VR Interactive Feature of HTML5-based WebVR Control Laboratory by Using Head-mounted Display

Authors

  • Quan Ye Wuhan University
  • Wenshan Hu Wuhan University
  • Hong Zhou Wuhan University
  • Zhongcheng Lei Wuhan University
  • Shiqi Guan Wuhan University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v14i03.8112

Keywords:

HTML5, WebVR, virtual reality, head-mounted display, control engineering education, online laboratory

Abstract


The development of web-based online laboratory for engineering education has made big progress in recent years with state-of-the-art technologies. In order to further promote the effectiveness within an online virtual environment, the virtual reality (VR) interactive feature of WebVR Control laboratory based on HTML5 is presented in this paper. The educational objective is to assist the students or researchers to conduct a realistic and immersive experiment of control engineering with a head-mounted display (HMD) equipped. The implementation of the VR technique mainly relies on the Three.js graphic engine based on Web Graphics Library (WebGL) which has been supported by most of the mainstream web browsers in their latest version without a plugin embedded. At the end of the paper, the ball and beam system is taken as an example to illustrate the whole operational approach of the novel VR experiment in detail. While such a VR interactive feature hasn’t been integrated into some of the current web-based online laboratories, the technical solution could be inspirational for them.

Author Biographies

Quan Ye, Wuhan University

Quan Ye received the B.S. degree in automation from Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, in 2011, where he is now working towards the M.Sc. degree in the Department of Automation. His current research interests include networked control systems and web-based remote laboratories.

Wenshan Hu, Wuhan University

Wenshan Hu received the B.S. and M.Sc. degrees in control theory and applications from Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, in 2002 and 2004, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in control engineering from the University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, U.K. in 2008. In June 2010, he joined Wuhan University as an Associate Professor. His research interests include network-based control laboratories and wireless power transfer.

Hong Zhou, Wuhan University

Hong Zhou received the B.S. degree in automation from the Central South University of Technology, Changsha, China, in 1982, the M.Sc. degree in control theory and applications from Chongqing University, Chongqing, China, in 1988, and the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, in 2006. He has been a Professor in the Department of Automation, Wuhan University, since 2000. His research interests include wireless power transfer, smart grid, and networked control systems.

Zhongcheng Lei, Wuhan University

Zhongcheng Lei received the B.S. degree in automation from Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, in 2014, where he is currently working toward the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Automation. His current research interests include networked control systems and web-based remote laboratories.

Shiqi Guan, Wuhan University

Shiqi Guan received the B.S. degree in automation from Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China, in 2012. She is now working towards the M.Sc. degree in Department of Automation, Wuhan University. Her current research interests include networked control systems and web-based remote laboratories.

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Published

2018-03-30

How to Cite

Ye, Q., Hu, W., Zhou, H., Lei, Z., & Guan, S. (2018). VR Interactive Feature of HTML5-based WebVR Control Laboratory by Using Head-mounted Display. International Journal of Online and Biomedical Engineering (iJOE), 14(03), pp. 20–33. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijoe.v14i03.8112

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 03 (2018)

Section

Papers

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