Buckingham tech lands at Goodwood

The University of Buckingham’s School of Computing was featured at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, which took place from 10 to 13 July. As part of the Future Lab exhibition, the team showcased Birdly, an full-body immersive flight simulator developed by Somniacs and powered by Cesium’s 3D geospatial technology.

Birdly allowed visitors to experience a virtual flight across the surface of the Moon. While open to all attendees, the simulator proved especially popular with younger visitors, many of whom arrived at the stand looking unsure but left with wide eyes and huge smiles. According to the team, it was a constant stream of children, and seeing their reactions was one of the most rewarding aspects of the weekend.

The installation was supported by staff from the School of Computing, including Professor Harin Sellahewa, Dean of the Faculty of Computing, Law, and Psychology, along with lecturers, Dr Nasir Ibrahim, Shiyamalaraj Kandasamy, and Dr Noman Abdulkhudur. Together, they managed setup, guided visitors through the experience, and represented the University throughout the four-day event.

The team also met with other exhibitors in the Future Lab, including National Robotarium, The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT) and Autodiscovery, and had the chance to demonstrate Birdly to notable guests such as British astronaut Tim Peake and Wing Commander Adam Collins (Officer Commanding RAFAT).

The School’s participation reflected its commitment to immersive technology, public engagement, and educational outreach. The experience of supporting children to imagine, explore, and perhaps think differently about the future of science and technology was a clear highlight.

The School of Computing had the pleasure of inviting several students, industry partners and University staff to attend the world-famous event.

Professor Sellahewa noted the quality and energy of the exhibition space, which showcased a wide range of emerging technologies alongside historic automotive icons such as Michael Schumacher’s 2002 Ferrari F2002.

The University of Buckingham extends its thanks to Somniacs, Cesium, the Goodwood team, and all who visited the stand at Future Lab. The event provided a valuable opportunity to engage with a wider audience and highlight the School of Computing’s work at one of the UK’s most high-profile technology and motorsport festivals.