Virtual Reality for Prototyping: Industry Use Cases, Architecture, Costs

Powered by 34 years in immersive software development and 27 years in 3D modeling, ScienceSoft provides top-class VR software development services.

Virtual Reality Prototyping: The Essence

Virtual Reality software for prototyping is used to enhance the immersion during prototype testing, reduce the number of product design iterations, and minimize product prototyping-related costs by 40-65%.

Market for Virtual Reality Prototyping

The market of virtual reality (VR) for prototyping, estimated $210.4 million in 2017, is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19.4% by 2025. With 96% of enterprises, which already leverage VR, stating that they use the technology for prototyping, it is one of the key VR use segments.

Industry Use Cases of VR for Prototyping

Virtual prototyping allows for cheaper and faster design and modification of parts or elements and full models of products, which are to be later constructed for various industries, including:

Aerospace and aviation

VR prototyping of aircraft and spacecraft.

Automotive

Virtual prototyping of automobiles and other wheeled vehicles.

Healthcare

Virtual prototyping of medical technical/manual equipment.

Real estate

VR prototyping of facilities, houses, apartments and apartment blocks, and other structures.

Consumer electronics

Virtual product design of household appliances and tech gadgets for consumer use.

1:1 scale models

allowing for real-life prototype testing.

Dynamic prototype modification

via desktop or in-VR design tools.

Collaboration mode

for designers to work on a prototype together.

Fast online sharing of prototype iterations

with a customer for getting early feedback.

Collaborative VR Prototyping Solution Architecture

The typical architecture of VR prototyping software comprises:

Data storage

for storing 3D model prototypes and data on the interactions they allow. Can be located on-premises (in case of strict data privacy requirements) or in the cloud (for convenient collaborative work and sharing). We focus on the cloud storage option.

Web administration panel

for importing models to the cloud data storage and managing uploaded content. Can be integrated with design tools of choice for in-browser model modification.

VR application

for visualizing, testing, and modifying 3D prototypes in the VR environment. The application contains modules that enable:

  • Dynamic modification of prototype models (see the process on the diagram below).

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  • Access to the design tools of choice in the VR environment.
  • Interaction with a model based on preprogrammed scenario actions (e.g., a user can test operating a vehicle prototype).
  • Application of kinesthetic attributes to 3D models.
  • Feedback generation.

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Typical architecture of VR prototyping software - ScienceSoft

3D modeling

Simulation modeling

Back-end programming languages

Microsoft .NET

Practice

19 years

Projects

200+

Workforce

60+

Our .NET developers can build sustainable and high-performing apps up to 2x faster due to outstanding .NET proficiency and high productivity.

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Java

Practice

25 years

Projects

110+

Workforce

40+

ScienceSoft's Java developers build secure, resilient and efficient cloud-native and cloud-only software of any complexity and successfully modernize legacy software solutions.

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Python

Practice

10 years

Projects

50+

Workforce

30

ScienceSoft's Python developers and data scientists excel at building general-purpose Python apps, big data and IoT platforms, AI and ML-based apps, and BI solutions.

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Node.js

Practice

10 years

Workforce

100

ScienceSoft delivers cloud-native, real-time web and mobile apps, web servers, and custom APIs ~1.5–2x faster than other software developers.

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PHP

Practice

16 years

Projects

170

Workforce

55

ScienceSoft's PHP developers helped to build Viber. Their recent projects: an IoT fleet management solution used by 2,000+ corporate clients and an award-winning remote patient monitoring solution.

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Golang

Practice

4 years

ScienceSoft's developers use Go to build robust cloud-native, microservices-based applications that leverage advanced techs — IoT, big data, AI, ML, blockchain.

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Front end

JavaScript

Practice

21 years

Projects

2,200+

Workforce

50+

ScienceSoft uses JavaScript’s versatile ecosystem of frameworks to create dynamic and interactive user experience in web and mobile apps.

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React JS

Workforce

80+

ScienceSoft achieves 20–50% faster React development and 50–90% fewer front-end performance issues due to smart implementation of reusable components and strict adherence to coding best practices.

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Angular JS

Practice

13 years

Workforce

100+

ScienceSoft leverages code reusability Angular is notable for to create large-scale apps. We chose Angular for a banking app with 3M+ users.

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Vue.js

By using a lightweight Vue framework, ScienceSoft creates high-performant apps with real-time rendering.

Ember.js

When working with Ember.js, ScienceSoft creates reusable components to speed up development and avoid code redundancy.

MeteorJS

ScienceSoft uses Meteor for rapid full-stack development of web, mobile and desktop apps.

Cloud databases, warehouses and storage

AWS

Amazon Redshift

We use Amazon Redshift to build cost-effective data warehouses that easily handle complex queries and large amounts of data.

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Amazon DynamoDB

We use Amazon DynamoDB as a NoSQL database service for solutions that require low latency, high scalability and always available data.

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Azure

Azure Cosmos DB

We leverage Azure Cosmos DB to implement a multi-model, globally distributed, elastic NoSQL database on the cloud. Our team used Cosmos DB in a connected car solution for one of the world’s technology leaders.

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Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Database is great for handling large volumes of data and varying database traffic: it easily scales up and down without any downtime or disruption to the applications. It also offers automatic backups and point-in-time recoveries to protect databases from accidental corruption or deletion.

Google Cloud Platform

Google Cloud Datastore

We use Google Cloud Datastore to set up a highly scalable and cost-effective solution for storing and managing NoSQL data structures. This database can be easily integrated with other Google Cloud services (BigQuery, Kubernetes, and many more).

A Success Story of VR for Prototyping

BMW has leveraged Unreal Engine to build virtual prototypes of their vehicles. Previously, the company assembled full-scale car models out of small clay elements, which required time and effort to modify or recreate during multiple rounds of adjustments. With a virtual prototype, the designers can easily modify the prototype in a few minutes and get the approval in days. It has drastically reduced the costs of BMW’s engineering processes.

Plan to Win the Market or Raise Profits with VR Prototyping?

Thanks to the expertise in implementing low-latency immersive software and designing highly realistic 3D models, ScienceSoft can become your reliable partner in developing VR prototyping product or solution.

Challenge

Long delays in input/output can skew prototype testing results and pose significant inconveniences during in-VR prototype modification.

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Solution:

Minimizing latency to the recommended minimum of ~5-20ms is critical for VR prototyping. Among the feasible methods are:

  • Ensuring the quality of connection.
  • Choosing the nearest geographic location for 3D models storage (possible when working with a cloud service provider that provides the choice of storage geo-locations).
  • Calculating the processing power necessary for smooth software performance so as to target powerful enough VR hardware.

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VR Prototyping Software Costs

The development cost of VR prototyping software starts at $150,000 and depends largely on the complexity of prototyping scenarios. While estimating the software cost, ScienceSoft considers the following:

General cost drivers

  • Complexity of 3D model attributes (kinesthetic attributes require additional work).
  • Complexity of prototype interaction scenarios.
  • Number and types of targeted devices.

Additional costs

  • Hardware (Tethered HMD: Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, Valve Index; Smartphone-compatible viewers: Google Cardboard, Samsung Gear VR, Google Daydream View; Standalone HMD: Lenovo Mirage Solo.)
  • Integrations with 3D design tools of choice (Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3ds Max, etc.)

Operational costs

  • Cloud services (price depends on the provider’s plan and pricing policy).

VR for Prototyping: Consulting and Development by ScienceSoft

Driven by 27 years of experience in 3D modeling and over 34 years in developing low-latency software, ScienceSoft offers VR prototyping consulting and development services.

VR for prototyping: consulting

  • VR prototyping software concept finalization.
  • Long-term release planning.
  • VR architecture design.
  • Planning of integration with various types of hardware and software.
  • Technology stack definition and optimization.
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VR for prototyping: development

  • Business analysis.
  • VR architecture planning.
  • UI/UX design.
  • 3D model design.
  • VR development and quality assurance.
  • Integration with a wide range of hardware/software.
  • Continuous support and evolution.
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About ScienceSoft

ScienceSoft is a global software development and IT consulting company established 1989 and headquartered in McKinney, TX. By developing VR software for prototyping, we facilitate product design in various industries. In our VR projects, we always rely on comprehensive quality and data security management systems that are backed by ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certificates. Contact us to know more.