CSG Researchers Present Innovative VR & Robotics Work at IEEE DTPI 2025
Researchers from The University of Tulsa made a strong showing at the 2025 IEEE Digital Twin and Parallel Intelligence (DTPI) Conference, held in Atlanta, Georgia near the Georgia Tech campus. Representing both the Computer Science and Computer Simulation & Gaming (CSG) programs, TU students and faculty presented innovative research exploring the integration of virtual reality, robotics, and digital twin technologies.
📝 Paper Presentation:
“See Spot Run: Real-time Monitoring and Control of Boston Dynamics Spot from Virtual Reality”
Authors: Jacob Hart (CS Graduate Student), Bridget Kurr (CSG Undergraduate), Akram Taghavi-Burris, and John Hale
This collaborative research, developed through the ERDC-funded VIRSA project, introduces a real-time digital twin of Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot within a VR environment using Unity. The system tackles the challenge of cybersickness—caused by inconsistent message rates and motion lag—by using extrapolated joint movement data to maintain a consistent frame rate and improve user experience. Their results demonstrate high accuracy in modeling joint positions (R² = .980), with implications for remote robotics, teleoperation, and simulation environments.
🖼️ Undergraduate Research Posters
In addition to the paper, three research posters were presented by TU undergraduates and faculty, showcasing the expanding applications of AI and digital twins in simulation, education, and training:
CSG student Alex Homeyer presents his research at the 2025 IEEE DTPI conference.
🔹 Fidelity & Functionality: Leveraging AI for Realistic Virtual Human Twins in Digital Twin Ecosystems
Authors: Akram Taghavi-Burris and Alex Homeyer
This poster examines the use of AI-driven generative tools to create high-fidelity virtual human twins capable of photorealism and realistic behavior for immersive VR training.
🔹 Improving Digital Twin Adoption in Education with the Objective Tree System
Authors: Akram Taghavi-Burris and Morgan Dunn
This work introduces a modular, Unity-based framework—the Objective Tree System (OTS)—designed to help educators integrate digital twin platforms into curriculum-based training environments.
🔹 Digital Twin Patients in Nursing Training: Leveraging the Power of AI and VR
Authors: Akram Taghavi-Burris, Daniel Germond, and Brandon Parks
Focusing on nursing education, this poster explores how AI-powered digital twin patients can simulate medical scenarios in VR, improving learner outcomes through personalized feedback and enhanced realism.
About IEEE DTPI:
The IEEE Digital Twin and Parallel Intelligence Conference brings together scholars, developers, and industry professionals to advance research and applications in digital twinning across diverse sectors—from robotics and healthcare to energy, smart cities, and beyond.
Congratulations to our student researchers and faculty collaborators for their outstanding contributions at DTPI 2025, and for driving innovation at the intersection of immersive tech, AI, and real-world systems.
