Advanced Virtual Reality Research Centre (AVRRC)

The Centre drives the future of industrial digitalization by advancing the science and engineering behind next-generation digital information systems. Our work transforms engineering and manufacturing, connecting data, people, processes, services, and production assets into a seamless digital ecosystem.

The AVRRC is the longest established VR Research Centre in a UK University, formally opened on 15th July 1996 by HRH Duke of Edinburgh.

The Centre focuses on developing innovative tools and solutions to address complex engineering challenges, particularly through the use of advanced modelling, simulation, and visualisation techniques. Where appropriate, the Centre also applies virtual and augmented reality technologies to enhance research outcomes.

AVRRC’s work is supported by funding from UK and EU Research Councils and is strengthened through active collaboration with both national and international organisations.

Image showing AVRRC lab exploring large scale production system.

Our research

Our research develops new virtual engineering digitalization techniques to provide critical understanding of increasingly complex and interconnected systems to tackle previously intractable problems. The research is necessarily trans-disciplinary by breaking down barriers between traditional discipline boundaries. Underpinning this requires understanding of highly complex system behaviour (involving people, processes and technology) to predict performance and control emergent properties.

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