What a VR simulation is.
A virtual reality simulation is a scene where the user performs a task as they would in real life. For machines, the feel of the controls matters as much as the picture. That is why our VR forklift simulator (Spanish only) uses a physical steering wheel and controls. Trainees can restart exercises and review each run. The simulator offers practice, not automatic certification.
Parts of a VR simulator.
The scene
A warehouse, plant or workshop modelled for the headset.
Physical input
Wheels, levers, pedals or buttons wired into the simulation.
Interaction
Hands or controllers, for example with Unity’s XR Interaction Toolkit.
Exercises
Tasks with a clear start and end that can be restarted.
Review
A record of how each run went.
Headset only or physical controls?
Not every simulation needs extra hardware. Physical controls make sense when muscle memory is part of the skill, as in driving or operating a machine. For procedures and inspections, the headset controllers are usually enough.
| Criterion | Headset controllers | Physical controls |
|---|---|---|
| Feel | Generic grip and buttons | The real wheel or lever |
| Setup | Headset only | A fixed station |
| Cost | Lower | Higher, with hardware |
| Suits | Procedures and inspections | Driving and machine operation |
Evidence, standards and testing.
A 2024 meta-analysis in Safety Science found that VR safety training beats traditional training on knowledge acquisition and retention. A World Bank review reports that learners can be up to 30 percent more efficient per additional hour of instruction. We develop with OpenXR, which Khronos Group says reduces the cost of adapting apps to individual XR platforms. Meta XR Simulator lets developers test without a headset during development.
Frequently asked questions.
Often, yes. We review the controls first and confirm what can be connected before quoting.
We explain it in our article on integrating a steering wheel in a VR simulator, written in Spanish.
VR applications start from €4,500, VAT not included. The devices and any physical controls shape the final price.
Our article on VR in industrial training (in Spanish) covers the cases.
Related projects.
Real OverFuture work on this topic. The project pages are in Spanish.
Virtual reality training for companiesBenefits of VR trainingVR developmentVR for industry (ES)How to choose a virtual reality companyHire virtual reality developersHow to choose simulation-based VR trainingHow a virtual reality app is madeUnity game development company in SpainGamification for companies