Fakespace, VRCO Enable Design Teams to Work With CATIA 3D Models

Mechdyne Corporation today announced that its subsidiaries, Fakespace Systems and VRCO have delivered a large-scale virtual prototyping system to Northrop Grumman in Bethpage, New York. The stereoscopic projection display from Fakespace, and VRCO software used to add interactivity to three-dimensional (3-D) applications, makes it easy for aircraft design teams to envision and communicate complex concepts thereby helping to shorten the time required to deliver new aircraft to market. The display and software components of the prototyping system create a complete solution for advanced visualization using 3-D applications from Dassault Systemes. Fakespace developed a custom, portable projection system that displays stereoscopic images. VRCO, a Dassault Systemes’ CAAV5 development partner, provided its CDVI software (Catia Drivers for Visualization and Interaction), which enables intuitive interaction with native computer models. The transportable visualization system from Fakespace provides an interchangeable flat-screen display, so that 3-D models can be shown on an eight by six foot screen or on a four by three foot screen for use in smaller conference rooms. These large screens create a more realistic scale image, as compared to a desktop display, while stereoscopic viewing provides a realistic sense of depth that is especially useful with spatially complex designs. The system packs easily into self-contained crates for portability and sets up in about 15 minutes, enabling users to transport it to convenient locations where collaborative design decisions improve the work process and speed the delivery of new aircraft. DVI software allows engineers and designers to access advanced interaction devices while working with native CAD data, saving the time and risk of porting data to and from VR enabling viewers. In the system provided to Northrop Grumman, CDVI enables virtual wands (with six degrees of freedom manipulation and navigation) as well as user motion tracking to be used directly with Dassault Systemes V5 applications, including Catia, Enovia, and Delmia. Advanced interaction tools improve and speed design reviews since users can view and manipulate the stereoscopic virtual models in many of the same ways they would work with real physical prototypes at a fraction of the cost.