Media release from the Thuringian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Science, and Digital Society
August 9, 2023
New high-tech laboratory at TU Ilmenau transports users into virtual reality
Thuringia MOTIVation supports the establishment of CAVE with more than €660,000
Thüringen is so innovative: Scientists at the Technical University of Ilmenau are setting up a large-scale spatial visualization environment in the new university computer center building—known in professional circles as Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE for short).
By projecting images onto the four walls and the floor of the room, a virtual environment is created that almost completely surrounds the user and immerses them in a new virtual reality. A room-spanning installation of loudspeakers further creates a spatial-auditory illusion, which enhances the merging of virtual and analog experiences. This enables new research projects, such as the simulation of real-world situations or studies in motion science. CAVE is scheduled to begin operation in spring 2025.
Thüringenis funding the equipment for this project with €662,400 from the FTI-Thuringia Research program (co-financed by the ERDF), which is part of the "Thuringia MOTIVation" funding initiative. "With digitalization, the importance of virtual worlds continues to grow. It is only logical that research in these areas is also gaining momentum. At the Ilmenau University of Technology, which even has its own department for Virtual Worlds and Digital Games, this research is in very good hands," says State Secretary Dr. Katja Böhler.
“The new CAVE will be a laboratory unique in Germany, located within the ‘Ilmenau Interactive Immersive Technologies Center (I3TC)’ research center at TU Ilmenau. This will enable us scientists to research innovative applications based on virtual reality and evaluate them with users. Through the use of cutting-edge technology, the CAVE will be among the most advanced facilities of its kind in Germany,” says Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Broll of TU Ilmenau.
Background:
Thüringen is a leading location for innovation. The Free State has set itself the goal of consistently strengthening the topic of innovation. Thüringen MOTIVation launched in May, is a unique nationwide program that brings together innovation funding in the fields of business, science, and research. The package comprises a total of €850 million in funding, including co-financing from the European Union. It offers the opportunity to receive tailored funding from the initial research idea to the finished product. This allows scientific research and entrepreneurial activity to go hand in hand. More information is available online at https://wirtschaft.thueringen.de/innovationsfoerderung.