The Cozy Living Room

The Cozy Living Room project is our Unreal Engine 4 debut after successfully modifying the engine to run on our Linux cluster with the nDisplay module. This project was initially built to test a Rhino → Unreal Engine pipeline, and since has become fully integrated into the Data Arena with our external peripheries and input devices. Up to 8 users can each have a motion-capture controlled cursor in the room and collaborate on new interior layouts by moving lighting and furniture.

The model

The Living Room model was originally sourced from CG Trader (since made unavailable) in the .3DM format for modelling software Rhino, commonly used amongst architects and interior designers. We wanted to explore a pipeline from Rhino to Unreal Engine 4 to make the process of model visualisation in the Data Arena easier for our students and staff. Thankfully this was a simple FBX export from Rhino and basic import into the Unreal Engine project. While nearly everything was in place to begin with, some materials didn't quite translate accurately (e.g window and object glass, fabrics and wood) and needed some tweaking afterwards.

A few WIP shots during our lighting development. You can find more detail about the process here.

Live interaction

As a (primarily) game engine, UE makes real-time interaction and manipulation of a level fairly straightforward, and the nDisplay module allows us to tap into our VRPN network for access to any number of input devices. We built an interaction system based around our Optitrack "trackers", which are simply 3 small spheres attached to a 3D-printed frame, visible to our motion capture system. The layout of these spheres and the shape of the triangle that is drawn between them determines the "player" number. In the Living Room project, up to 8 users can control a unique cursor on screen by walking around the Data Arena. Moving furniture or lights is a simple gesture of pointing at an object on screen and flipping the tracker to grab it. It can then be placed anywhere in the room at a new angle. You can read more about our process of developing a multi-cursor system here.

Camera system

Our SpaceNavigator controls the in-game camera to allow for smooth movement across six degrees of freedom. This operates independently to the tracker-based cursors, so a ninth person could control the view of the Living Room while others work on a new arrangement. If at any time the layout becomes unworkable, a button press on the SpaceNavigator can re-arrange the furniture to its default layout.

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This project is a milestone for multi-user experience in the Data Arena and represents our intentions to move into spaces of architectural visualisation, interior design and real-time "Digital Twin" model production with Unreal Engine.

Bring your Unreal Engine project to the Data Arena

Unreal Engine 4.25.4 is now up and running in the Data Arena and we invite you to share your Unreal Engine projects with us and try them in the Data Arena. You can follow our ongoing development with Unreal Engine and download materials to help get your project started here.