New Approach for Digital Factory Using Virtual Reality Technology
Fahmi Bellalouna
Abstract
The digital factory represents an indispensable method for factory layout planning. Based on digital factory methods numerous tools for layout planning have been developed in the last years, which enable the space organization of the assets of a factory based on 2D/3D data. Such tools have a difficulty to show the whole layout plan and to interact and to handle with the factory assets in intuitive and realistic manner. This paper presents and discuss a VR-based approach for efficient factory planning. This approach enables fully immersion in the virtual environment represented factory and an intuitive interaction with factory equipment. Hence, the layout planning can be assessed in real time regarding e.g. efficiency of surface use, martial flow, ergonomics. The presented approach has been designed based on the many years experience of the author as digital factory engineer in the industry and based on intensive discussion with industry experts.