Virtual Environments for Manufacturing And Training (VEMAT)

1. Virtual Environments for Manufacturing And Training (VEMAT) By Tan Hock Soon On Behalf of Shen Shuang Yang Mr Zhou Hong Tan Kim Cheng

2. Acknowledgement APEC TEL for funding this research under the project title VEMAT (05/2001).

3. Outline • Introduction • Shortage of manpower, facilities • Concept of sharing • Literature Review • Increasing trend of collaboration in manufacturing • Increasing trend of virtual technologies in education • Findings • Conceptual Framework • Prototype Selection • Clustering • Software • Application Framework (Video) • Tests • Concluding Discussion • Q & A

4. What about expensive equipment? 1. Introduction • In education, we recognized that there is often a shortage of: • Experienced/qualified teachers • Equipment, especially specialized laboratory equipment • We can try to alleviate the problem of shortage of teachers by sharing them (or their knowledge) in different ways: • Digitize their knowledge (in courseware, video, etc.) • Allow synchronous lessons to be conducted using video conferencing

5. 1. Introduction • Contemplate the networked laser printer • By sharing it, its effectiveness has increased, more users benefit from the connection

6. 1. Introduction • Could the same approach be taken for even more expensive equipment? • Could the idea of “sharing” be taken further? • What would be the likely mechanism? • How does this help education?

7. 2. Literature Review • Internet-enabled distributed systems (Bailey 1995, Tay et. al. 2001) • Portals for virtual manufacturing (www.i-msc.com) • Equipment and machines gravitating towards Internet integrated technology, modular and commercially available parts (Tan & Chu 2000, Tan & Lee 1999) Increasing trend of collaboration in manufacturing

8. 2. Literature Review • Empirical data on transfer of skills from virtual environments to real world in terms of instructional effectiveness (Moshell et. al. 1993, Tan & Ward 1998) • Potential of VEs in education & training (Youngblut 1997, Francis & Tan 1999) • Simulators & on-line laboratories (Tan 2000, Tan & Chu 2000) Increasing trend of virtual technologies in education

9. 2. Literature Review Findings • Very possible that certain categories of equipment/machines could be shared • Some equipment already have built-in capabilities for connection to a network • Very possible to retrofit equipment at low cost using standard components • Resource-sharing concept is feasible • Possible to create simulations for on-line training

10. 3. Conceptual Framework • Equipment Selection • Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) Machine, a type of Rapid Prototyping (RP) Machine • Set-up involved relatively few steps that can be easily controlled remotely • Operation time was long, ranging from a few hours to days • Machine and Process is expensive • Machine is controlled by a microprocessor that had easy means of communicating with external world through ACL (Automove Control Language)

11. Other Nodes AXIS Video Server RP machinecluster Database Server FDM Machine Cluster Controller FDM Server VEMAT prototype node Other Clusters Portal Broadband Connection Remote Clients 3. Conceptual Framework Clustering of Equipment

12. 3. Conceptual Framework Software

13. 3. Conceptual Framework • TS (Terminal Service) • ASP (Active Server Pages) • MSDE (Microsoft SQL Desktop Engine) • ADO (ActiveX Data Object) • ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) • DHTML (Dynamic HTML) / CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) / Javascript • ACL (Automove Control Language) • Visual Basic • Route and Remote Access Service • Windows Media Service

14. 3. Conceptual Framework Application Framework – Application in Biomedical Engineering This software is used to process CT/MRI scans to 3D Models and finally to STL files Manufacturing process RAW FILES STL FILE SML FILE CT/MRI SCAN FILES VELOCITY2 PRO INSIGHT FDM 3000 MODEL CLIENT This software is used to process STL 3D model for manufacturing purpose, which includes slicing, support building and tool-path computation. The output file is in SML format – ACL codes read by FDM 3000 RP machine Desired part

15. 3. Conceptual Framework Remote Access Web Portal Scheduler Live Webcam Training

16. 3. Demonstration – Video Clip

17. Tests Conducted • Aug 2002 Beijing • Trial with CERNET • Aug 2002 Shanghai • A live demonstration was performed, which tested the stability and efficiency of the VEMAT system. The bandwidth of the remote user is 2Mbps, which is sufficient for both remote access and high-quality live video stream transmission. Up to this point, the first phase of VEMAT is closed with satisfactory results. • Oct 2002 Internal Tests for Phase 2 • Use of new methodology. • Nov 2002 Final Tests • During this period, VEMAT was tested from various remote IP addresses all over the world. This was achieved by using public SOCKS5 proxies and SocksCAP from Networking Systems Laboratory, NEC USA, Inc. VEMAT was tested fully functional up to this point of time. Some minor changes to the user interface were made to make the system more user-friendly. • Dec 2002 Evaluation by APEC TEL and IDA • Dec 2002 User Tests from BIOMAT Lab • Mar 2002 Acceptance by APEC TEL and IDA

18. 4. Discussion and Conclusion • Sharing of resources between institutions allow costs to be minimized; equipment to be fully utilized • Provide service to educational and research community - reducing the development cost and time • Collaboration allows learners to gain international perspectives by working with people from other country • Courseware allows users to practise; be familiar with the system • Convert CT/MRI images and fabricate models for biomedical and tissue engineering applications

19. Questions? Thank You! http://vemat.tp.edu.sg http://cvd.tp.edu.sg

20. VNC Terminal Service Service concept Protocol Efficiency Security Expandabe Customizable Remote control RFB Low Poor No No Application service RDP High Good Yes Yes R&D - TS and VNC

21. R&D – VEMAT Kernel Service • Security Considerations: • Hide “Start” button • Hide tray icons • No right-click • VEMAT interface maintains on background