Vroom at the Motor Show.
Image: Joe Coleman
Source: Museum Victoria
Portable Virtual Room revs up automotive design.
On Thursday 3rd March, the Melbourne International Motor Show saw the launch of a revolutionary interactive 3D display, whose origins lie within Melbourne Museum.
Designed to showcase Victoria’s automotive manufacturing industry, ‘Vroom’ is a portable version of our own Virtual Room, featuring computer-aided design (CAD) data generated by Victorian automotive design studios and manufacturers.
Consisting of nine computers, 16 projectors and eight screens, Vroom can be used to design and display cars and components for a fraction of the cost required to build a physical model.
‘This portable Virtual Room "in the round" concept is a world first,’ said the Minister for Manufacturing and Export, André Haermeyer. ‘It offers members of the public and international industry representatives exciting opportunities to learn about our local automotive manufacturing capabilities and the massive contribution the sector makes to our economy.
‘It’s a great example of the medium really being the message—and in this case the message is that Victoria is a powerhouse of innovation and high tech know-how.’
Developed by a consortium comprising Swinburne University of Technology, RMIT University, Monash University, Adacel Technology and Museum Victoria, Vroom was commercialised with funding assistance via the Bracks Government’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) program.
A star attraction at the Motor Show, Vroom will next be displayed at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2005 World Congress in Detroit; the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan; the Toyota Museum (also in Aichi); and Tokyo’s Miraikan (National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation).
Explore our own Virtual Room to experience this exciting technology for yourself.