The UK has announced five new academic research projects to develop virtual simulation technologies.

The projects are part of a £10-million five-year collaboration between Jaguar Land Rover and the country’s leading academics to develop the capability of the virtual simulation industry in the UK and give manufacturers like Jaguar Land Rover access to new, world-class simulation tools and processes, said a press release.

This is the first phase of a “20-year strategic project that could put the UK at the leading edge of virtual simulation globally.”

The projects were unveiled by the UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable.

The research will improve the quality and capabilities of simulation, using sights, sounds and even smells to make virtual simulation more realistic, said the release.

Announcing the funding during a visit to Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, Cable said, “With world-class universities and cutting edge companies like Jaguar Land Rover, the UK is well placed to be at the forefront of driving innovation and developing new technology. This investment will support the Government’s industrial strategy by boosting the UK’s manufacturing capability and helping to keep us globally competitive.”

The projects form part of the Programme for Simulation Innovation programme, a partnership between Jaguar Land Rover and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Loughborough University, University of Leeds, University of Cambridge and Warwick Manufacturing Group.

The project is funded by Jaguar Land Rover (£4 million), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (£4 million) and the partner universities (£2 million).

The projects are analysis of the vehicle as a complex system, multi-physics and multi-functional simulation, driving simulation, high performance computing and simulation knowledge mining and abstraction and visualisation and virtual experience, said the release.

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