Engineers At Colorado State University Develop Virtual Reality Computer For A World Of Practical Uses
Thursday, February 5, 1998
FORT COLLINS--Engineers at Colorado State University are
developing a virtual reality computer system which will help
teach users to perform surgery, drive tanks and build better
cars.
Tom Chen and Peter Young, professors in the department of
electrical engineering at Colorado State, are developing a
computer system which combines 3-D images with a realistic sense
of touch. Chen and Young two of the few engineers in the United
States who are working to integrate the two senses in a computer
system. Their multi-sensory system will allow people in medical,
military and manufacturing fields to practice skills and build
prototypes in a realistic environment.
"An important application of this technology will be as an
educational tool," said Young. "The system will be invaluable for
teaching. It provides a low-cost way to give students an
experience that's very realistic and applies directly to real
world applications."
The multi-sensory system includes a display screen of 3-D
images and a robotic arm which becomes an extension of the user's
own hand. When the user moves the arm, a point on the computer
screen corresponds precisely to the user's movements. The user
can pick up, rotate, turn over and assemble objects with a
virtual hand. Through the robotic arm, the user can feel texture,
pressure and resistance which correspond to the 3-D on-screen
images. Sounds also will correspond to on-screen activity.
"This system lets people learn and practice dextrous skills
on a computer, then transfer the skills to real life," said Chen.
"The brain synthesizes input from all the senses when it is
learning a new skill. In order for the brain to believe what is
happening, it must have consistent input from all senses. The
more closely sight corresponds to feel, the more readily virtual
experiences will be memorized and transferred to real life."
-over-
The system is being customized with a variety of robotic
arms and images for use in many fields. Chen and Young are
working with representatives from medical schools, the United
States military, cable television companies and the auto industry
to determine special needs.
In the medical field, the system will provide a safe,
inexpensive way to practice techniques without the use of an
actual patient or cadaver. The system will assist future doctors
and nurses and allow practicing medical professionals to stay
abreast of the newest techniques. Users will be able to perform
virtual exams and virtual surgery, and tie patients back together
with virtual sutures. The technology will allow users to pick up
a virtual scalpel, perform procedures on realistic 3-D images and
feel the textures and resistance characteristic of various layers
of tissue and bone.
Doctors training for emergency field work in the military
will be able to practice treating highly traumatic wounds which
rarely are seen off the battlefield. Other military applications
for the technology include training troops to use machinery,
visualize battlefields and practice driving vehicles.
The system also will save the auto industry and other
manufacturing industries time and money. Manufacturers will be
able to build multiple prototypes on the computer screen, which
will bypass the costly process of assembling every prototype with
actual materials. Engineers will be able to evaluate each detail
down to the paint texture. Only promising prototypes will need to
be constructed with actual materials.
"The multi-sensory technology is inexpensive when compared
to the cost of building actual prototypes or using flight
simulators and cadavers," said Chen. According to Chen, software
and hardware for the system will cost about $2,000 and robotic
machinery will cost about $15,000.
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