Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionsanlagen und Konstruktionstechnik IPK

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  • Publication
    How Pedestrians Perceive Autonomous Buses: Evaluating Visual Signals
    ( 2021)
    Brandenburg, Elisabeth
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    Kozachek, Diana
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    Konkol, Kathrin
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    Woelfel, Christiane
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    Geiger, Andreas
    ;
    Stark, Rainer
    With the deployment of autonomous buses, sophisticated technological systems are entering our daily lives and their signals are becoming a crucial factor in human-machine interaction. The successful implementation of visual signals requires a well-researched human-centred design as a key component for the new transportation system. The autonomous vehicle we investigated in this study uses a variety of these: Icons, LED panels and text. We conducted a user study with 45 participants in a virtual reality environment in which four recurring communication scenarios between an autonomous driving bus and its potential passengers had to be correctly interpreted. For our four scenarios, efficiency and comprehension of each visual signal combination was measured to evaluate performance on different types of visual information. The results show that new visualization concepts such as LED panels lead to highly variable efficiency and comprehension, while text or icons were well ac cepted. In summary, the authors of this paper present the most efficient combinations of visual signals for four reality scenarios.
  • Publication
    Natural Virtual Reality User Interface to Define Assembly Sequences for Digital Human Models
    ( 2020)
    Geiger, Andreas
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    Brandenburg, Elisabeth
    ;
    Stark, Rainer
    Digital human models (DHMs) are virtual representations of human beings. They are used to conduct, among other things, ergonomic assessments in factory layout planning. DHM software tools are challenging in their use and thus require a high amount of training for engineers. In this paper, we present a virtual reality (VR) application that enables engineers to work with DHMs easily. Since VR systems with head-mounted displays (HMDs) are less expensive than CAVE systems, HMDs can be integrated more extensively into the product development process. Our application provides a reality-based interface and allows users to conduct an assembly task in VR and thus to manipulate the virtual scene with their real hands. These manipulations are used as input for the DHM to simulate, on that basis, human ergonomics. Therefore, we introduce a software and hardware architecture, the VATS (virtual action tracking system). This paper furthermore presents the results of a user study in which the VATS was compared to the existing WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menus and Pointer) interface. The results show that the VATS system enables users to conduct tasks in a significantly faster way.
  • Publication
    Haptic Interaction in Virtual Reality Environments for Manual Assembly Validation
    ( 2020)
    Kind, Simon
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    Geiger, Andreas
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    Kießling, Nora
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    Schmitz, Michael
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    Stark, Rainer
    Based on an increased level of product complexity in product development processes new technologies and validation approaches are researched and applied in industry to validate assembly processes. Especially technologies that are focusing on Mixed or Virtual Reality environments are getting very popular in the field of assembly validation, because of a huge potential to reduce the necessary number of physical prototypes. Therefore costs and time within product integration phase can be saved. These technologies can provide a high level of immersion for pick-and place or assembly tasks and allow a scale 1:1 interaction with the future product or production system. Still plenty of limitations for a complete substitution of physical prototypes exist due to the lack of physical and haptic behavior of these virtual prototypes. Within this paper, a development method and applications for haptic interaction with force-feedback devices for assembly validation is presented. Focusing especially on the development process of a mixed prototype with virtual and physical elements, so called hybrid prototypes, a hard- and software framework is presented. Nowadays virtual assembly methods for Virtual Reality and computer haptics are still based on a high level of expertise in providing technology and testbeds. To keep a high level of flexibility regarding virtual validation models, easily applicable procedures for modelling, im-/exporting and configuration of the prototype are needed for a virtual assembly use case. In this paper, a new and connected processing pipeline is presented that describes and guides a non-expert user from CAD environment to the implementation and configuration of prototypes for haptic interaction.
  • Publication
    Visual feedback for grasping in virtual reality environments for an interface to instruct digital human models
    ( 2018)
    Geiger, Andreas
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    Bewersdorf, Imke
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    Brandenburg, Elisabeth
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    Stark, Rainer
    Digital Human Models (DHMs) are widely used in big industry whereas they are not used in small and medium-sized enterprises. One of the main reasons is the complexity and usability. Engineers need a notable amount of training to be able to use DHM software. The authors suggest a new interactive Virtual Reality (VR) interface to instruct DHMs. Within this VR environment, engineers can naturally interact with virtual objects using their hands. These interactions are used as an instruction for DHMs. To support the software user best it is necessary to provide feedback to be able to grasp the virtual object most efficiently. In this work we present a user study in which we investigate which visual feedback leads to the best performance for grasping virtual objects. The results show that users are supported most when additional Hand Color Feedback is provided in the VR environment.
  • Publication
    Kognitive Modelle zur virtuellen Absicherung der mentalen Belastung bei Montagetätigkeiten
    ( 2017)
    Brandenburg, Elisabeth
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    Döllinger, Nina
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    Geiger, Andreas
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    Stark, Rainer
    To conduct ergonomic assessments of assembly stations, various methods and tools, especially digital human models, are available. These models are used to evaluate physiological criterias of handling assembly parts, tools and assembly processes. A missing criteria is the human factor on the metal side. The cognitive workload of the assembly worker is an additional criteria to evaluate its workplace. Therefore a method is necessary to evaluate the cog-nitive workload of an assembly task, too. To reach this goal we use cognitive models. These models descripe human cognitive information processing. We implemented such models for the assambly task and connected it to a digital human model. This combination allows an estimation of the mental workload of an specific assembly task.
  • Publication
    Instruction of digital human models through interaction in immersive virtual environments
    ( 2016)
    Geiger, Andreas
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    Brandenburg, Elisabeth
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    Stark, Rainer
    The use of digital human models is nowadays complex and needs specific knowledge due to its complex user interface. This paper presents a possible approach to instruct digital human models in virtual reality environments. In order to instruct a digital human model we use hand and finger tracking technology to detect virtual grasps. These virtual grasps are used to instruct the digital human model. Furthermore this paper suggests and presents an architecture with a data exchange file format for the communication between digital human models, virtual reality and hand tracking.