Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that enables the creation of fully immersive, three-dimensional digital environments that users can interact with using specialised equipment, such as VR goggles, motion controllers, and sensors. VR simulates presence in a virtual world, enabling a realistic experience of space and interaction in a digital environment. In the context of Industry 4.0, VR is used in employee training, manufacturing simulation, product design, and process visualisation, enabling cost and risk reduction and increased operational efficiency.
Technological navigator
Virtual Reality
Definition
Basic kinds
- Virtual reality (VR) – a completely virtual, digital environment. Full immersion in virtual reality.
- Augmented reality (AR) – the real world with elements of the virtual world. The real world enhanced with virtual objects, elements and information.
- Mixed reality (MR) – a combination of the real world and the virtual world. Two-way interaction between the real world and the virtual world.
Main roles
- Training and simulations: VR makes it possible to safely train employees in realistic conditions, simulating emergency situations, production procedures, and complex technical operations.
- Design and prototyping: VR allows engineers and designers to create and test full-scale digital prototypes of products, reducing design time and enabling faster implementation of improvements.
- Data visualisation: With VR, complex data and processes can be represented in three-dimensional space, which facilitates analysis, monitoring, and decision-making.
- Meetings and remote collaboration: VR enables the creation of virtual workspaces where teams can meet and collaborate in real time, regardless of location.
Related technologies
Artificial Intelligence
AI supports interactions in VR, enabling the generation of intelligent environments and virtual assistants and analysis of user behaviour.
Cloud Computing
VR uses the computing power of the cloud to render and process complex environments, enabling real-time scaling and collaboration.
Big Data
VR allows large data sets to be visualised in an interactive way, which facilitates data analysis and pattern identification.
Internet of Things
Combined with IoT, VR makes it possible to monitor and analyse real data from devices in real time, which is useful in simulations and visualisations of manufacturing processes, among others.
Digital twin
VR enables interaction with the digital twins of devices and systems, making it possible to monitor, test, and optimise them in a secure virtual environment.
Basic elements
- VR goggles: A 3D display device that completely surrounds the user’s field of vision, enabling full immersion in the virtual environment. VR goggles are equipped with high-resolution displays and sensors that track head movement.
- Motion controllers: Devices that allow the user to interact with objects in a virtual world. Controllers are equipped with buttons, joysticks, and motion sensors that track the user’s position and hand gestures.
- Motion tracking: A system that monitors the user’s position and movements in space. Tracking can use external cameras (outside-in tracking) or sensors built into VR goggles (inside-out tracking).
- VR graphics engine: Software for creating and rendering VR environments. Graphics engines, such as Unity and Unreal Engine, enable building interactive and realistic 3D environments.
- Surround audio system: Surround sound technology that adapts sound to the user’s position, which enhances realism and immersion in the virtual environment.
- Haptics: Haptic systems, such as VR gloves, allow users to feel physical sensations in a virtual world, which increases realism of interactions with objects.
Mechanism of action
- 3D environment generation: Based on the design of the VR environment, the graphics engine renders realistic 3D images. VR environments can be created from scratch or based on real objects using 3D scanning technology.
- Image display and motion tracking: The VR goggles display an image tailored to the user’s head movements, allowing the user to look around the virtual world with ease. The motion tracking system analyses changes in head and body position to adjust the image accordingly.
- Interaction with the environment: Users can interact with virtual objects using motion controllers that transmit location and gesture information to the VR system. Advanced applications use haptic systems that enable haptic sensations.
- Surround sound simulation: VR systems use surround sound technology that adapts sounds to the user’s movements and position, enabling a realistic experience of the environment.
- Real-time data processing: VR often requires processing of large amounts of data in real time, allowing the user to have a smooth and realistic experience. The process involves rendering graphics, tracking motion, and analysing user interaction.
- Practical application: The virtual VR environment can be used for training, prototype testing, data visualisation, and remote collaboration. VR is used in industries such as manufacturing, architecture, education, and medicine.