Virtual Prototyping

Research focus

The Peer review has evaluated this group as Good

Virtual Prototyping is a process that allow to generate and display a digital model from a project idea. Digital models are able to act as true virtual prototypes endowed with behavioral and performance similarities. They allow us to observe, simulate and analyze the design project, as well as its behavior, in a much better way than physical models. The output of a virtual prototyping process is fully exploited through real-time rendering tools in a virtual reality environment (i.e. virtual theatres), that allow to realistically see the virtual object in 3D and its possible formal and chromatic variations. This research area has four main focuses: - Virtual Prototyping for Industrial Design; - Educational 3D; - Virtual Reality for Cultural Heritage; - Virtual Reality for city representation and urban planning. Virtual Prototyping for Industrial Design Modeling (either physical or digital) is a core practice in the industrial design process. In the last 10 years a wide use of digital models became the de facto standard in the design process, mainly in those markets more used to experiment: electronic consumer goods, transportation, cell-phones. At the same time, more often a hard requirements wish list (reduce time to market, reduce costs, more quality, more innovation) reached the design offices: Virtual Prototyping appears an interesting possible answer to these requirements. Virtual Prototyping means to build a digital model that looks and behaves like the real product. The key tool is Computer Aided Industrial Design (CAID) software, because it allows high quality control of shape, structure and function, easiness in project production, possible direct connection with the manufacturing, shortening time-to-market. This can happen through the use of Real Time Rendering tools in a virtual reality environment. Studies here involves the applications of: color calibration of digital devices, stereo viewing, Level Of Details (LOD), Dynamic Texture Mapping, Interaction with digital models; semi-immersive environments. Educational 3D The problem of CAID use is very complex because the Industrial Design project production is a non-linear process that involves creativity from the final user. However despite the obvious importance of the CAID training, current industrial design learning frameworks are not fulfilling expectations and needs. This lack, both in the academic and industrial environments, is sharply evident and is causing serious problems when an industrial design Peer Review - Department of Industrial Design, Arts, Communication and Fashion (INDACO) 176 student enters a working environment, due to expectations in terms of advanced CAID tools usage, that the student is not able to satisfy. Moreover, major difficulties arise during the industrial designer training path within industry: a limited timeframe, not effective modalities, bringing not satisfying results. This research line studies the methodologies for dramatically improving the learning process of CAID software, developing synergies between technology-enhanced learning and knowledge management systems. It intends to propose innovative ways of conceptualization, new tools and an Advanced Learning Environment (ALE) capable of improving the learning time and effectiveness for single learners and working groups. Virtual Reality for Cultural Heritage Application of Virtual Reality (VR) techniques to simulate and analyze artworks and architectural monuments, starting from real world data. The research studies methods for using semi-immersive visualization in virtual rooms as a study aid. The main issues in real-time visualization and interactive manipulation of highly textured surfaces are addressed. This research field deal also with the appropriate restitution of colors in the whole capture/visualization chain. Virtual reality for city representation and urban planning For years, the application of 3D modeling to territorial representation as well as to the interconnected field of events simulation has been an active field of investigation. With the introduction of software packages for automatic design, numerical models are increasingly replacing or at the very least complementing physical and studio models. A numerical model created by extrusion in the information system can be exported in VRML format which, in addition of being a standard for exchanging models over the Internet, can be easily converted to various formats which can be exported into a multitude of connected software packages. The further shift from the hyper-realistic model to the virtual reality system enables the planner to appraise the planning decisions in relation to the urban re-organization, including new modes of intervention in the pre-existing urban landscape. The requirements of the virtual environments are analyzed from a conceptual and technical point of view. Among them are: photorealism, scalability (both from the virtual scene and the virtual theatre size points of view), intellectual property protection (for collaborative work), and content-based information retrieval (for database access).

Dipartimento di afferenza

Dipartimento di Industrial Design, Arti, Comunicazione e Moda (INDACO)

Docenti afferenti

Full Professors
Marco Gaiani
Assistant Professors
Fausto Brevi
Mauro Ceconello