Featured Project

# PROBLEM

Many students found electromagnetics a difficult subject to master partly because electromagnetic waves are difficult to visualize directly using our own eyes. Thus, it becomes a mathematical abstract that heavily relies upon mathematical formulations.

# SOLUTION OVERVIEW

We focus on using AR/VR technology for large-scale, complex, and interactive visualization for the electromagnetic waves. To speed up the calculation, we are going to compute the field responses and render the fields out in real-time probably accelerated by GPU computing, cluster computation, and other more advanced numerical algorithms. Besides, we propose to perform public, immersive, and interactive education to users. We plan to use the existing VR equipment, VR square at laboratory building D220 to present users with a wide range of field of view, high-resolution, and high-quality 3D stereoscopic images, making the virtual environment perfectly comparable to the real world. Users can work together and interact with each other while maneuvering the virtual objects. This project also set up the basis for us to develop digital-twins technology for electromagnetics that effectively links the real world with digital space.

# COMPONENTS

1.Numerical computation component: The part that responsible for computing the field lines via Maxwell equations. We will try to load the work on the GPU to get better performance.

2.Graphic rendering component: The part will receive data from the numerical computation component and use renderers to visualize the data.

3.User interface component: This part can process users’ actions and allow the users to interact with objects in the virtual world.

4.Audio component: This part will generate audio based on the electromagnetic fields on charged objects.

5.Haptic component: This part will interact with the controller to send vibration feedback to users based on the field strength.

# CRITERIA OF SUCCESS

Set up four distinct experiments to illustrate the concept of four Maxwell equations. Students can work together and use controllers to set up different types of charged objects and operate the orientation/position of them. Students can see both static and real-time electromagnetic fields around charged objects via VR devices. Achieve high frame rates in the virtual world and fasten the process of computation and using advanced algorithms to get smooth electromagnetic fields.

# WHAT MAKES OUR PROJECT UNIQUE

We will build four distinct scenarios based on four Maxwell Equations rather than the one Gaussian’s Law made by UIUC team. In these scenarios, we will render both electric and magnetic field lines around charged objects, as well as the forces between them.

The experiments allow users to interact with objects simultaneously. In other words, users can cooperate with each other while conducting experiments. While the lab scene made by UIUC team only allows one user to do the experiment alone, we offer the chance to make the experiment public and allow multiple users to engage in the experiments.

We will use different hardware to do the computation. Rather than based on CPU, we will parallelize the calculation and using GPU to improve the performance and simulate large-scale visualization for the fields to meet the multi-users needs.

Compared to the project in the UIUC, we will not only try to visualize the fields, but also expand the dimension that we can perceive the phenomena i.e., adding haptic feedback in the game and also using audio feedback to give users 4D experience.