General Electric Company

Christopher Richard Volpe

Russell Scott Blue

Ricardo Scott Avila

Steven Eric Linthicum

James Vradenburg Miller

William E Lorensen

Boris Yamrom

Louis John Hoebel

William J Schroeder

Jonathan Earl Davis

Craig Arthur Silber

Steven Eric Lithicum

Tomek Strzalkowski

A system and computer implemented method for enabling field service of machines and training of field service personnel. The method comprises the steps of generating at least one validated sequence of instructions for at least one maintenance task and delivering the at least one validated sequence for use in performing the at least one maintenance task.

Method and system for automated maintenance and training instruction generation and validation

A method for segmenting an input volume in accordance with at least one selected characteristic comprises the steps of casting a plurality of rays along a plurality of views of the input volume, identifying regions corresponding to the selected characteristic within each ray, and processing the identified regions to generate an output volume indicating regions having the selected characteristic.

Tomographic segmentation

The present invention is directed toward providing interactive haptic collision detection between a stationary and a moving object in a virtual reality environment. A user grasps the arm of a haptic device and manipulates an object as viewed on a virtual reality display. As any portion of the manipulated object comes too close to the surface of the stationary object, the haptic device imposes feedback forces against the user's efforts that increase in magnitude as the user manipulates the object beyond a force boundary proximate to the surface of the stationary object. The feedback forces are applied directionally in line with the shortest path between the surfaces at risk of collision. Several measures can be implemented by the user to reduce the computation load involved in constantly comparing the distances between points on the surface of the movable object and points on the surface of the stationary object without seriously compromising the collision detection and avoidance functions of the system. Furthermore, while the invention provides for up to six degrees of freedom for manipulating objects and providing haptic feedback, the system also accommodates three degrees of haptic freedom and feedback, with the additional three degrees of rotational feedback being provided visibly or audibly.

System and method for providing interactive haptic collision detection

An analytical method for determining a cable occupancy volume includes obtaining a cable length and identifying a number and location of a plurality of cable supports for supporting the cable along its length. The cable occupancy volume that is generated is based on the cable length, the number of supports and the location of the supports. The instructions for practicing the method are encoded on a computer-readable storage medium.

Method and apparatus for generating cable occupancy volumes

A graphic technique, implemented on a graphics computer, for visualizing 3-D vector data uses a stream tube which is a tube-like structure having a cross section of an n-sided polygon. The stream tube follows the path of a streamline in the 3-D vector data. Data can be visualized by varying the shape and size of the polygon along the streamline to represent changes in normal and shear strain, rotation and velocity. Additional scalar functions are represented by coloring the sides of the stream tube.

Growing community of inventors

Niskayuna, NY, United States of America

Christopher Richard Volpe