Discover Predict by UVR: Extending Unity’s power with scientific accuracy

United Visual Researchers (UVR) is a Paris-based technology company that develops advanced optical simulation and physically based rendering software. UVR’s Predict suite - a set of 4 integrated tools - aims to empower designers and engineers to make faster, more informed decisions with fewer physical prototypes. At its core, Predict blends scientific accuracy with visual realism to produce renders that are both technically trustworthy and visually convincing. This article dives into the details behind the Predict Suite, and how you can use them directly in the Unity Editor.

Physical prototyping is losing ground

Physical prototyping has long been central to product design evaluation. Even with the rise of digital tools, many teams still rely on building reduced- or full-scale models to validate form, function, and aesthetics. Yet, these traditional methods are expensive, time-consuming, and impractical for today’s fast-paced, global teams—especially in industries like automotive, where a single iteration can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. When teams are distributed across different locations, these delays only compound.

More industries are turning to rendering engines, but struggle to find the balance between scientific accuracy and beautiful visuals with realism. For designers and engineers, this gap can create friction—making it harder to validate concepts early and reduce unnecessary physical builds.

United Visual Researchers (UVR) has developed the Predict suite as a set of plugins to provide cutting edge rendering software and accurate visualization tools directly in the Unity Editor. By using Unity and the Predict Suite together, teams can more efficiently and reliably build, test, and refine prototypes in a collaborative way.

Read on to discover how to improve your rendering workflow using the Predict Suite with your existing Unity projects.

The Predict Suite at a glance

The Predict Suite includes four powerful tools built to deliver highly accurate spectral and polarized optical simulations for creating and analyzing virtual prototypes.

1. Predict Engine

Predict Engine is a physically based renderer that simulates light and material interactions using input from high-fidelity data sources such as:

• CAD geometry
• BRDF (including spectral and polarization data)
• Data sheets
• AxF material files

By incorporating spectral and polarization data from multiple data sources, it enables the creation of high-resolution, iso-photographic renderings that can predict with pixel-level precision how light interacts with objects and materials.

2. Predict Matter

Predict Matter is a specialized 3D material and lighting data library that is compatible with the Unity Asset Manager, building on physically accurate material and lighting representation. It uniquely allows you to import physically measured material properties to capture characteristics like:

• Precise roughness
• Density
• Refractive indices

This centralized library maintains material fidelity throughout workflows, making it valuable for industries that require high precision in material representation.

3. Predict Lab

Predict Lab offers radiometric and photometric data for detailed analysis of rendered scenes to analyze features such as:

• Reflectance
• Hotspots
• Light uniformity
• Analysis of areas of interest

With these insights, engineers and designers gain a shared understanding of precision.

4. Predict Sky

Simulate how renders will look under real-world lighting conditions. With this sky simulation software, you can input parameters like:

• Date
• Time
• Location
• And environmental factors like pollution

To replicate spectral and polarized natural lighting.

These tools allow teams to generate renders that not only hold up under the scrutiny of optical engineers but also look stunning. This leads to reduced time spent in post-production.

Predict’s seamless integration with Unity

Unity is widely recognized as a versatile and highly modular platform across industries from automotive to aeronautics. Unity’s development environment allows for multidisciplinary applications, and the adaptability of the Unity ecosystem allows application builders to own it and adapt it to their needs. Adding on the ease of asset sharing, these are some of the main reasons why Predict was made as a plugin that seamlessly integrates into Unity.

With this, designers and engineers can continue to work inside their familiar Unity setting while gaining access to Predict’s physically accurate and intuitive visualization tools, making adoption smooth and efficient.

Predict in action: Enabling an automotive OEM to optimize their design process

An ideal use case for integrating UVR’s Predict Suite with Unity is process validation. Predict can be used to ensure materials and finishes meet quality standards early in the product development process. One automotive OEM has adopted Predict within its design workflow for headlamps and other optical systems. Here’s an example of how they’ve applied the solution to support early validation and reduce reliance on physical prototypes.

• Design flaw detection. By simulating how light interacts with complex optical components like headlamps, Predict allows teams to spot issues such as unintended reflections, visual artifacts, or inconsistencies in light diffusion before any physical parts are produced.
• Accurate materials review. Validation teams use Predict’s physics-based rendering in Unity to conduct checks; evaluating how specialized automotive paints and materials will appear under various lighting conditions with scientific accuracy. This capability allows for the check of subtle nuances of metallic finishes, interior fabrics, and reflective surfaces (such as windshield or infotainment screens) digitally before any physical prototypes are created. The more accurate the rendering, the more effective the checks can be.
• Metamerism checks. Predict suite includes spectral and polarized data to increase the accuracy of renderings. With this data, you can detect issues of metamerism where colors look different under different lighting, which can lead to wrong colorings that are costly to fix at a later stage. This digital-first approach shortens validation cycles and reduces the need for costly physical prototyping and other related costs.

Other use cases

Beyond technical validation, Predict is also ideal for teams focused on visual storytelling and design exploration. Its accurate material and lighting simulations enhance asset development, reveal inconsistencies early, and elevate the overall visual quality-whether you’re building a product showcase, cinematic trailer, or an immersive configurator.

Unity & UVR: a shared commitment to innovation

At events like Auto Shanghai 2025, UVR’s collaboration with Unity has been showcased as a testament to the joint commitment to innovation in digital twin technologies and virtual prototyping. This enables teams to move beyond traditional methods, making the future of prototyping smarter and more efficient.

Experience the future of rendering

The tools you use should evolve with your workflows. Together, Unity and the Predict Suite do just that. From sophisticated material simulations to advanced optical analysis, Predict equips designers and developers with the tools they need to push their ideas closer to real-world applications.

If you’re already using Unity to build, simulate, or collaborate, Predict will effortlessly upgrade your capabilities, getting you one step closer to the real-world outcomes you’re aiming for.

Ready to transform your prototyping workflow? Test Predict out for yourself. We’re excited to see what you’ll create with it.