1. For Virtual Environment for Ships and Ship-Mounted Cranes
A state-of-the-art Ship and Crane Simulator at the Computer Automated Virtual Environment (CAVE) at Virginia Tech that uses state-of-the-art physical models. A motion platform will be used to simulate the motion of ships in waves. The Simulator Operator will function in a highly realistic virtual environment, complete with high-fidelity, 270 degree scene visualization, ambient sound, motion base, physical control console, bridge, and chair.
For
Controls Research
Operator Training

2. SGI Onyx and CAVE System
Computer Systems Connectivity
Scaled Crane
Motion Base PC
Drives Motion Base
Remote System
IP network
RS422 serial (API nearing completion)
Graphics
and misc.
SGI Onyx and CAVE System
IP network
IP network
and/or RS232
IP network
I/O PC
SGI Origin 2000
Read & write
to/from non-CAVE
hardware devices
i.e. buttons and levers
wave dynamics and
maybe control simulations

3. Recent progress:
Motion Base Running with SGI Onyx serial line
Next:
Finish SGI/Motion Base serial interface API
Integrate Base Motion with Computer Generated
Graphics in the VT CAVE