Intelligent exhibition platform of Chinese ancient farming virtual scene based on Unity3D

The limitation of the current mode of transmission has hindered the spread and development of farming culture and spirit. In view of the mentioned facts, a method of developing an intelligent exhibition platform based on virtual reality was proposed. In order to avoid the error and delay caused by interaction, we proposed an algorithm of model interactive control that could realize observing the 3D (three-dimensional) model by rotating and zooming it accurately. Meanwhile, we put forward a virtual scene roaming algorithm for orientation changing aiming at the problem that the present virtual scene path roaming algorithm cannot change the object's orientation, and as a result, the effect achieved by this algorithm was more similar to behavior of human. The intelligent exhibition platform of virtual farming scene was designed and developed based on the Unity3D platform, with 3D Max as the 3D modeling tool and C# as the scripting language. Virtual farming scene should be built on the basis of the objective facts, so that it can be in line with the historical background and reality. But one of the difficulties of this platform was that we had no real scene for reference, so we proposed a method of observation and measurement to solve the problem. According to the analysis and design of the data, the display platform was divided into 2 parts, the north ancient China with dry land and the south ancient China with paddy fields. Each part would be shown from 3 aspects, i.e. scene, farming tools and typical production skills. By observing the appearance, recording the structure, size and angle measurement of real farming tools and its components, we obtained the basic data to complete 3D modeling. There were 2 frequently used methods for 3D modeling: entity modeling and fractal modeling. Through the analysis of physical characteristics of objects, different modeling methods were adopted to complete modeling. With its convenient and intelligent features, key frame animation has become the most basic computer animation technology. In order to achieve the final animation effect, combined with the characteristics of the 3D models of this platform, we adopted key frame animation technology to complete the animation. In order to achieve the intelligent display of scenes, we used 3D virtual roaming technology, and the scene roaming was divided into 2 modes, automatic mode and manual mode. The first way could browse the virtual scene automatically by using the virtual scene roaming algorithm for orientation changing that we have proposed, while the second provided user an opportunity to view the scenes manually through a virtual character. We adopted human-computer interaction technology by using the algorithm of model interactive control that we have proposed. And the interaction accuracy was favorable. Unity3D was utilized as the development software for the platform. The completed 3D models were imported into Unity3D project file with a file format of.FBX. Both the scene roaming and interactive function of the platform were achieved by coding C# scripts. The virtual scene that could show experiment results of the platform rendered a good effect. The research result showed that blended with roaming and controlling, the intelligent platform restored an ancient farming scene, which publicizes the typical production skills, greatly improves the practicability of the platform, and offers a kind of new method for culture exhibition. © 2017, Editorial Department of the Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering. All right reserved.