Enhancing mechanisms education through interaction with augmented reality simulation

Computer simulation has been used pervasively to help students understand deeply and visually the theoretical bases of mechanisms. This paper proposes an AR mechanism education system (ARMES) to provide a tool that can conduct mechanism simulations with high level of interaction, easy modeling, and simulation environment and working on real mechanisms. The system consists of theoretical lecture mode and practical exercise mode. Theoretical lecture mode adopts the basic theories of mechanisms from the book Mechanisms and Machine Theory (MMT) and provides an interactive learning style for users via an interactive tool. Practical exercise mode allows modeling, simulation, kinematical characteristics analysis, dynamic analysis, and synthesis based on the interaction with the information that has been rendered on a real mechanism via the interaction tool. In addition, the modeling is based on markers, making the system easy for novice learners to use. The simulation is based on geometrical concepts, making the geometrical bases of mechanism theories clear for users to understand. The evaluation of the system is conducted with 20 participants and a survey. The results reveal that by exploiting the characteristics of AR, the system is helpful in improving the interaction, visualization, and practicality of the mechanism problems. These features will make the system a powerful tool for the teaching of mechanisms.