Intuitive and precise solid modeling in a virtual reality environment

Abstract

This chapter presents an efficient approach for solid modeling in a Virtual Reality (VR) environment. A hierarchically structured constraint-based data model is developed to support solid modeling in the VR environment. Solid modeling in the VR environment is precisely performed in an intuitive manner through constraint-based manipulations. Constraint-based manipulations are accompanied with automatic constraint recognition and precise constraint satisfaction to establish the hierarchically structured constraint based data model and are realized by allowable motions for precise 3D interactions in the VR environment. The allowable motions are represented as a mathematical matrix for conveniently deriving allowable motions from constraints. A procedure-based decree-of-freedom incorporation approach for 3Dconstraint solving is presented for deriving the allowable motions. A rule-based constraint recognition engine is developed for both constraint-based manipulations and implicitly incorporating constraints into the VR environment.