ITR: (ASE+NHS+ECS)-(int+dmc+sim): Generation of Complex Environmental Flow Patterns for Virtual Environments

ITR：（ASE NHS ECS）-（int dmc sim）：为虚拟环境生成复杂的环境流模式

• 批准号: 0428856
• 负责人: John Hollerbach
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Utah
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-10-01 至 2010-09-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0428856&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: ITR; ASE+NHS+ECS; int+dmc+sim; Generation; Complex

A goal of virtual reality is the simulation of the physical world and convincing displays of the simulation. Although progress has been made in developing visual, auditory, and haptic displays, virtual environments are still generally unconvincing. One hypothesis is that a totality of sensory effects is necessary to create a realistic sense of immersion, including atmospheric effects such as wind, smell, and radiance, yet there has been little systematic research on incorporating such effects. In this project, the PI and his team will create the Treadport Active Wind Tunnel (TPAWT), a 3D wind display enhancement for the Treadport locomotion interface, which comprises a large tilting treadmill, a CAVE-like visual display, and an active mechanical tether attached to the torso. Taking into account geometrical constraints such as the presence of frontal screens, a system of controlled directional vents will be placed around a user. Air will be discharged from the vents using a dedicated programmable air-handling unit. Flows will be precisely mixed, based on model reduction techniques, and controlled to produce a sensation of wind from any direction and up to speeds of 20 mph. Nonlinear feedback controllers will be devised to sense and regulate airflow near a user. Odors and chemicals will be displayed to users by injection into the airflow system, while infrared lamps arrayed in the ceiling will generate radiant heat. The PI expects the integration of 3D wind and olfactory capabilities into the existing Treadport system to reinforce the graphical, auditory and locomotion effects will result in a new degree of realism in the immersive virtual reality interface. To test out and fine-tune the system, wind generation will be incorporated into an urban virtual environment, which includes pedestrians and cars generating noises and smells. The simulation of the magnitude and direction of the wind, as well as the dispersion of odors or air-borne chemicals, will be based on the QUIC (Quick Urban & Industrial Complex) dispersion modeling system, which provides fast simulation of the flow field around buildings and the concentration fields of chemical plumes. One experimental application will relate to developing methods for tracing the source of noxious chemicals released into the environment. With a real-time wind and plume dispersion simulation, response and training scenarios can be developed. Small mobile robots with chemical sensors can be placed on the treadmill to track plumes using algorithms that take into account wind direction, wind speed and local concentrations.Broader Impacts. The generation of 3D airflow is a new research topic, which will allow realistic wind and olfactory displays for virtual environments, and offer an alternative to traditional wind tunnels by placing airflow at a local region of interest without immersing a whole structure, and by simulating meandering wind. By simulating plume dispersion of chemicals around city structures, training and emergency response scenarios can be developed for the release of chemical agents into the atmosphere. The research adds fluid mechanics and control to the already highly interdisciplinary Treadport project that also includes psychology, biomechanics, robotics, and computer graphics, and will result in the training of a sizable number of graduate students competent to conduct interdisciplinary research.

虚拟现实的一个目标是模拟物理世界和令人信服的模拟显示。尽管在开发视觉，听觉和触觉显示方面取得了进展，但虚拟环境通常仍然令人信服。一种假设是，对于创造一种现实的沉浸感，包括大气，气味和辐射等大气效应，必须进行整体感觉效应，但是对于结合这种影响，几乎没有系统的研究。 在这个项目中，PI和他的团队将创建踏板活动风隧道（TPAWT），这是踏板运动界面的3D风显示器增强功能，其中包括一个大的倾斜跑步机，一个洞穴式的视觉显示，以及与Torso相连的活动机械螺旋。 考虑到几何约束，例如额叶屏幕的存在，将在用户周围放置一个控制的方向通风孔系统。 空气将使用专用的可编程空气处理单元从通风孔排出。 基于模型还原技术，流将精确混合，并受到控制，从任何方向和速度达到20 mph的速度。 非线性反馈控制器将被设计为感知和调节用户附近的气流。 气味和化学物质将通过注入气流系统向用户展示，而天花板上排列的红外灯会产生辐射热。 PI期望将3D风和嗅觉功能集成到现有的踏板系统中，以加强图形，听觉和运动效应，将在沉浸式虚拟现实界面中产生新的现实主义。 为了测试和微调系统，将风力发电融入城市虚拟环境中，其中包括行人和汽车产生噪音和气味。 风的大小和方向的模拟以及气味或空气化学物质的分散体将基于Quic（快速的城市和工业复合物）分散建模系统，该系统可快速模拟建筑物周围的流场和化学羽毛浓度场。 一种实验应用将与开发追踪释放到环境的有害化学物质来源的方法有关。 有了实时的风和羽流量模拟，可以开发响应和训练场景。 带有化学传感器的小型移动机器人可以使用跑步机上放置，以使用考虑风向，风速和局部浓度的算法跟踪羽毛。 3D气流的产生是一个新的研究主题，它将允许为虚拟环境提供逼真的风和嗅觉显示器，并通过将气流放置在关注的地方而不沉浸整个结构并模拟曲折的风中，为传统风隧道提供替代方案。 通过模拟城市结构周围的化学物质的羽状分散，可以开发培训和紧急响应情景，以释放化学剂进入大气中。 该研究将流体力学和控制添加到已经高度跨学科的踏板项目中，该项目还包括心理学，生物力学，机器人技术和计算机图形，并将导致培训大量有能力进行跨学科研究的研究生。