History of VSR

Virtual Soldier Research (VSR) is one of seven groups within the Center for Computer-Aided Design (CCAD).  CCAD was founded at the University of Iowa in 1981 by Prof. Edward J. Haug and is a world class modeling and simulation research center with over 25 years of success working with the Department of Defense, other Government agencies, and public companies.  Currently, with over $12M in annual funding and over 100 researchers, CCAD is home to seven separate groups that focus on providing modeling and simulation solutions to complex 3D, physics-based challenges, including work in high performance manufacturing, prognostics and reliability.

VSR was founded in 2003 through external funding from the US Army Tank Automotive Command (TACOM) in an effort to put the Warfighter at the center of all US Army product designs.  Using this initial research and funding as a foundation, VSR continued to cultivate and develop research programs in human modeling and simulation with those who shared our vision.  As of 2009, VSR has acquired over $18 million in externally funded research; has successfully created a spin-off company, Santos Human, Inc.; and is partnering with Department of Defense and public companies that see VSR as the world leader in developing the most advanced digital human model.

Who We Are

VSR is an independent research group within the Center for Computer-Aided Design (CCAD) at the University of Iowa.  Founded in 2003, VSR was established with the goal of developing and creating new technologies to perfect Digital Human Modeling (DHM) and simulation.  Over the years VSR has succeed with our clients in bringing to the market:

• Improved production processes to be more efficient and cost-effective through the use of DHM
• Improved the quality and function of the products in fit, form, and function
• Developed and validated virtual prototypes to visualize new products and features
• Optimized human factors considerations in all aspects of design, safety, and product launch

VSR has created technology that predicts human posture and motion for avatars in a high fidelity, physics-based, three-dimensional environment.  In addition, we add real world constraints such as gravity, muscle fatigue, muscle strength, clothing fit, material properties and predictive dynamics to allow us to create the most realistic pre-production test environment.  Our research provides our partners with the ability to reveal deficiencies and envision improvements that typically would not be evident until after extensive time and money had already been expended on production and deployment to the marketplace.

Originally funded by the United States Army TACOM, VSR is currently funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) as well as private industries (including our spin-off, Santos Human, Inc.) that partner with us to help develop and test products and manufacturing processes before going to market.