DGLR Published Conference Papers

Virtual Reality in Cabin System Design: Development of a Methodology for the Integration, Optimization and Networking of Cabin Models for Rendering in Unreal Engine

Virtuelle Realität im Kabinensystementwurf: Entwicklung einer Methodik zur Integration, Optimierung und Vernetzung von Kabinenmodellen für die Darstellung in Unreal Engine

The aviation industry is facing a transformation with the potential to fundamentally change commercial aircraft. Alternative propulsion technologies, essential for achieving climate goals, and evolving passenger expectations regarding sustainability and comfort are driving this development. Furthermore, disruptive concepts and new cabin technologies demand innovative methods and solutions to improve efficiency in the design process and ensure the future viability of air travel. A key challenge is expanding the digitalization of cabin system design in line with the concept of a "digital thread." This requires developing new methodologies and models that enable end-to-end networking. This will allow subsystems and components to be integrated into the aircraft design at an early stage. Another challenge lies in interoperability, which is essential for linking results from different disciplines and enabling holistic evaluations of new technologies or configurations. Virtual reality (VR) is used as a supporting development platform in this context. VR makes it possible to identify interactions and synergies between system components and to evaluate concepts early on. Immersive analyses and the networking of experts can accelerate development. VR can extend far beyond geometric system design. It offers the potential to directly link simulation results from analyses with the geometric system representation. The insights gained can thus be easily made accessible to experts from other fields through immersive visualization. Furthermore, it opens up the possibility of conducting user studies in VR at an early stage of development. However, the integration of VR presents challenges, as large datasets and complex 3D models cannot be used directly. Therefore, optimized 3D models, a reduction in model size, and automated, reproducible transfer methods between the individual tools in the process chain are necessary to enable efficient visualization. This work develops a methodology that, on the one hand, further develops the parametric and modular design of cabin systems and, on the other hand, combines this with VR visualization via the Unreal Engine. The approach extends existing automated design processes for cabin systems at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Subsequently, an interface to the Unreal Engine is created, which, in the final step of the workflow, enables visualization and interaction of the cabin and its systems in VR. In this way, the generated knowledge is made immersively usable and available for expert and subject studies. A key aspect of this work is the developed interface and the optimized 3D model size, which ensures interoperability between different disciplines, simplifies data exchange, and makes the generated models efficiently manageable. Reducing the 3D model size is crucial, as large datasets can be detrimental to VR applications, and an optimized model base is advantageous for visualization. Reducing the data size also increases the fidelity of the 3D objects for VR applications, which impacts the realism and immersion of the VR presentation. The described methodology is demonstrated using the application of a disruptive cabin concept.

Deutscher Luft- und Raumfahrtkongress 2025, Augsburg

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V., Bonn, 2026

Conference Paper

German

21,0 x 29,7 cm, 11 Pages

EN: Aircraft cabin, system design

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Fuszenecker, L.; Fuchs, M.; et al. (2026): Virtuelle Realität im Kabinensystementwurf: Entwicklung einer Methodik zur Integration, Optimierung und Vernetzung von Kabinenmodellen für die Darstellung in Unreal Engine. DGLR Published Conference Papers. Volume 4. (2026). ISSN: 2941-3451. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Luft- und Raumfahrt - Lilienthal-Oberth e.V.. (Text). https://doi.org/10.25967/650264. urn:nbn:de:101:1-2602061230540.703401052107.

06.02.2026