Abstract: This paper analyzes and summarizes the current status of the virtual assembly technology research and elaborates its principle and implementing process. By taking the tractor’s front drive axle as an object, a virtual assembly and its corresponding inspection is conducted in the computer virtual environment (Division Mockup). The generation assembly orders and routes are introduced. The procedure of assembly animation is set up to vividly exhibit the whole process of product assembly. By virtue of the third-party plug-in units and the virtual reality environment consisting of data gloves, polarization glasses, projection system, and position tracker (FOB), human-computer interaction can be achieved in Division Mockup. The rules and methods of human-computer interaction interface definitions are introduced as well.

Key words: virtual assembly, assembly inspection, virtual reality, human-computer interaction