National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Glenn Research Center

GVIS Lab

GVIS Lab

THE GRUVE LAB

Glenn's Reconfigurable User-interface and Virtual Reality Exploration Lab 01.01.2009

Two team members interact with a 3D simulation in the GRUVE Lab

Exploring Virtual Reality in the GRUVE Lab.

The G-VIS and GRUVE laboratories are companion facilities that provide advanced computer imaging and scientific visualization services to the NASA research community. The GRUVE Lab is built around a reconfigurable, fully immersive walk-in virtual reality facility (CAVE) consisting of three large 8- by 8-ft rear-projection screens on which are displayed computer-generated stereoscopic images. Special sensors and I/0 devices allow the user to fully interact with objects in the virtual environment. Both custom-designed and commercial software provide a wide array of applications to NASA scientists and engineers.

The G-VIS and GRUVE labs are used predominantly for analysis of data obtained either by computer simulation or from one of NASA Glenn's research test facilities. The advanced visualization and interactive technologies enable greater understating and insight into the complex relationship among the data than do the typical tools available at the desktop. In addition, the virtual reality environment supports simulations of exotic environments and phenomena not otherwise possible.