About the AI/VR Lab
The Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality Lab on the 3rd floor of the library is managed by Aaron Bergstrom, the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Manager, with assistance from Brad Traver, Cyberinfrastructure Engineer. They can help with student and faculty projects using the lab. Librarians can also help with some digital scholarship projects, as well as data management.
- Six virtual machine work stations with:
- The best graphics cards and AI cards available (2 per computer)
- 10 GB connection to the campus network, with the ability to connect to the Science DMZ at 100GB
- The ability to be configured for different computing environments (Windows, Linux, etc.)
- Various software, including Autodesk
- Lenovo VR Classroom Kit
- 24 wireless headsets, controllers, and headphones
- Android tablet for guided tours
- 180 degree camera for capturing 360 degree scenes
- 3D Scanning Room
- Hand-held scanners also available that can scan small or large objects, including cars
- Robotics Benches for building or changing robots or drones
- Activity Space
- Walking space for VR
- Viewable from robotics benches for testing robots and drones
- Group activity space
- Stereographic Monitors (located in group study rooms across from AI/VR Lab suite)
- Used to view 3D creations
- Additional Equipment
- Various VR headsets
- Additional equipment for 3D modeling
Game Development Resources
The Chester Fritz Library purchased a number of books to support work in the AI/VR Lab. You can find additional books and ebooks by searching the library website. The Academic Video Online (AVON) streaming video collection also has relevant training videos, some of which are highlighted below.
Selected Books:
Blender for Dummies by ISBN: 9781119616962Publication Date: 2020-02-11Make your 3D world a reality. Some of the dramatic visual effects you've seen in top-grossing movies and heralded television series got their start in Blender. This book helps you get your own start in creating three-dimensional characters, scenes, and animations in the popular free and open-source tool. This book is the ideal starting place for newcomers to the world of 3D modeling and animation.
Learning Blender: a Hands-On Guide to Creating 3D Animated Characters by ISBN: 9780134663463Publication Date: 2017-04-03Learning Blender walks you through every step of creating an outstanding 3D animated character with Blender, and then compositing it in a real video using a professional workflow. This edition covers the powerful new selection and modeling tools, as well as high-efficiency improvements related to other parts of the project such as texture painting, shading, rigging, rendering, and compositing. Still the only Blender tutorial to take you from preproduction to final result, this guide is perfect for both novices and those moving from other software to Blender (open source and free software).
Blueprints Visual Scripting for Unreal Engine by ISBN: 9781789347067Publication Date: 2019-08-23Develop high-quality interactive games with the power of Unreal Engine's visual scripting language and Blueprints framework. Design a fully functional game in UE4 without writing a single line of code. Implement visual scripting to develop gameplay mechanics, UI, visual effects, VR and artificial intelligence. Deploy your game on multiple platforms and share it with the world.
Complete Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Development with Unity by ISBN: 9781838648183Publication Date: 2019-04-17Learn how to use Unity to build fun augmented reality applications using ARKit, ARCore, and Vuforia that run on HoloLens, Daydream, and Oculus Rift. Explore virtual reality by developing more than 10 engaging projects. Unity is the leading platform to develop mixed reality experiences because it provides a great pipeline for working with 3D assets. Using a practical and project-based approach, this Learning Path educates you about the specifics of AR and VR development using.
Unity AR & VR by TutorialsISBN: 9781942878643Provides step by step instructions for building four immersive virtual reality and augmented reality apps using Unity.
Microsoft HoloLens Developer's Guide by ISBN: 9781786460851Publication Date: 2017-07-21If you want to create augmented reality apps for the Microsoft HoloLens platform, then this is the book for you. Coding experience with C# is assumed. Starting off with brainstorming and the design process, you will take your first steps in creating your application for HoloLens. You will learn to add gestures and write an app that responds to verbal commands before gradually moving on creating sounds in the app and placing them in a 3D space.
Selected videos:
- Unreal Engine 4 : the complete beginner’s courseLearn the fundamentals of developing a game from scratch and build a demo game using Unreal Engine 4, an award-winning platform used to create many top games and free to use, as long as you agree to pay Epic Games 5% of your game sales.
- Practical Unity Game DevelopmentMake 2D maps and cut scenes using Shader Graphs, Tilemap, Post Processing, Cinemachine, Timelines and other built-in tools in Unity.
- Create Augmented Reality Apps using Vuforia 7 in UnityAddresses the fundamentals of augmented reality and walks you through how to create a simple AR app.
- Hands-On Unity 2018.x Game Development for MobileLearn to build, deploy, maintain, and publish a mobile game that can be played on multiple platforms using Unity.
- Hands-on Game Development with Unity 2018.1Learn to use the latest Unity 2018.x features and create a professional game from concept to finish.
- Games Programming with C# in UnityMake fun and interesting games from scratch using the C# language and the Unity engine through this quick-start video course designed for complete beginners.
3D Modeling Resources
Selected Books:
3D Printing for Dummies by ISBN: 9781119386315Publication Date: 2017-05-22Find all the fast and easy-to-follow guidance you need to grasp the methods available to create 3D printable objects using software, 3D scanners, and even photographs through open source software applications like 123D Catch. Covers each type of 3D printing technology available today: stereolithology, selective sintering, used deposition, and granular binding.
Design for 3D Printing by ISBN: 9781457187360Publication Date: 2015-10-27From an articulated Makey Robot to a posable elephant model, Samuel N. Bernier and the rest of Le FabShop's team have created some of the most-printed designs in the 3D printing world. This book uses their work to teach you how to get professional results out of a desktop 3D printer through a series of tutorials and case studies. Focuses on free design software and affordable technologies.
Functional Design for 3D Printing by ISBN: 9780692883211Publication Date: 2017-06-01Turn your ideas into practical designs that print reliably and assemble into durable, functional objects. Minimize printing time, material use, and weight and the chance of print failure. Design printable hinges, latches, interlocking parts, and other functional elements. Design printable electronic breadboards, prototypes, and simple components. Solve bed adhesion and warping problems at the design level.
SketchUp for Dummies by ISBN: 9781119336150Publication Date: 2017-03-20From creating a basic 3D model to showing off your work via 3D print or animation, this all-access guide pulls back the curtain on using SketchUp to do anything from redesigning your house to mocking up the next great invention. With an emphasis on usability, SketchUp has found very wide success as a tool even non-designers can use to make basic drawings.
Tinkercad for Dummies by ISBN: 9781119464419Publication Date: 2018-03-27This free tool gives everyone the power to create 3D models, regardless of your level of experience. Plan your designs, utilize the platform's drag-and-drop tools to create your design, and print or export your designs to use elsewhere. It's simple enough to be used by kids and students, but robust enough that an adult could use it to create a complex product prototype.
Introduction to Solid Modeling Using SOLIDWORKS 2020 by ISBN: 9781260254136Publication Date: 2020-06-05Tutorial-based introduction to solid modeling and the SOLIDWORKS software. Each tutorial is organized as "keystroke-level" instructions, designed to teach the use of the software.
Autodesk Fusion 360: a Power Guide for Beginners and Intermediate Users by ISBN: 9781720851479Publication Date: 2018-06-06Intended to help engineers and designers interested in learning Fusion 360 for creating 3D mechanical designs. Learn how to use the Fusion 360 mechanical design software to build parametric 3D solid components and assemblies as well as how to create animations and 2D drawings. Provides step-by-step instructions for creating mechanical designs and drawings.
Autodesk Maya 2019 : A Comprehensive GuideISBN: 9781640570368Provides real-world modeling and animation projects and exercises to walk you through how to use the leading animation and 3D modeling platform.
Machine Learning Resources
Selected Books:
Deep Learning for NLP and Speech Recognition by ISBN: 9783030145958Publication Date: 2019-06-24Explains recent deep learning methods applicable to NLP and speech, provides state-of-the-art approaches, and offers real-world case studies with code to provide hands-on experience.
Generative Deep Learning by ISBN: 9781492041948Publication Date: 2019-07-23It's now possible to teach a machine to excel at human endeavors such as painting, writing, and composing music. Discover how to re-create some of the most impressive examples of generative deep learning models, such as variational autoencoders,generative adversarial networks (GANs), encoder-decoder models, and world models. Author David Foster demonstrates the inner workings of each technique, starting with the basics of deep learning before advancing to some of the most cutting-edge algorithms in the field.
Machine Learning with R by ISBN: 9781788295864Publication Date: 2019-04-15Machine learning, at its core, is concerned with transforming data into actionable knowledge. R offers a powerful set of machine learning methods to quickly and easily gain insight from your data. Provides a hands-on, readable guide to applying machine learning to real-world problems. Whether you are an experienced R user or new to the language, Brett Lantz teaches you everything you need to uncover key insights, make new predictions, and visualize your findings.
Practical Deep Learning for Cloud, Mobile, and Edge by ISBN: 9781492034865Publication Date: 2019-11-12Whether you're a software engineer aspiring to enter the world of deep learning, a veteran data scientist, or a hobbyist with a simple dream of making the next viral AI app, you might have wondered where to begin. This step-by-step guide teaches you how to build practical deep learning applications for the cloud, mobile, browsers, and edge devices using a hands-on approach.
Find additional machine learning videos on Academic Videos Online (AVON).
Selected Videos:
- Getting Started with Machine Learning in RA practical guide to working with Machine Learning Techniques using R.
- Getting Started with Neural Nets in RLearn how to build and train neural network models to solve complex problems. Implement solutions from scratch, covering real-world case studies to illustrate the power of neural network models.
- Python Machine Learning in 7 DaysWith this hands-on and practical machine learning course, you can learn and start applying machine learning in less than a week.
- Autonomous Cars: Deep Learning and Computer Vision in PythonThis course will guide you through the key design and development aspects of self-driving vehicles. You’ll be exploring OpenCV, deep learning, and artificial neural networks and their role in the development of autonomous cars.
- Hands-on Deep Learning with TensorFlowGain proficiency in building deep learning projects using TensorFlow without any need to delve into writing models from scratch.
- Predictive Analytics with TensorFlowA quick guide to gaining hands-on experience with deep learning in different domains such as digit/image classification and text. Build your own smart, predictive models with TensorFlow using an easy-to-follow approach.
- Master Deep Learning with TensorFlow 2.0 in PythonBy the end of this course, you will have developed the skills you need to advance in your data science career and confidently build deep learning algorithms.
- Deep Learning Projects with PyTorchLearn to use PyTorch Open Source Deep Learning framework. Dive into specific Deep Learning concepts using real-world projects. Build and train neural networks to make them more efficient.