Deakin University has officially launched what it claims is Australia’s most advanced $9 million simulator, with the goal of providing advanced research and innovation opportunities for mobility technology and industry sectors.
The Genesis simulator, created by UK company Ansible Motion, is the only one of its kind in Australia and the only university-based simulator in the world, the university said in a media release.
The immersive simulation experience is provided through a five-metre-tall, 360-degree screen and flexible virtual worlds.
According to the university, driving simulations are made as realistic as possible by combining high-fidelity images, sound, movement, and experience.
The project includes $5 million in co-funding from the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund (VHESIF) initiated to strengthen Victoria’s productivity and economy as the State recovers from the effects of COVID-19.
Professor Saeid Nahavandi, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Defence Technologies and Director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation (IISRI), said the Genesis Simulator would spearhead groundbreaking research and innovation collaborations with companies and industry bodies in the automotive, emergency services, transportation, and health sectors.
“The addition of the Genesis Simulator grows our strong capabilities across motion simulation, with IISRI now housing more than seven cutting-edge simulators worth more than $70 million,” Professor Nahavandi said.
With the new Genesis simulator, the professor said there are opportunities for advanced research and innovation, including enhancing driver safety and training, automotive testing and design, accelerating transport prototyping, and self-driving and autonomous mobility research.
Professor Julie Owens, deputy vice-chancellor of Research at Deakin University, said IISRI had a strong research, innovation, and commercialisation track record, with over 500 strategic collaborations with enterprises, industry, and government agencies throughout the world.
“Deakin is excited to launch our new Genesis simulator to support the next wave of new industry partnerships, research and innovation,” Owens said.
Meanwhile, the new Genesis Simulator, according to Victorian Minister for Higher Education, Training and Skills, and Agriculture Gayle Tierney, will strengthen Victoria’s existing skills and knowledge in vehicle production, encouraging innovation and delivering world-first solutions.
“This will lead to ground-breaking research partnerships with companies and industry bodies across the automotive sector, emergency services, transport companies, and health bodies,” Minister Tierney said.
Minister Tierney officially unveiled Deakin University’s Genesis simulator at an industrial showcase event at the Waurn Ponds campus.
