VR Cranial Drilling Simulator: Where the Project Stands

Kaya Gedikoglu· June 2026

The core mechanic works. Drilling interaction, spatial zone detection, pressure modeling: it runs.

But “it runs” and “it’s demo-ready” are two different things. The next phase is about crossing that line.

Where things actually are

The current build is a monitor-mode simulation with controller input. No headset yet. No haptic device yet. Monitor-mode means it’s recordable, screenshottable, and sendable to a professor or company contact right now. It simply needs some polish.

What’s working:

• Drill interaction with collision-based depth tracking
• Zone system distinguishing safe from danger regions
• Basic spatial feedback

What’s missing:

• A scene that looks like an OR instead of a grey void
• Visual and audio feedback that communicates what’s happening
• A scoring loop with a real start, middle, and end
• Anything a non-developer would call a “demo”

The plan for the next phases

The goal isn’t to finish the product. It’s to produce something clean enough to attach to an email and ship publically before making iterations.

Phase 1 — Scene Foundation

• Replace the default void with a simple OR environment.
• Add proper 3-point clinical lighting to the skull.
• Apply a matte bone-colored material to the skull mesh.
• Add a surgical table so the object is grounded in space.

Phase 2 — Mechanic Polish

• Add particle effect or mesh deformation at the drill contact point.
• Implement color-state feedback: green tint for safe zone, red pulse for danger.
• Build a simple HUD: depth gauge, pressure indicator, zone status.
• Replace the placeholder bubble zones with something intentional.
• Add drill audio that scales in pitch and intensity with pressure.

Phase 3 — Feedback Loop & Scoring

• Implement performance metrics: time in safe zone, danger violations, completion percentage.
• Add a post-drill results screen.
• Make it loseable.
• Add a one-sentence intro screen explaining why cranial drilling matters clinically.

Phase 4 — Outreach Prep

• Record a clean demo video.
• Write a one-page project brief.
• Send to Professors and Researchers for feedback and cooperation.

What’s intentionally on hold

• Haptic device integration
• VR headset mode
• Multi-simulation arcade menu
• Building simulation #2

Sim #2 doesn’t get built until sim #1 has a results screen and a demo video. The fidelity is also a crucial aspect to continue improving on, however the firsts step is to produce something that can be improved on in the first place. That is where I am at. Maximizing fidelity will come immediately after; before I ship to market or officially publicize it for training use.

What comes now

Hardware acquisition is in progress. Once a headset and haptic device are secured, the monitor-mode prototype converts directly into true VR. Now it’s about making the thing worth showing.