Virtual Bill of Materials for 3D Scene Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for generating three-dimensional (3D) images from CAD data are inefficient due to manual editing and lack of reference management, leading to tedious and error-prone workflows, especially when dealing with complex products comprising thousands of CAD parts that frequently change.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that organize 3D scene data as a list of references to virtual reality components, utilizing a Virtual Bill of Materials (VBOM) structure similar to an Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM), allowing for automated updates and management of changes, and enriching the data with visualization elements like light sources, looks, and animations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual editing and reference management are used to generate 3D images from CAD data, then flexibility in customization is improved, but productivity and ease of operation deteriorate due to tedious and error-prone workflows
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a Virtual Bill of Materials (VBOM) that copies the hierarchical structure and component references from the Engineering Bill of Materials (EBOM). This automatic copying mechanism allows 3D scene components to be generated systematically from CAD data without manual recreation, maintaining flexibility while eliminating tedious manual editing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The VBOM structure enables self-service automation where the system automatically manages references, updates, and synchronizations between EBOM and 3D scene data. Change detection mechanisms automatically identify modifications in EBOM and propagate them to the 3D scene without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving productivity while preserving customization capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If manual editing is used to manage 3D scene components, then ease of operation is improved for complex customizations, but loss of time increases due to tedious workflows
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the VBOM structure with all necessary references and relationships before the actual 3D scene generation. This preliminary organization of data allows subsequent operations to proceed automatically without time-consuming manual setup, while still enabling easy customization when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The change detection mechanism provides continuous feedback between EBOM modifications and the 3D scene. When changes are detected in the EBOM, the system automatically propagates these changes to the corresponding 3D components, eliminating the need for manual updates and significantly reducing the time required to maintain synchronization while preserving ease of operation for complex customizations.
3Productivity
If reference management systems are implemented to organize 3D scene data, then productivity is improved through automated updates, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The VBOM structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a reference management system, a data organization framework, a change detection mechanism, and a synchronization coordinator. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single unified structure, improving productivity while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The VBOM acts as an intermediary layer between the EBOM and the 3D scene components. This intermediary structure manages the complexity of reference relationships and change propagation, enabling automated updates and synchronization without requiring direct complex interactions between EBOM and 3D systems, thereby improving productivity while containing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating three-dimensional image data including accessing, using one or more processors, a first set of data from a database, the first set of data relating to an electronic bill of materials of a product, generating, using one or more processors, a second set of data based on the first set of data that relates to a three-dimensional image of the product, enriching, using one or more processors, the second set of data with a third set of data, the third set of data relating to image information added to the three-dimensional image of the product, and storing, using one or more processors, the enriched second set of data in the database.