Virtual Reality Technology -- Virtual Reality Research in Europe: Towards Structuring the European Research Area -- Virtual Reality Technology - An Overview -- A Concept for a Multipurpose, Multi-Modal Interface for Product Engineering Applications -- Single Chart Parameterization of Triangle Meshes -- A Novel Acoustic Tracking System for Virtual Reality Systems -- Virtual Reality-Based Environments for Learning and Training -- Haptic Systems -- Advanced Haptic Systems for Virtual Reality -- Fully-Isotropic Parallel Mechanisms - An Innovative Concept for Haptic Devices -- Collision Detection as a Fundamental Technology in VR Based Product Engineering -- The Feel of Virtual Mechanisms -- A Wired Haptic System for Multimodal VR Interaction -- Haptic Feedback Generation for a Direction Indicator Switch -- Virtual Reality Aided Design -- Virtual Reality Aided Design. A survey of the use of VR in automotive industry -- Concept, Framework and Resources of a Proactive Reality Environment. Combining artificial cognition with Interactive Instruments -- Virtual Reality: which Contribution for Machine Design -- VR Interaction for CAD Basic Tasks Using Rumble Feedback Input: Experimental Study -- Investigation of the Scope of Support Provided by Holographic Displays in Conceptual Design -- Using Hand Motions in Conceptual Shape Design: Theories, Methods and Tools -- Software Module for Data Exchange Between AutoCAD and a Virtual Reality System -- Virtual Testing and Prototyping -- Breakthrough Technologies for Virtual Prototyping of Automotive and Aerospace Structures -- Examples for Modelling, Simulation and Visualization with the Discrete Element Method in Mechanical Engineering -- Virtual Prototypes for Uncertainty and Variability-Based Product Engineering -- Virtual and Real Testing of Products -- Manipulation of Mechanisms in Virtual Environment -- CAD-CAE Models Library for Pre-Surgery Planning -- Virtual Manufacturing -- Automated Design Analysis, Assembly Planning and Motion Study Analysis Using Immersive Virtual Reality -- The Analysis of Design and Manufacturing Tasks Using Haptic and Immersive VR - Some Case Studies' -- Implementing Real Time Grasping Simulation Based on Anthropometric Data: A work in progress report -- Developing Grasping Pre-Shaping in Virtual Environment based on Real Object Shape Analysis -- Programming of Robots using Virtual Reality Technologies.

This book contains an edited version of the lectures and selected contributions presented during the Advanced Summer Institute on "Product Engineering: Tools and Methods based on Virtual Reality" held at Chania (Greece), 30th May-6th June 2007. The Advanced Summer Institute (ASI) was devoted to the Product Engineering field, with particular attention being given to the aspects related to Virtual Reality (VR) technologies, and their use and added value in engineering. The objective of the ASI was to create a meeting framework for leading scientists and advanced students carrying out research in the field of Virtual Reality Technologies, Haptic systems, CAD and VR integration, Virtual Testing and Prototyping and Virtual Manufacturing. The ASI was seen also as an opportunity for academics, practitioners and consultants from Europe and elsewhere who are involved in the study, management, development and implementation of product engineering principles in the learning and teaching sectors, as well as professionals to come together and share ideas on projects and examples of best practice. As in the first ASI edition held in Romania in 2004, the topics have been chosen such as to bring together scientists from traditionally distinct areas of research such as Virtual Reality and Product Engineering, in order to catalyze cross-fertilization and enable new ideas in an interdisciplinary framework.