What Is VSimulators?
Our academic and industry partners explain how VSimulators can enable multi-disciplinary research into factors affecting human comfort, health and wellbeing
Sectors
VSimulators provides a platform for multi-disciplinary research to study the human experience of real world environments. It is a catalyst, supported by an extraordinary community of researchers and industry leaders from structural engineering, physiotherapy, psychology, architecture, biomechanics, immersive reality, vibration engineering and human movement science. Click on the sector links below to explore ways in which VSimulators can support academic and industry based research.
VSimulators support research in transforming construction, modular design and reductions in embodied energy, by placing people at the centre of their customised design prior to construction.
VSimulators enables research into the factors affecting human comfort, perception and and responses to their environment. This will enable people to be placed at the centre of future design.
VSimulators supports extensive research into how people move, balance and respond to their moving surroundings, helping to create supportive programmes, environment designs and equipment.
VSimulators offers state of the art virtual reality technology aligned to a motion platform and environmental conditions, creating a realistic, immersive experience for exploration by one or more people.
VSimulators can handle multiple feeds of raw information contributing to the development of new ways to visually interpret, analyse and use complex or multiple feeds of data.
VSimulators can uniquely support research into vibration analysis of structures, machinery and other engineered facilities, advising on the proposed design before starting construction.
VSimulators provides a platform for the development of new and novel creative techniques, as a tool for expression, performance and story telling.
VSimulators is an ideal platform for research related to acceleration, deceleration and motion in transport, exploring factors such as human response to vibrations, assisted driving and balance.
Our Expertise
Our knowledge base can support your use of the VSimulator facilities. With expertise spanning from structural dynamics to vibration engineering, psychological analysis to medical application, and biomechanical investigation to physiological data capture, our interdisciplinary team can support a broad range of sectors in using the VSimulators facilities for research purposes.
Vibration Engineering
The Vibration Engineering Section are experts in vibration serviceability, dynamic analysis, testing and monitoring of large civil engineering structures including bridges, buildings, lighthouses, grandstands, tall timber structures and staircases. Vibration serviceability is the study of the whole field of environmental vibration, both natural...
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Architecture & Civil Engineering
The Architecture and Civil Engineering team who developed VSimulators at the University of Bath is led by Dr Antony Darby, whose research interests include structural dynamics, most recently investigating perception and acceptability of dynamic motion. Working together with a multi-disciplinary team, this research is providing the next...
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Human Factors
Research into Human Factors seeks to place people at the centre of designs for the built environment, by researching the interaction of humans with the world around them. This research field draws on our academic expertise from a range of disciplines including architecture, psychology, the medical profession, physiology, bio-mechanics, and...
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Immersive Reality
Immersive Reality is an evolving area of expertise across the Universities and our academic communities. We offer research knowledge in the use of virtual reality for training purposes, creative applications, human modelling, psychology and exploring ideas around big data and visual analysis. The VSimulators provide unique research facilities...
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Health & Wellbeing
Our expertise in Health and Wellbeing draws on research and knowledge from leading academics within medical science, physiotherapy, psychology, physiology, sports science and biomechanics. Research areas include gait analysis, intervention and therapy for patients with neurological conditions such as Parkinson's and dementia, the role of the...
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Data Science
The Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (IDASI) at the University of Exeter provides a hub for data-intensive science activity within the University and the wider region. Research expertise offers innovative means to interrogate and understand data, to innovate and apply cutting-edge data analytical methodologies. We offer a...
Read MoreCase Studies
Our case studies demonstrate how academics and industry are using VSimulators in multi-disciplinary research, development and innovation. Contact us to explore your research idea.
Latest News
Find out the latest news on the VSimulators facilities in Exeter and Bath
Exeter VSimulator used in project to assess bridges at risk of flooding during storms
The Exeter VSimulator facility was used as an evaluation test of a new inertial measurement unit (IMU), developed as part of an EPSRC funded research project by Karen Faulkner. The project involves the development of a new portable data acquisition (DAQ) system for monitoring vulnerable bridge infrastructure during a storm event.
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€ 225k funded project exploring how people interact with lightweight structures
Dr Sigong Zhang and Dr Stana Zivanovic have secured € 225k EU funding to use the VSimulator and Exeter Bridge facilities at Exeter Science Park in researching how people interact with lightweight structures.
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Using the Exeter VSimulator to investigate the vibration sensitivity of active people
University of Exeter PhD student Nimmy Abraham will be using the VSimulator and Exeter Bridge facilities at ExeterScience Park to explore the vibration comfort of a person walking, bobbing and jumping on a vibrating structure.
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