3D Graphical Viewer with Markup and Automatic Data Extraction Capabilities
l Applied Mechanics Mechanical Design Information Systems Reliability and Human Engineering Electronic Systems Applied Systems Logistics Services
© 1987-2010 Mercer Engineering Research Center 135 Osigian Blvd. • Warner Robins, GA 31088 info@merc-mercer.org • www.merc-mercer.org • 478.953.6800 The viewer application is currently being used as part of a Portable Maintenance Aide for collecting structural and maintenance data on the C-130 aircraft for the US Air Force. The viewer provides the user with the ability to select major structural subcomponents, and individual parts. The user can then “draw” structural condition information such as cracks and corrosion directly on the affected component and the precise location of the condition on the actual aircraft. The viewer provides automatic translation and storage of structured maintenance data about the condition such as size, orientation, depth, exact location, related maintenance work and discrepancy codes, and other information useful for engineering, maintenance, and logistical analysis. The viewer is a web-based tool constructed on Microsoft XNA technologies that leverages gaming tools to provide a rapidly responsive user interface with a relatively small memory footprint. The viewer can display 3D models in native Microsoft XNB binary format or from any other format that can be converted to XNB. The current implementation is using SolidWorks 3D models converted by the viewer application to XNB. The tool provides full rotation, translation, zoom, and fly-through capabilities, and can be manipulated with standard input devices (mouse, stylus, etc.). The application also creates exploded views of model components. MERC’s Information Systems Division is developing a 3D graphics viewer that allows the user to mark up the model for data collection purposes. The tool then stores and translates the markup data into information useful to specific analysis systems. Information Systems Division