Real-Time Interaction With Virtual Environments

Principal Investigator: Ming Lin
Funding Agency: Office of Naval Research
Agency Number: N00014-01-1-0067

Abstract
We propose to develop computational approaches to enable real-time physically-based interaction between a user and a virtual reality (VR) training system. The resulting algorithms and systems will provide capabilities of real-time collision detection and efficient physics-based modeling techniques, so that a user can interact with the virtual environment (VE) in a direct, natural and intuitive manner.

Specifically the proposed research will focus on (1) Designing interactive collision detection algorithms for large and complex virtual environments; (2) Developing fast dynamic simulation systems to generate realistic contact response; (3) Implementing physically-based VR interfaces for handling virtual contacts; (4) Performing user studies to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative feedback techniques.

The proposed research is expected to lay the scientific foundation and empirical analysis for high-quality interaction with the VEs. The resulting system should enhance perceived realism and provide a better sense of presence in an immersive virtual environment for training naval personnel.