What is virtual prototyping?

Virtual prototyping, often known as VP, is a software-based engineering discipline which involves modelling a system, simulating and visualising its behaviour under real-world operating conditions, and refining its design through an iterative process.


Virtual prototyping is increasingly used as a substitute for rapid prototyping. VP does not produce a physical object for testing and evaluation but, as its name suggests, carries out these tasks within a computer. Industries using VP include automotive, shipbuilding, aerospace, oil & gas, transport and defence.


Virtual prototyping allows engineering teams to build and test virtual prototypes and realistically simulate them on their computers, both visually and mathematically. The full-motion behaviour of complex mechanical systems can be analysed before building an actual hardware prototype. Users can quickly explore multiple design variations, testing and refining until system performance is optimised. This can help reduce the time and cost of new product development, whilst significantly improving the quality of overall system designs.


Virtual prototyping technology works towards the CAE (computer aided engineering) goals of minimising time and cost, and maximising quality and efficiency. The technology doesn't require hardware to physically make a prototype, as in rapid prototyping, and consequently involves less cost.


Virtual prototyping can be used to test anything from component parts to entire machines - without building relatively expensive physical prototypes.