Solving Boat Design Challenges with Virtual Reality

Designing a boat is like solving a 3D puzzle — every part must fit and perform.
With virtual reality, we can step inside our designs, test layouts, and solve structural challenges in real time.

Puzzle-solving in VR trains spatial thinking — a perfect match for innovative marine design.
Anyone here using VR tools in your workflow?

 

Welcome to the forum.
I've never worked with VR, but from what you've told us, we can't do anything with it that we haven't been able to do without it for years. I'm sure a more detailed explanation of what VR allows us to do will inspire us to admire it and try to use it as well. Thank you.
(And, frankly, the puzzle thing doesn't seem like the most appropriate analogy for a boat. But that's not important in this matter.)

 

The problem I have found with VR in arrangements and maintence planning is the shocking lack of fidelity of the modeled equipment and personnel, mostly done by development personnel who don't understand the neuances of the equipment and work they are modeling. We are not talking small endevors here, I've seen 3d VR modeling used by the likes of GD-EB, HII-NN and Boeing. Yes, you can maneuver that large and heavy piece of equipment out of that space with the VR controls, but not with the 36 inches bearing point to bearing point the approriate sized rachet hoist needs as well as the riggers body to work the rachet. The same with welding assembly, where the welder would have needed the strength and body shape of an orangutan a well as an air-feed coolsuit because of the pre-heat.

That is not to say the VR doesn't sell, it works very well for sponsor dog and pony shows; i.e. for those who don't know what they are looking at. Otherwise you need overview by experienced shop floor personnel, who by the time they get that experienced, can do it far faster from the 2d/3d plans than it would take to model accurately.

 

I use augmented reality all the time, using my iPhone, iPad or Mac. It requires no extra hardware or software installation at all. It just works, in realtime around the model or inside, and you can take pictures of it, or generating movies. I have hundreds of models on my phone that I can show to anybody interested in a matter of seconds. You can of course use devices like headsets too. It's a great way of presenting concepts to customers, as a small desktop model or in full scale.

 

Honestly, I wouldn't know how to distinguish between your wonderful augmented reality and the cut-and-paste trick that Windows introduced at least 40 years ago.