As virtual reality expands from the imaginative worlds of science fiction and pervades every corner of everyday life, it becomes ever more important for students, researchers and professionals alike to understand the many varied aspects of this technology. This scientific monograph aims to provide a comprehensive guide to the theoretical and practical elements of virtual reality, from the mathematical and technological foundations of virtual worlds to the human factors and the applications that enrich our lives: medicine, entertainment, education and others. After providing a brief introduction to the topic, the book describes the kinematic and dynamic mathematical models of virtual worlds. It explores the many ways a computer can track and interpret human movement, then advances through the modalities that make up a virtual world: visual, acoustic and haptic. With these individual elements covered, the book explores the interaction between the human and a virtual environment as well as design principles of such a virtual environment. Finally, it concludes with an examination of different applications, with a focus on augmented reality as a special case. The knowledge is primarily imparted in a VR context, but is also relevant for many other fields. Additionally, in the framework of program group the following books have been published by Springer: BAJD, Tadej, MIHELJ, Matjaž, MUNIH, Marko. Introduction to robotics, Springer, Drodrecht, 2013. LENARČIČ, Jadran, BAJD, Tadej, STANIŠIĆ, Michael M.. Robot mechanisms, Springer, Drodrecht, 2013. BAJD, Tadej, MIHELJ, Matjaž, LENARČIČ, Jadran, STANOVNIK, Aleš, MUNIH, Marko. Robotics, Springer, Drodrecht, 2010.
C.01 Editorial board of a foreign/international collection of papers/book
COBISS.SI-ID: 10171220An important part of rehabilitation treatment in people with movement disabilities is training of sit-to-stand, which may be considered as the most demanding part of the overall movement training because it requires dynamic and well coordinated movement of the trunk on the lower extremities. Several devices for training sit-to-stand movement exist on the market and in the clinical practice; however, the movement in these devices is quasistatic where the kinematics, kinetics and electromyography of the main muscles considerably differ from “normal” sit-to-stand maneuver. We have conceived and developed a prototype of a sit-to-stand trainer where the main part represents an innovative mechanism which to the largest extent resembles natural sit-to-stand kinematics and is driven by a single motor. German patent office has granted a patent for the described device and the German company Medica Medizintechnik GmbH has bought patent rights and intends to market a device in the next two years.
F.32 International patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 1812329We have developed an original haptic system that depending on the mechanical configuration offers training of all the aspects of movement of the upper extremity. International patent application is based on parallel kinematic structure that enables eight different training modalities of functional movement of shoulder, elbow and wrist by means of locking/unlocking various mechanical joints. Innovative kinematical structure also enables use of actuation that incorporates serial elastic elements which has implications on control system governing haptic interaction between man and machine.
F.32 International patent
COBISS.SI-ID: 1003369A robotic system, developed in a framework of "TRIMO Development of E Technology of Assembly” for automatic assembly of facade panels in construction, was qualified as a finalist for “Technology Transfer Award” jointly given by EUROP the European Robotics Technology Platform and EURON EUropean RObotics research Network. After presentation in San Sebastian, Spain, on 11th March 2010 the project was given a third prize as outstanding example of technology transfer in robot technology and automation to industry.
E.02 International awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 7953492A system for noncontact dimensional measurement of a gray iron grate by use of a laser dot triangulation displacement sensor and an industrial SCARA robot was developed. To determine the accuracy of the robot measurement system, a number of comparative measurements were performed. The results show that dimensional measurements are sufficient for robot deburring of gray-iron grates.
F.10 Improvements to an existing technological process or technology
COBISS.SI-ID: 6781524