INTRODUCTION
Virtual Museum: The VRML Educational Manufacturing Museum Exhibit
![]() |
Origin of the idea
The VRML Museum Project is part of the ERC/RMS Museum Project at University of Michigan.The VRML project was conceived with the interest of informing the public about the evolution of current manufacturing systems. The primary objective of this project is to create a museum exhibit that will educate and increase awareness of the progress of manufacturing. The projects goals are to educate participants about manufacturing, expose them to the computer/technology advancements that have occurred.
How the application can be used?
The VRML Museum project is developed for display at Ann Arbor hands on Museum.
This application can also be used to educate and increase awareness of the progress of manufacturing in a class room setting.
Also the assembly room has far consequences than education purposes. It can be used for commercial purposes also. For example the customers can enter the car manufacturing website and virtually assemble their own car just as one can go and assemble their own computer at www.dell.com.
Why VR is the appropriate technology for this project?
1. Experience the simulation of manufacturing process
situations is safe and inexpensive.
2. Examine events in non real time that would otherwise
be too short or too long to see what is going on.
3. Virtual Reality presents information to users
experientially as it supports the learning process.
4. The user can explore areas that are normally
off limits to the casual visitor.
5. To provide visual representations and to facilitate
better understanding of manufacturing processes in class room setting.
6. Provides a sense of motivation
THE VRML MUSEUM ARCHITECURE
1. Production process
Showing the basic steps of production in manufacturing.
2. Assembly process
Showing the basic steps of assembly
3. Historical Imaging
Intersecting with the assembly line, it displays array of different models with
historical development
4. Game Part
Toy store in which user can Simulate the virtual automobile.
Envisioned virtual environment
· Planned geometry:
To give a user a real time experience of entering a museum we have tried to model the entrance of our museum similar to High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia.Our museum is modeled such that the front entrance gives the feeling of entering a real museum. The Museum Building has the landscaping elements like trees, people etc.

· Use of textures:
We have texture mapped the building according to our need and created our own interior spaces like atrium, individual museum rooms, doors, reception area etc. Also the texture maps on the car, the museum doors and windows, individaul components of the car such as tyres, rim, CD player, etc. in the assembly room. Imaging room has a series of walls all lined with pictures which are basically textures.


We planned how we intended to connect the different museum rooms, and provide a logical transition from one file to the next. At the entrance there is a reception desk that has buttons. By clicking the buttons the doors of the museum and the text displaying the name of the museum lights up. One can now click the doors and enter the museum.
· Animations:
Production Room: The lathe machine has sensors through which the animation of the lathe machine takes place. Also there is animation on the robot performing welding of the car in the production line.
Assembly room: The viewpoint inside the assembly room is animated to provide enhanced view during the assembly of the car.
Game Room: The car is animated from the driver's viewpoint. We have tried to animate the car which is driven by a drunken person and when a clear-headed person is driving.
Software and Hardware Used
1. Pentium IV, windows XP, 540RAM, IE explorer,
2. 3D MAX
3. FormZ
4. Cosmo player
5. VRML pad
Problems Encountered
Because, the complexity of our Museum would have totaled to too many polygons
in a single VRML file, it was necessary to divide our world into separate files
that are interlinked. Although this problem was overcome, we planned carefully
how to connect the different museum rooms, and provide a logical transition
from one file to the next. Thus, we have developed all the individual rooms
in separate files and then in lined them together with the museum file.
Another issue that arose was keeping the control panel fixed when we rotate the car in the assembly room. In spite of knowing how to make the control panel still while moving other objects through the lecture notes in the class. We had a tough time trying to implement it in our file. We made a small file and implemented it success fully but when we tried incorporating the same code in our assembly room it behaved differently.
Another issue that arose was that the modeling of both the lathe and welding
machine had to be broken down into separate objects so that they could be animated
as intended. To make the animation more realistic and smooth we had to spend
a major part of our time.
Recomendations for further improvements
Future applications of this project will include the development of a this project as a full time game with point systems where points can be gained inside the atrium and in individual museum rooms. The user will be allowed to enter the game room only when he has gained enough points from previous museum rooms.
The Production room will incorporate more machines for showing the production line.
The Assembly room will incorporate more options for choosing different cars.
The Imaging room will incorporate informative exhibition about historical and technical background with game quiz concept.
The Game room can have more interactivity to the
manufactured car like changing gears, opening the door, playing the CD player
.etc.
©2002 Museum Group, sharad@umich.edu,kraghava@umich.edu,ikaynar@umich.edu