Caterpillar, Inc. uses virtual reality as a tool for interactively evaluating new machine designs. Using virtual reality, the operator of a virtual machine can test alternative machine designs while driving through a virtual proving ground, or can perform a loading cycle to fill a truck with soil. Hydraulically-actuated tools can be assessed with various hydraulic systems.

Using a virtual-reality system enables engineers and designers to get a “feel” for their machine designs very early in the design stage, helping them evaluate many different designs in shorter periods of time than possible using conventional methods.

This application was a part of VROOM - the Virtual Reality Room event showcased at SIGGRAPH 94.