United Visual Researchers

Cutting-edge optical science to eliminate the need for physical prototypes and mockups in the design process

UVR was created to give product manufacturers and designers a more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective way to build, test, and refine multiple prototypes and mockups in real-time. To address this need, we provide next-generation “iso-photographic” computer-aided appearance design solutions (i.e. CAD for appearance design) to streamline and build a higher level of confidence in the design portion of the concept-to-production process.  

Unlike others in the simulation industry, UVR offers the only end-to-end suite of computer-aided appearance design solutions in the market — backed by the most advanced optical science and research — to measure, reproduce, and evaluate the effects of light in any environment and on any material with true-to-life precision. We empower researchers, engineers, and designers with the confidence to know exactly what a mocked up object will look like and how it will interact in different environments before it ever exists. 

Thefore, our long-term vision is to eliminate the need for physical prototypes and mockups in the design process. This is especially critical for industries in which style and appearance factor largely into how end users choose one brand’s products over another. UVR’s full suite of iso-photographic computer-aided appearance design solutions make it easy for important design decisions (i.e. color, texture, material) to be optimized against various environmental conditions and perfected in real-time. This leads to a higher degree of confidence early on in the product development and design process as well as fewer surprises once production gets underway.

UVR is a funded Paris-based tech startup founded in August 2017 by Philippe Porral and Thomas Muller — a spin-off from research conducted at the MINES ParisTech University

Spin-Off             Incubator              Accelerator

      

                            

Partners

                  

Cutting-edge optical science to eliminate the need for physical prototypes and mockups in the design process

UVR was created to give product manufacturers and designers a more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective way to build, test, and refine multiple prototypes and mockups in real-time. To address this need, we provide next-generation “iso-photographic” computer-aided appearance design solutions (i.e. CAD for appearance design) to streamline and build a higher level of confidence in the design portion of the concept-to-production process.  

Unlike others in the simulation industry, UVR offers the only end-to-end suite of computer-aided appearance design solutions in the market — backed by the most advanced optical science and research — to measure, reproduce, and evaluate the effects of light in any environment and on any material with true-to-life precision. We empower researchers, engineers, and designers with the confidence to know exactly what a mocked up object will look like and how it will interact in different environments before it ever exists. 

Thefore, our long-term vision is to eliminate the need for physical prototypes and mockups in the design process. This is especially critical for industries in which style and appearance factor largely into how end users choose one brand’s products over another. UVR’s full suite of iso-photographic computer-aided appearance design solutions make it easy for important design decisions (i.e. color, texture, material) to be optimized against various environmental conditions and perfected in real-time. This leads to a higher degree of confidence early on in the product development and design process as well as fewer surprises once production gets underway.

UVR is a funded Paris-based tech startup founded in August 2017 by Philippe Porral and Thomas Muller — a spin-off from research conducted at the MINES ParisTech University

Spin-Off             Incubator              Accelerator

      

                            

Partners

                  

The Powerful Data Behind Simulations and Iso-Photography

Our proprietary, state-of-the-art Digital Spectral Polarimeter (D-SP) camera captures spectral data and polarization* with pixel-level precision in both natural and artificial light environments: a one-of-a-kind hyper-spectral imaging apparatus for measuring outdoor 180-degree x 360-degree lighting environments.

Key features include

— Captures 360-degree environments within seconds
— Captures and quantifies spectral data
— Captures and quantifies four-dimensional polarization*
— Outputs spectral or RGB HDR images for all simulation types
     (including those rendered by the OMEN Simulation Suite)

Technical Specifications

Spectral Range (nm)
400 – 1000

Spectral Channels
281

Image Resolution
800×1600

Estimated Capture Time
1 minute (outdoor sunny day)

      Polarization as described by the 4-dimensional Stokes vector

  Digital Spectral Polarimeter

UVR – One Pager – OMEN Simulation SuiteThe World’s First and Only Iso-Photographic Rendering Engine

OMEN is the powerful rendering engine at the heart of UVR’s iso-photographic computer-aided appearance design platform: the OMEN Simulation Suite. It can ingest data from multiple data sources — CAD drawings, BRDF, quantum efficiency, camera characterizations (sensor/lens), spectral HDR (D-SP) — to create high-resolution “iso-photographs” that can predict with pixel-level precision how all aspects of light, including reflection and transparency, will interact with any object or material in any natural or artificial light environment. 

The OMEN Simulation Suite is designed to support two use cases:
— “Classic” Model (single PC-based)
— “Booster” Add-On (HPC/Cluster-based) 
      Accelerates simulation rendering calculations across HPC clusters.* 

Key features include

— Accounts for physical phenomena: spectral data and polarization
— Processes all key measurements: light, materials, lenses, sensors
— Outputs industry-leading iso-photographic simulations
— Offers interactive, low latency UX for both GPU and HPC setups
— Integrates seamlessly with other simulation systems/technologies
— Built-in VR-compatibility

The OMEN Simulation Suite includes 

OSky: Enables both spectral and polarized natural light simulation based on key data points: date, hour, and location as well as environmental factors like pollution and urban light pollution. OSky makes it possible for OMEN to simulate the effects of any kind of natural light — on any object and in any environment — before ever capturing actual environmental measurements.

OLab: Gathers quantitative data (temperature, radiometric, photometric, and glare) from OMEN and collects it all in one place.

OMatter: Gathers material measurements.

OCamera: Gathers camera (sensor/lens) measurements.

  OMEN Simulation Suite

Light, Material, and Camera Measurements Tailored to You

Whether you are interested in pursuing the benefits of iso-photographic computer-aided appearance design — in other words, advanced CAD for appearance design — or simply need access to precise measurements for a variety of use cases, UVR offers a custom measurement-on-demand service tailored specifically to meet your business’s R&D and quality control objectives. Once captured, these measurements can be turned into iso-photographic simulations via our proprietary OMEN Simulation Suite or processed by your business’s existing data rendering systems and technologies.

We can export the data collected in multiple formats, including Excel and XML. Upon request, we can also develop data visualizations and provide useful insights to help further achieve key business objectives.

Material and Screen Emitting* Measurements 

We offer two powerful data acquisition systems for capturing BRDF material and screen-emitting measurements. 

Environmental Measurements 

Using UVR’s proprietary Digital Spectral Polarimeter (D-SP) camera, we can capture 360-degree spectral data and polarization with pixel-level precision in both natural and artificial light environments.

Camera Characterizations

We can calibrate your own camera lenses and sensors to improve the consistency, reliability, and overall accuracy of your measurements. This service will be available beginning in October 2019. 

 Measurements On Demand