Design of Simulation System for VR Physical Education

Wei Bao and Qing Fu Su

Harbin Engineering University Physical Education Department, Harbin 150001, China

Keywords: Motion Capture, Virtual Reality, Simulation Modelling.

Abstract: This article introduces a design of “simulation system for physical education” based on virtual reality

technology. The simulation system has interactive training function, achieving the self-learning of physical

education and improving the level of learners.

1 INTRODUCTION

Virtual reality technology refers to the simulation

system which creates and experiences the virtual

world by using computer technology (Li Yan, Dong

Fei, 2008). Virtual reality technology makes the

most of the integration technology of computer’s

hardware and software, bringing users into the

virtual world and making them to experience the

“realism” of the virtual world. By breaking the

constraints of time and space, users are able to feel

what they can never experience in the real world. In

practical application, virtual system has many output

forms and is able to process multiple input devices.

Meanwhile, it could be used for real-time interaction

and collision detection, etc. With its continuous

development, VR technology has been widely

applied to various fields including military, online

games, education, medicine and intelligent robots.

Virtual reality technology reflects the integrated

discipline of image and graphics processing,

computer network technology and sensor

technology. At the same time, with the development

of business, virtual reality technology has been

widely promoted and used. In foreign countries, this

technology has been used in the teaching in

universities. One good example is edx online virtual

classroom. However, in China, the application of

this technology for teaching has just started. In

recent years with the investment of the government,

certain progress has been made, but there is still a

gap in terms of technology. The application of

virtual reality technology in teaching will trigger a

new teaching concept of education which will attract

the attention of students and increase the efficiency

of education and teaching, ultimately improving the

quality of teaching.

2 SIMULATION SYSTEM FOR

VR PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Simulation system for physical education reproduces

the teaching experience and teaching intentions of

PE teachers, the process of students’ training and

organizational plan for training by means of

computer technology and virtual reality technology

(Zhao Fenjun, 2006). Simulation system could

analyze and compare the movement of trainees. Its

development in recent years includes multimedia

simulation and qualitative simulation, etc. The

simulation system of VR is favored by trainees and

sports departments because of its unique visual and

audio effects. The most outstanding features of

simulation system based on virtual reality

technology are its multi-perception, immersion and

interactivity. Generally speaking, traditional training

carries out analysis by means of two-dimensional

design, and it could only be analyzed from a single

vision. For this reason, simulation system software

based on virtual reality technology is very popular.

At the same time, the purpose of teaching system is

to build up a virtual learning environment, realizing

the human-human interaction and human-computer

interaction. Meanwhile, with the features of

immersion and multi-perception, it is possible to

enable students to study better with simulation

software system.

3 COLLECTION OF MOTION

DATA

With the development of technology, there are more

and more measures to collect the sports data of

520

Bao W. and Su Q.

Design of Simulation System for VR Physical Education.

DOI: 10.5220/0006029805200522

In Proceedings of the Information Science and Management Engineering III (ISME 2015), pages 520-522

ISBN: 978-989-758-163-2

athletes. For example, principle of optics can be

used for capturing the three-dimensional motion of

athletes. The theory is to stall multiple different

optical cameras and ask the athlete to wear motion

clothing with optical radiation. Motion capture

system will convert the pictures it captured into

three-dimensional coordinates, which will be later

connects to the anatomic points of human body

model created by computer. Or the computer could

be used to calculate the connecting parts or rotating

parts which could be converted into animation. By

using the functions of materials and textures of

animation software such as MAYA, motions

captured by those three-dimension coordinates are

just like real motions.

4 DEVELOPMENT OF 3D

ENGINE FOR SYSTEM

SOFTWARE OF SIMULATION

SYSTEM FOR VR PHYSICAL

EDUCATION

As the most important platform in game

development, 3D engine can design very realistic

virtual environment, because it has the function of

lighting effects. In addition, 3D engine can provide

powerful physical environment for the system,

making the virtual system more realistic and natural.

Last but not least, as a development platform in

common use for simulation software, the system can

provide human-computer interaction, making the

athletes study better. And the most important

technology to realize the interaction is about objects

picked and dragged by the mouse. The fundamental

principle is to control the 3D scene by controlling

the movement of the mouse in 2D screen.

5 SIMULATION MODELING OF

VIRTUAL TEACHING SYSTEM

5.1 The Establishment of Human Body

Model

To establish human body model, digital human

skeleton model should be used to stratify the

building of human body model, dividing the main

skeleton into body joints, bones and center of gravity

of human body (Zhan Shengli, 2006). The virtual

human model has virtual skeleton and the surface

model (skin, fine wrinkles, etc.) of surface human.

Therefore, it stratifies the virtual human model into

two layers: skeleton and different parts. Surface

model has 53 pieces of different sizes. Those pieces

form public areas between parts where there is no

double connection. Every part rotates around its

joint, which result into different postures, making

the digital virtual human movements even more

realistic and perfect.

5.2 Modeling of System Software of

Simulation System for VR Physical

Education

Simulation technology using the computer is crucial

to the modeling of software. To obtain the state

change of the system, complicated law of motion

should be described in terms of mathematical model

or physical model. Then relevant calculated should

be made by setting values and boundary conditions.

Ordinary computer simulation system

implementation includes system modeling,

programming of the software, operation of the

software, analysis of experimental results and the

adjustment and improvement of the model. While

the mathematical modeling of simulation system for

physical education is actually carried out using the

personification compositing software package

VHSDK5.0 made by Chinese Academy of Sciences

(Fu Qiang, 2013). The example of each motion is

displayed by three-dimensional method and adjusted

and designed by means of visual interaction design.

After that the model will be verified using Euler’s

Theorem of Newton, obtaining standardized system

design. In terms of the movement of human body,

adjustments for the gestures could be achieved by

selecting and dragging rigid body from XY window.

By means of dragging, the variation quantity in X

Axis and Y Axis could be checked. By using Euler’s

Theorem, the rotation angle of euler angles 〈α , β ,

γ〉in the directions of zyx could be obtained. Then

the following relationship is obtained:



sin =



ya  )1(



sin =



yb  )1(

Design of Simulation System for VR Physical Education

521

Design of Simulation System for VR Physical Education

521

Figure 1: The establishment of three-dimensional human

body model.

After obtaining the new gestures by changing the

angle, new directions of motion could be achieved

by offsetting mapping technique. The construction

process is as follows:

Figure 2: Construction process of creating the offset.

The last step is to determine the personalized

equation and verify the model according to relevant

parameter index of human body.

6 CONCLUSION

As the sports competition is becoming fiercer, the

requirements for athletes are also higher and higher.

Since simulation system based on VR technology

enables the software to guide and teach the

practitioners by using the data collection, 3D real-

time rendering and interactive function, making the

software more practical. Meanwhile, with the

continuous improvement of computer hardware

system and software system, development of

simulation system based on VR technology is

becoming more and more wide-spread and

personalized, which adds to its commercial value.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The research work was supported by the

Fundamental Research Funds for the Central

Universities: HEUCF101611 and Philosophy and

social science research projects in Heilongjiang

Province: 13D015

REFERENCES

Li Yan, Dong Fei, 2008. Design of Simulation System for

Physical Education [J]. Shandong Institute of Physical

Education Journal, 94-96.

Zhao Fenjun, 2006. Study on the Influences of Physical

Exercises on College Students of China [J]. Inner

Mongolia Sport Science, 39—40, 2006.

Zhan Shengli, Application of Virtual Reality Technology

in Online Education [J]. China Modern Educational

Equipment, 68—69, 2006.

Fu Qiang, 2013. Design and Development of Port

Logistics Teaching Simulation System based on OSG

[J]. Laboratory Research and Exploration, 245—248,

2013.

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