Research Institute for Smart Factory Data and Simulation: Digital Twins, Mixed Reality and Virtual Commissioning
Virtual Automation Lab (VAL) – Hochschule Esslingen
Esslingen (DE)New on Amplifa
About the Virtual Automation Lab
The Virtual Automation Lab (VAL) is a research institute of the Faculty of Mechanical and Systems Engineering at Esslingen University of Applied Sciences in Esslingen am Neckar. It researches and develops application-oriented methods and software in the field of Smart Factory Data and Simulation. Its research areas include Digital Twins and Digital Twin as a Service (DTaaS), Mixed Reality (AR/VR/XR) for industry and production, virtual commissioning and real-time simulation, autonomous and reconfigurable production systems, and Machine Learning in automation. Further focus areas are human-technology interaction with intuitive operating concepts and autonomous indoor flying robots (UAVs). Through the close integration of research, teaching, and transfer to industry and the SME sector, practical innovations for tomorrow's production are created, among other things in cooperation with the Virtual Dimension Center (VDC) Fellbach and the CARS 2.0 initiative.
- Site
- Esslingen
- Processes
- Research and Development Smart Factory Data and Simulation, Digital Twins & Digital Twin as a Service (DTaaS), Mixed Reality (AR/VR/XR) for Industry and Production, Virtual Commissioning & Real-Time Simulation, Human-Technology Interaction & Intuitive Operating Concepts, Autonomous and Reconfigurable Production Systems, Machine Learning in Automation, Autonomous Indoor Flying Robots (UAVs)
- Materials
- Digital Twins / DTaaS, Mixed Reality (AR/VR/XR), Real-Time Simulation, Machine Learning, Indoor Flying Robotics
- Founded
- 2016
- Employees
- 2–10
- Industries
- Smart Factory, Automation, Industry 4.0, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Research Services
- 01
Research and Development
- 02
Virtual Commissioning and Simulation
- 03
Teaching and Further Education
- 04
Transfer to Industry and SME Sector
Methods and Technologies
Digital Twins / DTaaS
Digital Twins and Digital Twin as a Service for simulation and virtual commissioning in the smart factory.
Mixed Reality (AR/VR/XR)
AR, VR and XR applications for industry, production and technical sales.
Real-Time Simulation
Real-time simulation for the virtual commissioning of production systems.
Machine Learning
Application of machine learning in automation, including synthetic training data generation.
Indoor Flying Robotics
Autonomous indoor flying robots (UAVs) for research and application in production.
Location
Esslingen
DEResearch Institute / Laboratory
- Materials
- Digital Twins, Mixed Reality, Real-Time Simulation
Industries
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 2016
Founding of the Virtual Automation Lab
- 2021
1st place in the AALE 12. Student Award (synthetic training data generation)
- 2026
Participation in the IEEE ITSC 2026 in Naples; Lab Visit with VDC and CARS 2.0 on October 15, 2026