Combining physical constraints with geometric constraint-based modeling for virtual assembly

Virtual reality (VR) technology holds promise as a virtual prototyping (VP) toolfor mechanical assembly; however, several developmental challenges still need to beaddressed before virtual prototyping applications can successfully be integrated into theproduct realization process. This paper categorizes and elaborates these challenges and then describes how SHARP (System for Haptic Assembly & Realistic Prototyping), addresses them for virtual assembly. SHARP uses physics-based modeling for simulatingrealistic part-to-part and hand-to-part interactions in virtual environments. A dual handedhaptic interface is presented for realistic hand-part interaction. Additional modules are added to utilize the system to provide answers for maintenance issues, virtual training