Survey on key techniques of virtual assembly

Virtual Assembly, which is a key element of Virtual Manufacturing (VM), realizes two levels mapping. The bottom level mapping is from product physical model to product virtual model and the top level mapping is from real physical assembly process to virtual assembly simulation process. Virtual Assembly key techniques include: collision detection, part modeling and data exchange/integration, assembly planning, motion navigation and accurate location based on constraints, deformable part assembly, knowledge extraction and application, assembly evaluation and verification, et al. A survey on the present situation of these techniques was proposed. The current deficits and the future research trends were discussed and analyzed based on the survey.