Competence Center Virtual Prototyping and Simulation

Virtual Prototyping and Simulation (VPS) is an integral part of the product development process. In Virtual Prototyping, a computer model of the product under development is generated and subsequently tested in the same way as a real prototype. This allows design errors to be identified during the early phases of the product development process; alternative designs of a product can be examined virtually without the need to build a real prototype. This reduces time and costs and ensures product quality.

In the context of the research focus VPS, workgroups at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute develop new VPS methods and tools. In support of these research activities, a high definition (HD) visualisation centre was established at the Heinz Nixdorf Institute. The centre contains a large-screen projection system capable of displaying stereoscopic images with a resolution of 20 million pixels on a 9 m wide screen. The HD visualisation centre is available to users from research and industry alike.

In the context of collaborative research at Centre 614 “Self- Optimizing Systems of Mechanical Engineering”, new concepts for the management of complex product development processes are being tested. Using RailCab as an example, the entire development process, broken down into 850 working steps, was visualised on the projection system. The user navigates through the process intuitively, accesses information about individual working steps, and has a broad overview of the entire process at all times.