Development of Online Teaching Tools for Engineering: Immersive Virtual Reality Application for Manipulation of a Vertical Milling Machine Using Unity

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions at all levels to modify and migrate their teaching methodologies entirely to an online modality. Universities with technical programs were challenged to teach students the skills and abilities obtained only through laboratory or physical workshop experiences. This project focused on developing an immersive virtual reality application as a learning methodology to interact with a vertical milling machine. Additionally, we integrated a web plugin with similar functions to expand students' learning experience. Using the computerized design software Solidworks and Blender, we configured the assembly of a vertical milling machine to use in video game development software such as Unity. With this software, we created a virtual reality application (governed by fundamentals of educational theory) that allowed users to recognize the milling machine's parts and functions and simulate actual interactions. Additionally, with an accessible virtual reality kit, we added a web plugin with similar functions to achieve a greater scope of teaching. Thus, developing a virtual reality application as didactic support and training familiarized students with a vertical milling machine's parts and operations. This project can be implemented in different educational institutions seeking a dynamic and innovative way to teach machinery in a virtual environment.