VR technology is also making a big difference in the medical field. The technology can be used for teaching anatomy, planning complex surgical procedures, providing operational and informational assistance during surgery, and predicting surgical outcomes. In addition, in telemedicine, virtual reality technology also has great potential. For example, in remote mountainous areas, through the telemedicine virtual reality system, patients are able to receive treatment from famous doctors without going into the city. For critical patients, remote surgery can also be implemented. A doctor operates on a patient model and his movements are transmitted via satellite to a distant surgical robot. The actual image of the surgery is transmitted back to the doctor's helmet stereo display through the camera on the robot and superimposed on the virtual patient model to provide the doctor with useful information. The Stanford International Research Institute in the United States has successfully developed a tele-surgical medical system.
In the space field, VR technology is also very important. For example, weightlessness is a difficulty that must be overcome in spaceflight because it is difficult to predict the movement of objects in weightlessness. In order to perform precise maneuvers in space, astronauts need to be trained in weightlessness simulation for long periods of time. In order to realistically simulate the situation in space, the U.S. space agency NASA in the "Hubble Space Telescope repair and maintenance" program used VR simulation training technology. In the training, astronauts sit in a simulated chair with a "manned maneuvering vehicle" function and a sensing device. The chair has displacement controllers for linear motion in virtual space and rotation controllers for adjusting the astronaut's orientation around the astronaut's center of gravity. The astronaut wears a stereoscopic helmet display for the telescope, shuttle, and model of space, and uses a data glove as a means of interacting with the system. During training, the astronauts were able to maneuver around the telescope and touch the joystick with their virtual hands to grab the module changer that needed to be replaced. Once the module changer is grasped, the astronaut can use the seat's controls to fly through space.
An example of the use of VR technology in object visualization is the simulation of a wind tunnel. A simulated wind tunnel allows the user to see a simulated air flow field, making him feel as if he were actually standing in the wind tunnel. The purpose of virtual wind tunnels is to allow engineers to analyze the complex three-dimensionality and effects of multiple vortices, areas of air circulation, turbulence where vortices are destroyed, and so on. For example, data from a CAD model of a space shuttle can be pulled into a simulated wind tunnel for performance analysis. To analyze the pattern of the airflow, a trajectory tracker can be injected into the air stream that will drift with the airflow and display the motion to the user. The tracker can be surrendered to any specified location via a data glove, and the user can observe its trajectory from any viewpoint.
One example of the use of VR technology in the military is the Connected Military Training System. In this system, troops are placed in the same location as actual vehicles and command centers, and they can see a simulated battlefield with mountains, trees, clouds, smoke, roads, buildings, and vehicles operated by other troops. These vehicles, operated by actual personnel, can shoot at each other, and the system utilizes radio communications and sound to enhance realism. Each user of the system can observe the actions of others through an environmental viewpoint. The display of artillery fire is extremely realistic, and users can see what is being blown up by the attacking force. Scenes seen from helicopters are also very realistic. The simulation can be used to train tanks, helicopters and conduct military maneuvers, as well as train troops to work together.
Of course, the application of virtual reality technology is much more than these. With the further development of computer technology, virtual reality and our lives will be increasingly close.