When people think of virtual reality, they automatically think – big goggles, game controller in both hands and enjoy the ride because this is going to be wild. The general public could agree to this depiction of virtual reality, as it is a computer-generated scenario that stimulates one’s senses and perception. It’s sort of like this illusion – this fantastical world that you are now a part of, and you experience recreations that could never be possible in the “physical” and/or real world of 2018. But, virtual reality is more than that …its undoubtedly more than people realise. Just like any other technology, it has come a long way from its “primary use”.
Virtual reality is indeed giving us a whole new experience when combined with additive manufacturing. The ability to move 3D models around, with the help of VR, has become beneficial within multiple industries. When it comes to 3D, VR is all too familiar with the technology, its capabilities as well as its limits. But, Hackrod, Inc. and Siemens PLM choose to focus on the capabilities of both technologies combined and pushes the boundaries by unveiling to us a product beneficial in the automotive sector. Both companies have decided to charm us with the world’s first car designed in virtual reality. The car itself has been designed with the use of AI and 3D printed structural alloy.
The sports car, dubbed La Bandita, is proof of a new industrial design. La Bandita speedster is the company’s first car. It also inspired the manufacturing of Hackrod. Indeed, the body was designed and reviewed in VR, negating the need for costly and time-consuming scale and full-size models. The suspension geometry was captured with 3D scanning of an existing race car and the chassis structure was engineered by an artificial intelligence algorithm. That chassis structure will be 3D printed in aluminum eliminating the need for expensive tooling and allowing the team to make changes to each and every car produced with no impact to production costs.
This collaboration between Siemens and the cars manufacturer demonstrates how virtual reality (VR) has penetrated various sectors over the last years of its major adoption; entertainment sector, architecture and engineering – it is now even found in retirement homes.
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