What are the different realities?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Talking about worlds and realities\nsounds rather existential. Let\u2019s demystify the various concepts of virtual reality\n(VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To put it simply, today\u2019s\nengineering realms consist of two worlds, and a whole spectrum of realities.\nThe two worlds are namely:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The physical world.<\/strong>\nMade of atoms, where physical objects and people reside.<\/li>
- The digital\nworld.<\/strong> Made of bits, where avatars and virtual objects (including the\nfamous digital twin) dwell.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Add to this human\nperception, which the Business Dictionary<\/a> defines as: \u201cThe process\nby which people translate sensory impressions into a coherent and unified view\nof the world around them\u2026Perception is equated with reality for most practical\npurposes and guides human behaviour in general.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As digital and physical\nworlds overlap, the sensory impressions received by the user create his\/her\nreality. Depending on the sources of perception, a taxonomy of realities has\nbeen defined as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virtual reality: <\/strong> The user is disconnected from the physical world and fully\nimmersed in an artificial digital environment. Think of 360\u00b0 videos viewed with\nproper equipment rather than on a computer screen. (Fig. 1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/10\/VR-Image1.jpeg\")
Figure 1: Virtual reality uses computer equipment to create a 360\u00b0 video view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Augmented reality<\/strong>: The user remains in the physical world and virtual objects are\noverlaid to it. Like the Pok\u00e9mon Go game, the overlay appears and moves with\nthe physical world. (Fig. 2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/10\/AR-Image1.jpeg\")
Figure 2: An example of a digital overlay in a physical world.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Mixed reality (MR)<\/strong>: The digital and physical worlds are blended, defining a spectrum\nknown as the virtuality continuum. On the one end of the\nspectrum, virtual objects are anchored to the physical environment; these\nvirtual objects are not just overlaid but can be interacted with (Fig. 3). On\nthe other end of the spectrum, the user is fully immersed in a digital\nenvironment that is anchored to the physical world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/10\/Mixed-Reality-Image1.png\")
Figure 3: An example of how two people might view and interact with mixed reality.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n How is this going to impact the marine Industry?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here are a few examples of\nhow the marine sector can implement VR applications:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Training<\/strong>.\nWhether it is a crew learning how to deal with unexpected or hazardous situations,\nor shipyard workers learning to perform complex tasks using new machinery, an\nimmersive environment can provide a valuable practical platform where mistakes\ncan be made without the real-world costs or dangerous repercussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sales & Marketing.<\/strong> VR is a valuable tool to\nconvey concepts to potential clients or to encourage them to purchase the real\nexperience. In 2016, Carnival Corporation teamed up with AT&T and Samsung\nto launch a new type of marketing campaign<\/a> to entice consumers to\npurchase cruise packages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Communication & Collaboration.\n<\/strong>As RealityTechnologies.com<\/a> puts it: \u201cThe\nbest aspect of virtual reality, at least from the standpoint of workplace\nproductivity, is its geographical agnosticism.\u201d VR makes it easier to conduct\nmeetings regardless of location. It also allows system experts in remote\nlocations, such as oil rigs, to plug in via VR and guide a local engineer\nthrough essential repairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Design reviews.<\/strong> Using VR makes it\npossible to communicate the spatial subtleties of a design and ensure that\nexpectations are aligned early in the design process, thereby reducing the risk\nof late, costly changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
VR in the marine industry<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are several ways that VR is currently being used in the shipbuilding industry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Visualizing the digital twin of the product with a focus on the product itself.<\/strong> This capability shows its true value when it comes to reviewing a structural element before it is built. VR is an easy way to inspect the element from all angles in order to ensure it conforms to expectations. For example, Feadship<\/a> uses VR to review the piping layout, including access for the maintenance crew, during the initial design phase. Another way digital mock ups may be used is to communicate how the final design of a vessel will be like, for example showing a potential buyer what the interior of the superyacht will look and feel like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Visualizing the digital twin of the product, with a focus on the fluid flow \u2013 air or water, external or internal, service fluids or non-solid cargo.<\/strong> Prior to VR, you could see<\/em> the results as a graphical 3D projection on a 2D computer screen, as a few cleverly pulled-out charts, or as an array of numbers. VR gives you a whole new way to feel<\/em> the results. It allows you to analyze them in a way that was not possible before and gives you some insight that you might otherwise have missed. If you worked for a<\/a> passenger ship builder, for example, you could have virtually walked on the deck, sat on a lounger and feel<\/em> whether the exhaust plume might cause you any \u201csmell discomfort\u201d, bar the inconvenience of being exposed to it. (Fig. 4) Or you could swim<\/em> near the hull and propellers and see if there are any recirculation or stagnation areas that could cause a less-than-optimal performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/10\/Cruise-Ship-Image1.jpg\")
Figure 4: Simulation of how exhaust might impact passengers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n 3. Visualizing the digital twin of the process in the digital twin of the shipyard.<\/strong> This VR environment has been specifically developed for the engineering, planning, assembly and marketing of the manufacturing process. Getting immersed into a full-scale scene of the shop floor gives a better understanding of the layout and processes and helps identify issues before they actually happen saving considerable cost and time. Multi-site collaboration and communication is also facilitated, especially when teams are scattered around the globe, resulting in less travel expenses. (Fig. 5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2019\/10\/Shipyard.jpg\")
Figure 5: VR visualization of shipyard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n VR\nis still in a growth phase<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virtual reality has a long evolution in\nfront of it. Ideally, the shift would move from a dedicated room where all VR\ngear is located, which is where most adopters tend to have it currently, to having\na headset hanging in every cubicle in an engineering department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Virtual reality should be a day-to-day\nengineering tool. What you can do with a\nVR headset, in terms of checking a complex CAD assembly, to assessing the\nquality of a surface wrap or mesh refinement, to critically assessing results,\nfar surpasses what you can do today with traditional keyboard and mouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As manufacturers utilize digitalization<\/a> technology to increase productivity, VR can bring a real-world view of what the digital twin creates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The digital\nworld.<\/strong> Made of bits, where avatars and virtual objects (including the\nfamous digital twin) dwell.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n