VR for Total Beginners

I still remember when Virtual Reality (VR) became a big deal in the 1990s.  It's kind of funny how it seemed to go away for a while.  There really wasn't much talk about it in the early 2000s.  However, it seems to be back, and is a quickly growing technology.  I am not 100% sure why VR is making this strong comeback, perhaps it has something to do with accessibility though products like Google Cardboard.

There is so much talk about VR in world of CAD, and it is a little intimidating to try to figure out how to get started.  For years, rendering a CAD model in Inventor Studio, Showcase, or 3DS Max was the end goal for getting a rendering for customer presentations, web sites, etc.  However, I am seeing a push to VR for customer presentations and renderings.  Autodesk makes products like VRED and Stingray that enable users to create high-end VR experiences.  Those are both great products with a lot of great capabilities.  However, both require time and effort to learn.

Over the last few months, I have learned to create Stereo Panoramas using a variety of models from Autodesk software, such as Inventor, Fusion 360, Revit, and InfraWorks 360.  I would classify Stereo Panoramas as entry level VR.  They are immersive and require very little effort beyond the 3D model that you already have.  However, they do have their limitations, such as, they are a static image and offer no interaction with the model.

Depending on the product your 3D model was created in, you will have different ways to create a stereo panorama.  If you created a 3D model in Revit, AutoCAD, or Fusion 360, you can create views of the models, or cameras, then you can reprocess the render in the cloud as a stereo panorama.  If you are modeling in Inventor, InfraWorks 360, or other Autodesk product.  Your model can be Appended to a Navisworks model.  From Navisworks, you will be able to render your model in the cloud as a stereo panorama.

Here is the workflow for Inventor

Here is the workflow for InfraWorks 360

Here is the workflow for Revit

If the purpose of the render is to share the model with potential customers, a QR code can be generated, which will allow them to view the stereo panorama on their cell phone, with the help of Google Cardboard type device.  In a competitive environment, offering this type of conceptual model can be a key differentiator.

Here is how to share rendered Stereo Panoramas

Here are some samples of Stereo Panoramas from various Autodesk products.