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- VE-Suite is an open source based virtual engineering software toolkit that simplifies information management so users can simultaneously interact with engineering analyses and graphical models to create a virtual decision-making environment. It is available under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL) and is composed of four main software engines:
* VE-CE is the software engine responsible for the synchronization of the data between the various analysis and process models and the engineer
* VE-Xplorer is the decision-making environment that allows the engineer to visually interact with the equipment models
* VE-Conductor, the graphical user interface, is the engineer's mechanism to control models and other information
* VE-Open connects the core engines of VE-Suite and transfers data from user-defined information sources to VE-Suite software engines These software engines coordinate the flow of data from the engineer to the virtual components being designed. In nearly all aspects of the engineering process—design, manufacturing, and maintenance—the tools employed at each phase rely on virtual models (e.g., software tools) to reduce cost and shorten development time. This results in a variety of software tools being used across a wide range of vendors and engineering firms. In this environment, engineers are required to manually move information from one software package to another. VE-Suite was designed to support real-time, collaborative design using disparate software tools so engineers, designers, and managers can obtain in intuitive feel for a product's performance in real time. VE-Suite's features include: Information ManagementIn engineering decision making, it is necessary to understand the vast amounts of information regarding a particular product. VE-Suite enables users to interact with objects in a virtual space without being concerned with technical information such as costing. Component ManipulationProduct components are viewable at any scale and can be modified in real time without having to go back to the analysis and modeling process. They can be virtually assembled, much like building a physical model, but without the time and expense; they can be combined to create new components; and they can be distributed across computational resources. VisualizationVE-Suite provides a virtual reality environment in which users can immerse themselves in the data and better understand it. The ability to visually interact with information allows users to analyze complex patterns, synthesize opportunities, and evaluate alternative processes. CollaborationVE-Suite is designed with an open interface to allow the integration of other open-source and commercial software packages. Combining various simulation programs, data from diverse sources, and high fidelity visualization throughout the product development lifecycle produces an experience similar to physical inspection of an actual device. In such an environment, people from various disciplines with diverse but complementary experience can collaborate. (en)
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