The department has opened a new laboratory using various techniques and software for designing and animating computer games. The room has 15 graphics stations enabling:

1. perform complex calculations for artificial intelligence,
2. modeling of 3D objects, which are used to design 2D, 3D games in Unity, Unreal 5.0 and Godot environments,
3. creating digital avatars,
4. modeling, texturing and animating objects,
5. and others.

It is possible to design games that support all kinds of controllers or 3D goggles of different classes – from: Oculus Quest 2, through HP reverb or Valve Index. The range of VR solutions is complemented by Microsoft Holo Lens 2, a wireless mixed reality kit. It allows you to familiarize yourself with augmented reality technology and optimize your game for the hardware platform of your choice.

In the lab, students work in groups. Assigned tasks include, for example, designing and modeling digital avatars of characters. A student stands in front of a so-called green screen, and the others write down a sequence of movements that they will use in the game being developed.

As mentioned, in addition to the implementation of game projects, it is possible to model, texture and animate objects using Blender and MakeHuman.

As part of the course, students also learn new ways of human-computer interaction. In addition to classic techniques, they learn about control through touch screens, VR controllers (which allow simulating gestures) as well as tracking body and hand movements. Movement of the lower limbs is tested using the KatVR treadmill.

WBMiI has specialized software used in the design process, e.g. NX, Technomatix, Solid Edge, Catia, Solid Works, Ansys Mechanical, 3DS Max and others. We can now better utilize the capabilities of the aforementioned systems with moreViz VR Bridge. This is a solution from one of Siemens’ partners, more3D, which streams images for virtual reality.

The use of virtual reality at the design stage makes it possible to reduce the time associated with the preparation of the model, its verification and execution. Using available tools, i.e. VR goggles, we can see the model in 1:1 scale.

The moreViz VR Bridge software, along with VR goggles and selected systems, is used during design classes.

Application areas include:

1. analysis of a simulation or CAD model for consistency of assumptions,
2. visual verification of the process,
3. layout modification,
4. virtual commissioning,
5. and others.

Teachers and students of WBMiI can conduct tests on a modern Instron 68FM-300 universal testing machine with a temperature chamber. It is possible to conduct, for example, tensile, compression, bending and other tests.

Operated by Bluehill Universal’s touch-panel software, the device is capable of testing forces up to 300 kN.

It is possible to record data with a measurement accuracy of 0.5% in the range from 500N to 300 kN. The temperature chamber offers an operating range of -80°C to +350°C and is suitable for operation with a mounted optical extensometer in the 0.5 measurement accuracy class according to ISO 9513.

Through the operator panel, configured modules can be loaded for testing:

1. metals,
2. plastics,
3. composites,
4. elastomers,
5. biomedical materials and medical devices,
6. coefficient of adhesion, friction, delamination and related,
7. textiles.