Collaborative Augmented Reality System for True Scale CAD Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional CAD systems are limited in allowing users to accurately visualize and manipulate large mechanical structures in a collaborative and immersive environment, as they rely on static displays that fail to provide true scale and effective collaboration among users.
Innovation Solution
A collaborative augmented reality system that loads and renders complex CAD models in a shared physical space, enabling real-time interaction and manipulation through hand-gesture based interfaces, with features like gaze cursors, menu minimization, and obstruction avoidance to facilitate intuitive and efficient collaboration among multiple users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional CAD systems use static physical display devices to render models, then the system structure is simple and easy to operate, but the ability to accurately visualize large mechanical structures at true scale is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical display systems (monitors, physical devices) with an augmented reality system that projects virtual CAD models into the user's physical field of view. This substitution enables true-scale visualization of large mechanical structures by overlaying digital models onto the real world, eliminating the limitations of static displays while maintaining ease of operation through natural hand-gesture interactions.
2Ease of operation
If traditional CAD systems use cursor control devices for model manipulation, then the interface is simple, but the learning curve is steep and collaboration among users is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces cursor control devices (mice, styluses) with hand-gesture-based control in an augmented reality environment. This allows users to manipulate CAD models using natural hand movements in three-dimensional space, eliminating the steep learning curve associated with traditional cursor-based interfaces while enabling intuitive and immediate model manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The augmented reality system provides a universal interface that works for all users regardless of their familiarity with traditional CAD tools. Hand-gesture controls are naturally understood by all users, enabling seamless collaboration among multiple users with diverse backgrounds, while the shared three-dimensional view allows real-time collaborative manipulation and discussion.
3Measurement precision
If traditional CAD systems render models on static displays, then the display device is simple, but the ability to provide true scale and immersive visualization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional static display to three-dimensional augmented reality visualization. By rendering CAD models in the user's physical field of view with accurate scaling, the system provides true-scale representation of large mechanical structures, allowing users to perceive depth, size, and spatial relationships as they would in the physical world, thereby eliminating the limitations of flat displays.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional CAD systems lack collaborative features, then the system structure is simple, but the ability for users to work together on models is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The augmented reality CAD system provides a universal collaborative platform where multiple users can simultaneously view and manipulate the same model in their shared physical environment. The system supports real-time synchronization of user actions, allowing teams to collaborate effectively on design reviews, problem-solving, and decision-making, thereby transforming the system from a individual tool to a collaborative workspace.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system control navigation of a 3D CAD model in an augmented reality space. The 3D CAD model is rendered and appears as if the 3D CAD model is present in a physical space at true scale. A constrained translate or rotation mode is activated. In response to the activating, an axis triad is rendered. For translate, the axis triad is three lines extending from a point in each principal axis direction, and division markers are displayed along the lines at predefined division distances. One of the division markers is selected and the model is moved the predefined division distance of the selected division marker along the first line. For rotation, the axis triad is three perpendicular rings, and upon selecting one of the rings, an input gesture causes the model to rotate around the selected axis in the direction of the input gesture.