Researches Regarding the Development of a Virtual Reality Android Application Explaining Orientation Tolerances According to the Latest GPS Standards Using 3D Models

This paper presents a virtual reality application developed for engineering students aiming to help them develop their skills to correctly interpret the geometrical tolerances for orientation, like parallelism, perpendicularity and angularity, according to the latest Geometrical Product Specification (GPS) Standards. The previous studies focused on the impact of mobile learning on student achievement show that the method could be one promising educational method. The educational applications used on mobile devices develop a friendly environment and generate a positive effect on learning. Having spatial skills is essential for engineering students who need to imagine different shapes and orientations. The authors have discovered based on their experience in teaching courses like computer aided design and tolerances and dimensional control, that many students have difficulties with understanding 3D spatial geometry and the transitions between 2D drawings and 3D parts. This kind of skills can be developed through specific training with appropriate tools, like the virtual reality application developed and presented in this paper. Based on a long research the authors managed to develop this training application that offers the viewer a 360-degree view of different mechanical parts presenting 3D geometrical tolerances annotations according to the latest GPS standards. The developed application also presents 3D models of the meaning based on the skin model, the tolerance zones, the condition of conformity as well as the datum features.