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The Application of VR in the Training of Power System
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com
Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 473 – 476
2012 International Conference on Future Electrical Power and Energy Systems
The Application of VR in the Training of Power System Cao FuYi1,Li Bo2,Wang Xiangfeng1 1
Department of technology Services Shenyang Institute of Engineering Shenyang, China 2 Deparment of Information Engineering Shenyang Institute of Engineering Shenyang, China [email protected] [email protected],[email protected]
Abstract In order to improve the operating skills, the workers in power factory should do more and more practices. But it is impossible in reality, because the power system need to run normally and not allow mistakes. So the best way to train workers is to do practice in virtual reality. This article shows a way to develop a VR system by VRML, which is easy to program and convent for use. 2011 Published Publishedby byElsevier ElsevierLtd. Ltd.Selection Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of [name organizer] © 2012 and/or peer-review under responsibility of Hainan University. Keywords:VR, VRML, power System
1. Introduction With the development of electronic power system, the scale of power factory has become larger and larger; the operation in power factory has become more and more complex. So it is necessary for the workers in power factory to have more knowledge about how to control the power system. Because of the specialties of electronic power system, it is impossible for the workers in power factory to practice their operating skills on the real machines. Then how to train the workers? The best way to solve the problem is VR (Virtual Reality). People used to build fake equipment as real ones, and the workers operate on the fake hardware just as they are operating on real equipment. Through this way, the worker can improve their operating skills efficiently. But there are deadly disadvantages in this way to train the workers. The hardware in power factory changes every day. And if the real hardware were changed, the simulator should be changed also. But the fact is that it is very difficult to change the simulator because the simulator is hardware too. To change the hardware in use always means to rebuild the hardware. So to train workers by hardware simulator has a very high cost for maintenance. At present day, most of the trainings for power factory workers are trained on computers by VR. ̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣ Fund Project: Liaoning Education Department research project grants (2009S071)
1876-6102 © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Hainan University. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2012.02.123
474
Cao FuYi et al. / Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 473 – 476
The virtual reality is the new technology which appears these years. The 3D environment is built on computers just like the real world by VR. In the 3D environment, the users can touch or use the virtual machines just like they are operating the real machines. The results of operating the virtual machines are just like operating real ones. The biggest advantage of VR on computer is that it doesn’t need any other hardware but computers, and it is convenient for the developers to improve the VR system without change any hardware. The power factory workers always enhance their skills by this way. 2. The Use of VRML 2.1 Why VRML There are several ways to implements virtual reality. In the past, most of the VR systems are developed by OpenGL 3D or Direct 3D. it is a good way to implements 3D environment, but it needs good programmers to program, in other words, the cost is very high. What is worse, it is difficult to implement the online VR. That’s just what VRML is good at. 2.2 VRML’ Ablility VRML appears in 1994, which is a program language about 3D and interactive environment. VRML is a description language just like HTML which is based on ASCII. The program written by VRML is born to have the ability to running in internet. Many popular technologies such as database tech, multimedia tech, and others can be used in VRML, so many effects can be created by VRML. And, in order to enhance the ability to interactive, VRML support java, which can be used to program in OOP (Object Oriented Programming). In the 3D environment created by VRML, it is very convenient for users to interactive with VR, and it is can be used by the workers anywhere can use the internet, it is not necessary for users to arrive at a special place to use a PC which has VR installed as they did before.
Figure 1.
the VRML project structure
The VR developed by VRML can be used in a VRML supported explorer such as Live3D, Cosmo player, Viscape and so on which can be downloaded from internet. After the VRML supported explorer installed, the files which the names suffixed with ‘.wrl’ could be open in the internet explorer, and the 3D interactive environment will be appeared. 2.3 Steps to develop the VR The most important concept in VRML is node. Node is the basis unit to compound a scene. A scene is a 3D environment the workers use. A node has its own name, own events, own type and something else.
Cao FuYi et al. / Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 473 – 476
To design proper node is the most important woke for a programmer in some content. The VRML can be programmed in a txt file, it is easy to program but not convenient. VRML has some functions for drawing in 3D space. The programmer can draw lines, rectangles, arcs in the 3D space. For example, the code below shows how to draw a rectangle in 3D space. Shape { geometry Box { size 6 3 2 translation 5 8 9 } } This section of code draw a rectangle with a length 6, width 2 and height 2, and its position is 5 in x axis, 8 in y axis and 9 in z axis in the virtual space. it is easy, isn’t it? But it is difficult for the developers to draw a complex device which looks like the real ones and will be used to train the workers. So the developers need a proper IDE to help to draw the virtual devices. And the software called ISB, 3DMAX, CosmoWorld and so on can do that. The virtual devices can be drawn in these software first, then be import to the VRML project and used again. In this way, the VRML show its great compatibility to other software. We draw any devices we need in the simulate system. As shown in figure 2, it is a work station used in command room. And a switch and 2 dial plates are shown in figure 3. They look just like the real devices.
Figure 2.
The simulated work station
Figure 3.
The simulated switch and dial plate
475
476
Cao FuYi et al. / Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 473 – 476
The next step for the programmers to do is magic control. That is how to make the virtual devices in 3D environment could work as a real power system. Most parts of the job can be done by java in inline nodes. VRML support man APIs for JAVA. JAVA project can access or transfer VRML data. In this way, there could be interactive in JAVA and VRML. The logic control can be written in pure java language in one file. And it could be link into the VRML project by the Script nodes in inline nodes and it is very easy just by the ‘url’ field. The ‘eventIn’ field and the ‘eventOut’ field in VRML describe the input and output events. The ‘route to’ key words describe which object the event will be sent to. Those are exactly the technologies we need to develop the VR of power system. It seems not difficult and complex. Easy said than done. It takes our team more than 2 years to develop the system. Now the VR system is under testing, and it runs normally by now. it is expected that the VR system can be used in real training activities in the near future. 3. Conclusion The VR simulator system described in this article is based on B/S model, which means the trainer can be trained in any places where can access the simulator. Compare with the formal training manners, it is more convenient and can save a large amount of travel fees. Though the simulator system is not perfect now, it still leads to a new direction that will be cheaper and more convenient.
References [1]
Wang Cw, Gao Wen and Wang Xr, “the Theory and Apllication of Virtual Reality”, Tsinghua University press, 1996.
[2]
M.S. Miller, D.M. Clawson, M.M. Sebrechts, B.A. Knott, Interface design for inducing and assessing immersion in virtual reality, in: Proceedings ofthe CHI 98 Summary Conference on CHI 98 Summary: Human Factors inComputing Systems, 1998, p. 343
[3]
S. Weghorst, Virtual reality applications in health care, in: Proceedings of the CHI 98 Summary Conference on CHI 98
[4]
Low H, Lapsley D. Optimization Flow Control -ĉ: Basic Algorithm and Convergence. IEEE/ACM Trans. on
[5]
Shimoda, H., Ishii, H. Wu, W. etc., A basic study on virtual collaborator as an innovative human-machine interface in
Summary: Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1998, p. 375. Networking, 1999,7(6) ˖861-874 distributed virtual environment: the prototype system and its implication for industrial application, Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 1999. IEEE SMC ‘99 Conference Proceedings. 1999 IEEE International Conference on, Volume:5 , 1999, Page(s): 697 ̢702 vol.5.
Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 473 – 476
2012 International Conference on Future Electrical Power and Energy Systems
The Application of VR in the Training of Power System Cao FuYi1,Li Bo2,Wang Xiangfeng1 1
Department of technology Services Shenyang Institute of Engineering Shenyang, China 2 Deparment of Information Engineering Shenyang Institute of Engineering Shenyang, China [email protected] [email protected],[email protected]
Abstract In order to improve the operating skills, the workers in power factory should do more and more practices. But it is impossible in reality, because the power system need to run normally and not allow mistakes. So the best way to train workers is to do practice in virtual reality. This article shows a way to develop a VR system by VRML, which is easy to program and convent for use. 2011 Published Publishedby byElsevier ElsevierLtd. Ltd.Selection Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of [name organizer] © 2012 and/or peer-review under responsibility of Hainan University. Keywords:VR, VRML, power System
1. Introduction With the development of electronic power system, the scale of power factory has become larger and larger; the operation in power factory has become more and more complex. So it is necessary for the workers in power factory to have more knowledge about how to control the power system. Because of the specialties of electronic power system, it is impossible for the workers in power factory to practice their operating skills on the real machines. Then how to train the workers? The best way to solve the problem is VR (Virtual Reality). People used to build fake equipment as real ones, and the workers operate on the fake hardware just as they are operating on real equipment. Through this way, the worker can improve their operating skills efficiently. But there are deadly disadvantages in this way to train the workers. The hardware in power factory changes every day. And if the real hardware were changed, the simulator should be changed also. But the fact is that it is very difficult to change the simulator because the simulator is hardware too. To change the hardware in use always means to rebuild the hardware. So to train workers by hardware simulator has a very high cost for maintenance. At present day, most of the trainings for power factory workers are trained on computers by VR. ̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣̣ Fund Project: Liaoning Education Department research project grants (2009S071)
1876-6102 © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Hainan University. doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2012.02.123
474
Cao FuYi et al. / Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 473 – 476
The virtual reality is the new technology which appears these years. The 3D environment is built on computers just like the real world by VR. In the 3D environment, the users can touch or use the virtual machines just like they are operating the real machines. The results of operating the virtual machines are just like operating real ones. The biggest advantage of VR on computer is that it doesn’t need any other hardware but computers, and it is convenient for the developers to improve the VR system without change any hardware. The power factory workers always enhance their skills by this way. 2. The Use of VRML 2.1 Why VRML There are several ways to implements virtual reality. In the past, most of the VR systems are developed by OpenGL 3D or Direct 3D. it is a good way to implements 3D environment, but it needs good programmers to program, in other words, the cost is very high. What is worse, it is difficult to implement the online VR. That’s just what VRML is good at. 2.2 VRML’ Ablility VRML appears in 1994, which is a program language about 3D and interactive environment. VRML is a description language just like HTML which is based on ASCII. The program written by VRML is born to have the ability to running in internet. Many popular technologies such as database tech, multimedia tech, and others can be used in VRML, so many effects can be created by VRML. And, in order to enhance the ability to interactive, VRML support java, which can be used to program in OOP (Object Oriented Programming). In the 3D environment created by VRML, it is very convenient for users to interactive with VR, and it is can be used by the workers anywhere can use the internet, it is not necessary for users to arrive at a special place to use a PC which has VR installed as they did before.
Figure 1.
the VRML project structure
The VR developed by VRML can be used in a VRML supported explorer such as Live3D, Cosmo player, Viscape and so on which can be downloaded from internet. After the VRML supported explorer installed, the files which the names suffixed with ‘.wrl’ could be open in the internet explorer, and the 3D interactive environment will be appeared. 2.3 Steps to develop the VR The most important concept in VRML is node. Node is the basis unit to compound a scene. A scene is a 3D environment the workers use. A node has its own name, own events, own type and something else.
Cao FuYi et al. / Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 473 – 476
To design proper node is the most important woke for a programmer in some content. The VRML can be programmed in a txt file, it is easy to program but not convenient. VRML has some functions for drawing in 3D space. The programmer can draw lines, rectangles, arcs in the 3D space. For example, the code below shows how to draw a rectangle in 3D space. Shape { geometry Box { size 6 3 2 translation 5 8 9 } } This section of code draw a rectangle with a length 6, width 2 and height 2, and its position is 5 in x axis, 8 in y axis and 9 in z axis in the virtual space. it is easy, isn’t it? But it is difficult for the developers to draw a complex device which looks like the real ones and will be used to train the workers. So the developers need a proper IDE to help to draw the virtual devices. And the software called ISB, 3DMAX, CosmoWorld and so on can do that. The virtual devices can be drawn in these software first, then be import to the VRML project and used again. In this way, the VRML show its great compatibility to other software. We draw any devices we need in the simulate system. As shown in figure 2, it is a work station used in command room. And a switch and 2 dial plates are shown in figure 3. They look just like the real devices.
Figure 2.
The simulated work station
Figure 3.
The simulated switch and dial plate
475
476
Cao FuYi et al. / Energy Procedia 17 (2012) 473 – 476
The next step for the programmers to do is magic control. That is how to make the virtual devices in 3D environment could work as a real power system. Most parts of the job can be done by java in inline nodes. VRML support man APIs for JAVA. JAVA project can access or transfer VRML data. In this way, there could be interactive in JAVA and VRML. The logic control can be written in pure java language in one file. And it could be link into the VRML project by the Script nodes in inline nodes and it is very easy just by the ‘url’ field. The ‘eventIn’ field and the ‘eventOut’ field in VRML describe the input and output events. The ‘route to’ key words describe which object the event will be sent to. Those are exactly the technologies we need to develop the VR of power system. It seems not difficult and complex. Easy said than done. It takes our team more than 2 years to develop the system. Now the VR system is under testing, and it runs normally by now. it is expected that the VR system can be used in real training activities in the near future. 3. Conclusion The VR simulator system described in this article is based on B/S model, which means the trainer can be trained in any places where can access the simulator. Compare with the formal training manners, it is more convenient and can save a large amount of travel fees. Though the simulator system is not perfect now, it still leads to a new direction that will be cheaper and more convenient.
References [1]
Wang Cw, Gao Wen and Wang Xr, “the Theory and Apllication of Virtual Reality”, Tsinghua University press, 1996.
[2]
M.S. Miller, D.M. Clawson, M.M. Sebrechts, B.A. Knott, Interface design for inducing and assessing immersion in virtual reality, in: Proceedings ofthe CHI 98 Summary Conference on CHI 98 Summary: Human Factors inComputing Systems, 1998, p. 343
[3]
S. Weghorst, Virtual reality applications in health care, in: Proceedings of the CHI 98 Summary Conference on CHI 98
[4]
Low H, Lapsley D. Optimization Flow Control -ĉ: Basic Algorithm and Convergence. IEEE/ACM Trans. on
[5]
Shimoda, H., Ishii, H. Wu, W. etc., A basic study on virtual collaborator as an innovative human-machine interface in
Summary: Human Factors in Computing Systems, 1998, p. 375. Networking, 1999,7(6) ˖861-874 distributed virtual environment: the prototype system and its implication for industrial application, Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 1999. IEEE SMC ‘99 Conference Proceedings. 1999 IEEE International Conference on, Volume:5 , 1999, Page(s): 697 ̢702 vol.5.