3. writing the program to calculate the physics
  4. write the labview control program
  5. write the visualizatation program
  6. connecting and running over the internet

In addition, the audience will also be exposed to a "techno-version" of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" - also in 3D stereo format.

This project is a result of the work of Dr. Thomas Impelluso, SDSU. Dr. Impelluso, holding a BA degree plus a Ph.D. in mechanical enginering, was one of FIE 2000 recipients of the New Faculty Fellow Award.

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