Augmented reality for facilitating design processes : an application to layout design

• Main Author: Poh, Yang Liang
• Other Authors: Yue Chee Yoon
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Manufacturing
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/60665
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The layout design problem has been an active research area due to its combinatorial complexity. It is an important and practical problem because of the wide range of applications in need of optimal configuration of locating components within an allocated space such that objectives can be fulfilled while satisfying spatial and performance constraints. Most of the research efforts have been devoted to developing algorithms to automate layout design. This research focuses on the application of an Augmented Reality (AR) interface in layout design. By designing the layout on-site, direct evaluation with the real surrounding can be easily made without tedious modeling. Existing resources in the factory floor can be used to set the constraints for narrowing down design alternatives for layout design. This work will allow human experts to interact with the real environment to obtain a good layout quickly through the AR interface. Trade-offs can be made to obtain an optimal arrangement that minimizes performance losses and manufacturing setup cost, and maximizes the free space for accessibility. An evaluation module which consists of layout rules is included to help the decision making process, where the effects of changes can be quickly reflected in the design. The system has been successfully implemented and tested for laying out components for a linear hydraulic actuator system.