Putting Digital Humans to Work: Q&A with GM’s Bob Tilove
Bob Tilove, GM's technical fellow, discusses his visions for the use of digital human models to simulate workflows and assembly environments (example from Siemens PLM Software).
Bob Tilove, GM's technical fellow at Manufacturing Systems Research Lab.
Bob Tilove, a technical fellow at General Motors’ (GM) Manufacturing Systems Research Lab, commands a small army of digital humans. Day or night, whenever he wants to find out something about an assembly process or a plant layout, he calls on them to do his bidding. They’re part of his workflow and assembly environment simulation arsenal at GM.
As reliable and sophisticated as they are, Tilove feels it’s time to up the ante, to improve current technologies to enable more advanced simulation exercises. On this topic, he gave a presentation at the most recent Congress on the Future of Engineering Software (COFES 2010, Scottsdale, Arizona).
In this recorded interview, Tilove shares his thoughts on “virtually simulated work environments,” the limitations of current simulation technologies in mimicking the physical behaviors of flexible parts, the role of digital humans, the possibilities suggested by massive, multi-player games, and more.
(Note: A transcribed, edited version of this Q&A is set to appear in print in July issue of DE.)
Kenneth,
I’m glad you asked the question about the WoW/Second Life connection. About 12:00 in I was thinking the same thing. and Bob Tilove, great reply.
Mark
Thanks, Mark! I wish I had asked Bob if he has an avatar on Second Life.