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Manikins in Skyreal

Manikin

In SkyReal, you can create manikins (virtual human figures), edit their position, run human factors studies (MSD score), and customize the avatar you incarnate. The Manikin command is available in both VR and Desktop modes.

[VIDEO: Overview of the Manikin command in Desktop mode -- original at https://www.youtube.com/embed/K5Mw11LtLRU?si=LozjHeIMtSn2ThK5%5D

How to Use in VR

You will find the Manikin command in the default Manikin sub menu of the pie menu.

[IMAGE: Default manikin pie menu -- original at /pictures/v1.16/commands_manikin_pie_menu_create.png]

If no manikin is selected before launching the command, you will start the creation workflow. If a manikin is already selected when you launch the command, you will go directly to the manikin [edition] interface.

Create a Manikin in VR

To create a new manikin, click on the Create Manikin button. This will open your tablet without any manikin selected in the Manikin List:

  1. Click on Create Manikin -- a manikin will appear [attached to] your laser pointer.

  2. Click once to place the manikin in the environment.

  3. Click a second time to define the manikin's orientation.

The manikin is now created.

[IMAGE: Create manikin interface on the VR tablet -- original at /pictures/v1.21/create-manikin.png]

Edit a Manikin in VR

You can select any existing manikin -- either directly in VR or from the Manikin List on your tablet -- to edit its customization options.

  • Incarnate Manikin: By clicking this button, you will automatically incarnate the selected manikin. While you incarnate the manikin, you can move freely to assume any desired pose.

[IMAGE: Edit manikin interface -- original at /pictures/v1.21/edit-manikin.png]

Incarnate a Manikin

Note: To perform this action, you must be tracked. We strongly recommend completing a Body Calibration beforehand.

You can incarnate any manikin by projecting yourself into it. Once incarnated, the manikin will follow your movements. While inside a manikin, pressing the trigger will exit the manikin's body and return you to your avatar.

Fast Calibration lets you incarnate manikins of any size without losing precision. For example, if your height is 1.70 m and you incarnate a manikin of 1.80 m, your body will be interpolated to match 1.80 m.

The manikin's behavior depends on the number of trackers linked to your body:

  • If your arms are shorter and the manikin's are longer, no scaling occurs -- arm reach always matches body size.

  • Head and hands take priority and drive the movement of other body parts.

  • If you want the manikin's legs to follow yours, you must [attach] trackers [to] your feet.

If you skip calibration, incarnation will be less precise. The avatar will try to adapt to your tracking, but this only works correctly if the avatar's size closely matches yours. Head and hands will still [take priority] in guiding the rest of the body.

How to Use in Desktop

The Manikin command can be accessed from the Add to Scene menu in the left side menu.

[IMAGE: Access Manikin command from Desktop left side menu -- original at /pictures/v1.21/access-measure.png]

This opens the Manikin floating menu, which [lets] you create a new manikin and proceed to place and edit it.

[IMAGE: Manikin floating menu in Desktop -- original at /pictures/v1.21/manikin-desktop.png]

To close the menu (and leave the command), you can either click the X on the top-right of the floating menu or confirm by clicking the check button on the left side of the screen.

Create a Manikin in Desktop

To create a new manikin, click on the Create Manikin button. This will hide the menu and attach a manikin to your mouse pointer:

  1. Click once to place the manikin in the environment.

  2. Click a second time to define the manikin's orientation.

The manikin is now created.

Edit a Manikin in Desktop

You can edit any manikin by clicking on it in the scene. If you are already in the Manikin command, you can directly edit it. If you are not in the command, you can press M on your keyboard to enter edit mode.

Manikin Actions

When a manikin is selected, you have access to several actions in the side panel.

[IMAGE: Manikin action buttons in VR -- original at /pictures/v1.21/manikin-options.png]

[IMAGE: Manikin action buttons in Desktop -- original at /pictures/v1.21/manikin-edition.png]

VR Actions

  • Create Manikin: A shortcut to create a new manikin.

  • Duplicate Manikin: Hides your tablet and spawns an exact copy of the selected manikin [attached to] your laser pointer. You can then place the new manikin anywhere in the scene.

  • Focus: Focuses the view on the selected manikin.

  • Hide: Toggles the visibility of the selected manikin (show or hide).

  • Delete: Deletes the selected manikin.

Desktop Actions

  • Duplicate Manikin: Spawns an exact copy of the selected manikin [attached to] your mouse pointer. You can then place the new manikin anywhere in the scene.

  • Delete Manikin: Deletes the selected manikin.

Manikin Options

Once your manikin is created, you can edit a variety of options on it.

Manikin Appearance

You can personalize the manikin [during or after] creation. The available options are:

  • Name: You can enter a custom name for your manikin. If you leave it empty, the default name will be "Manikin_#".

  • Manikin Dimension / Size: You can edit any manikin dimension (see Manikin Settings for more information).

  • Posture: By default, the manikin will appear in a normal standing position. You can also select seated or [lying] down positions (see Manikin Settings for more information).

Change Manikin Avatar

Here, you can select any manikin from your Manikin Library (see Avatars and MetaHuman for more information).

Open MSD Settings

You can access all MSD parameters (based on the RULA standard). Each parameter you select will influence the final score calculation (see MSD Analysis for more information).

Accessibility Options

You can activate accessibility options on each manikin (see Manikin Settings for more information).

Edit Effectors

You can edit individual effectors on each manikin (see Manikin Settings for more information).

Tips

  • If you are working in a collaborative session, the VR user handles positioning while the Desktop user manages captures and scoring.

  • Always perform a Body Calibration before incarnating a manikin for the most accurate results.

  • Use the Snap To Actor effector state to attach tools or objects to a manikin's hand for realistic operation simulations.

  • You can press M on your keyboard in Desktop mode to quickly enter manikin edit mode.

Avatars and MetaHuman

SkyReal provides a range of avatar options for your manikins, from simple robot skins to highly realistic MetaHuman characters. You can select and customize these avatars to best fit your simulation and ergonomic study needs.

Robot Avatars

[IMAGE: Robot avatar options -- original at /pictures/v1.18/Avatar_robots.png]

SkyReal offers two types of robot skins by default. These are available as personal avatar options for your VR representation.

Manikin MetaHumans

SkyReal's manikin avatars are created with MetaHuman from Unreal Engine (https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/metahuman).

Standard Avatars

[IMAGE: Animated preview of standard MetaHuman avatars -- original at /pictures/v1.18/manikinAvatars.gif]

SkyReal offers a selection of 14 different avatars, each with unique characteristics such as name, height, body type, gender, and a particular outfit.

Worker Avatars

[IMAGE: Worker avatars with PPE equipment -- original at /pictures/v1.18/Avatars_Workers.png]

Since version 1.18, SkyReal includes 4 different worker avatars equipped with gloves and hats as PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).

Each worker avatar can also be [customized] by changing its back t-shirt logo in the Logo section of the Local User Settings (found under Collaboration in the right menu).

How to Use

You can change a manikin's avatar at any time through the Change Manikin Avatar option in the manikin settings panel. This applies to both manikins you create in the scene and your own avatar (via the Edit Myself command).

To select an avatar:

  1. Open the Manikin command (in VR or Desktop).

  2. Select the manikin you want to customize, or use Edit Myself for your own avatar.

  3. Navigate to the Change Manikin Avatar section.

  4. Browse and select an avatar from your Manikin Library.

Tips

  • Choose a worker avatar with PPE when simulating industrial or manufacturing scenarios for a more realistic experience.

  • You can customize the logo on worker avatars to match your company branding through the Local User Settings.

  • When performing ergonomic studies, select a MetaHuman avatar whose height and body type closely match the target operator for the most accurate results.

  • The MSD avatar (see MSD Analysis) is a specialized option that overlays RULA score colors -- use it when you need real-time ergonomic feedback on posture.