Virtalis Supports Mobile Virtual Reality Systems

Virtalis has supplied equipment to enable the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre's (AMRC) Manufacturing Technology Transporter (Mantra) to have a mobile Virtalis Stereoworks Activewall system. Mantra is a specially modified demonstration HGV that travels the UK demonstrating the latest manufacturing, machinery and simulation technologies. 'Transferring industry-ready manufacturing solutions to companies as quickly as possible is a vital component to maximising the UK's manufacturing competitiveness,' said research director of the AMRC, Prof Keith Ridgway.

'Using Mantra and the stereoscopic 3D capabilities of the Virtalis Stereoworks Activewall system, we can demonstrate to businesses how VR technology can help achieve a smooth integration of new technologies into production environments,' he added. Onboard the 14m lorry, AMRC engineers are using the interactive capabilities of the Stereoworks Activewall system to give students of all ages the experience of assembling, design reviewing and rehearsing the maintenance of a multi-million pound Rolls-Royce jet engine.

The VR brings students face to face with the real-life challenges encountered by engineers every day. Mantra was funded with an award of GBP500,000 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council's (EPSRC) 2007 Knowledge Transfer Challenge, which rewards innovative approaches to supporting knowledge transfer in universities, making sure that research finds its way to end users in business and the public sector. AMRC saw VR as a key technology to showcase.

Virtalis has been a sponsor of AMRC since 2006 and is involved in all AMRC projects involving a simulation element. Virtalis Stereoworks Activewall systems offer stereoscopic 3D viewing, from real-time interactive VR or pre-prepared stereo movies and enable full depth perception with accurate movement tracking. The Stereoworks range consists of the latest stereo viewing hardware coupled with the Virtalis Stereotools software suite.

University Invests In Virtalis Equipment

The University of Northampton has ordered a five-sided Activecube and two Stereoworks Activewalls from Virtalis. The GBP1.5m order represents half the value of the equipment for the university's GBP8m NVision Centre. Stuart Wayne, NVision manager, said: 'During the next five years, we expect to bring the power of virtual reality (VR) to more than 500 small and medium businesses in the East Midlands. 'The university saw the acquisition of the Kingsley Park building for its School of Science and Technology as an opportunity to not just disseminate knowledge to our students, but to the wider community as well.

'The three Virtalis systems will give us three separate facilities with powerful capabilities, all underpinned by high-performance computing from SGI and projection equipment from Christie Digital. 'Our 6m x 3m Stereoworks Activewall, powered by Virtalis immersive display software, will generate a 3D stereo experience for up to 75 people at a time. 'Our smaller Stereoworks Activewall will be tucked away in the basement and is intended for sensitive research, product design, marketing and small-scale customer presentations,' he added.

Already the NVision team has attracted two research projects keen to use the Virtalis technology. The first will analyse and endeavour to optimise how architects and builders can collaborate to create more sustainable buildings. The second project will use VR to develop virtual laparoscopy, an area in which Virtalis has expertise.

Students studying engineering, environmental science and computing will all benefit from having some of their course content delivered in 3D. Wayne said: 'With such advanced visualisation technology, we aim to make ourselves as accessible as possible and are already in talks with automotive companies for example, about how they can use our facilities for interactive design reviews. 'The main reason we chose Virtalis is because it has the experience and expertise to support us while we develop our offering, not just with its immersive displays, but in developing specialist software applications that will benefit our students and the wider business community,' he added.