New Omnidirectional treadmill
-
- One Eyed Hopeful
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 8:52 pm
New Omnidirectional treadmill
I was wondering if you all saw the new omnidirectional treadmill at Silicon Valley Virtual Reality expo? It is called the Infinadeck. Thoughts?
- V8Griff
- Sharp Eyed Eagle!
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:22 am
- Location: UK
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
Very clever, that looks amazing. Did anyone on here have a go on that at SVVR?
I doubt it will be that cheap but If that isn't ridiculously expensive that is very cool indeed.
[youtube-hd]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoVAOfU ... lpage#t=94[/youtube-hd]
I doubt it will be that cheap but If that isn't ridiculously expensive that is very cool indeed.
[youtube-hd]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoVAOfU ... lpage#t=94[/youtube-hd]
-
- One Eyed Hopeful
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 8:52 pm
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
The Infinadeck is currently in development. The video shows the prototype.
- brantlew
- Petrif-Eyed
- Posts: 2221
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:23 pm
- Location: Menlo Park, CA
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
It's a very impressive engineering feat. I would like to believe that it can be improved to the point that it could handle a leisurely walk without balance assist. I would be satisfied with that and would pay a couple thousand dollars for that level of performance - provided it could easily be stored in a garage.
- cybereality
- 3D Angel Eyes (Moderator)
- Posts: 11407
- Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:18 pm
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
I think a design like this is probably the only thing that will give a true sense of walking. Well, because you are basically walking for real.
However, in terms of cost and space restrictions, I think passive ODTs like the Omni seem more practical.
Anyhow, even if this thing was affordable I don't know where I could put it in my apartment.
However, in terms of cost and space restrictions, I think passive ODTs like the Omni seem more practical.
Anyhow, even if this thing was affordable I don't know where I could put it in my apartment.
- Fredz
- Petrif-Eyed
- Posts: 2255
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:06 pm
- Location: Perpignan, France
- Contact:
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
We saw it in this forum two years ago already :emsman wrote:I was wondering if you all saw the new omnidirectional treadmill at Silicon Valley Virtual Reality expo? It is called the Infinadeck. Thoughts?
http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.p ... 322#p84322
Great that they've been able to build a functional prototype. I'm very curious about how they're going to implement tracking, I think that's really the key to make it viable.
-
- One Eyed Hopeful
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Thu May 22, 2014 8:52 pm
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
All great questions! Size is a common issue raised. The plan is to make it ~ 40x40 (the size of a gait in a jog). it's estimated that the cost will be around $2,000, though it's just a guess currently.
- brantlew
- Petrif-Eyed
- Posts: 2221
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:23 pm
- Location: Menlo Park, CA
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
Fredz wrote:We saw it in this forum two years ago already :emsman wrote:I was wondering if you all saw the new omnidirectional treadmill at Silicon Valley Virtual Reality expo? It is called the Infinadeck. Thoughts?
http://www.mtbs3d.com/phpBB/viewtopic.p ... 322#p84322
Great that they've been able to build a functional prototype. I'm very curious about how they're going to implement tracking, I think that's really the key to make it viable.
Agreed. The software engineering required for tracking and motion prediction shouldn't be underestimated here. It's a difficult problem that is just as important as the mechanics for the overall experience.
-
- Golden Eyed Wiseman! (or woman!)
- Posts: 1329
- Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 8:18 pm
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
The design is pretty brilliant. It does leave me wondering though: even if the motion of the treadmill and tracking system was perfected, is it actually possible to exactly recreate the feeling of walking/running, particularly going from a dead stop?
- brantlew
- Petrif-Eyed
- Posts: 2221
- Joined: Sat Sep 17, 2011 9:23 pm
- Location: Menlo Park, CA
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
I don't believe it's possible to replicate locomotion while remaining stationary. For one, your body mass does not accelerate so you don't feel inertia. Also, the energy of your legs does not transfer directly to forward motion. It sort of "slips" as the treadmill absorbs your energy. I think it can feel pretty close and good enough for immersion - but not "really real". I think walking through mocap tracked spaces are the only way to really feel like you are moving.MSat wrote:The design is pretty brilliant. It does leave me wondering though: even if the motion of the treadmill and tracking system was perfected, is it actually possible to exactly recreate the feeling of walking/running, particularly going from a dead stop?
- V8Griff
- Sharp Eyed Eagle!
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:22 am
- Location: UK
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
There was a treadmill used in a British TV programme called The Gadget Show that was a full blown immersive simulator of Battlefield 3. That used an expensive roller based treadmill where the movement was tracked by expensive optical motion sensor systems so I guess a version of that or maybe the RF tracking system being discussed on here could be used to control the treadmill.
Video here for anyone who hasn't seen it, but I believe some viewers in teh USA cannot see it due to restrictions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg8Bh5iI2WY&feature=kp
Video here for anyone who hasn't seen it, but I believe some viewers in teh USA cannot see it due to restrictions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg8Bh5iI2WY&feature=kp
-
- Golden Eyed Wiseman! (or woman!)
- Posts: 1329
- Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 8:18 pm
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
That's what I was thinking. Although I do think a backpack-style harness can partially give you the impression of your body overcoming inertia (at least in the way it feels when you wear a backpack).brantlew wrote:I don't believe it's possible to replicate locomotion while remaining stationary. For one, your body mass does not accelerate so you don't feel inertia. Also, the energy of your legs does not transfer directly to forward motion. It sort of "slips" as the treadmill absorbs your energy. I think it can feel pretty close and good enough for immersion - but not "really real". I think walking through mocap tracked spaces are the only way to really feel like you are moving.MSat wrote:The design is pretty brilliant. It does leave me wondering though: even if the motion of the treadmill and tracking system was perfected, is it actually possible to exactly recreate the feeling of walking/running, particularly going from a dead stop?
- android78
- Certif-Eyable!
- Posts: 990
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:38 am
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
There is a way to kind of simulate the inertia and that is with using gravity for acceleration/deceleration in a similar way to the car racing (or flight) simulators, however you need individually tilting shoe soles as well as a tilting platform. It will only give a partial simulation too, not 100%MSat wrote:That's what I was thinking. Although I do think a backpack-style harness can partially give you the impression of your body overcoming inertia (at least in the way it feels when you wear a backpack).brantlew wrote:I don't believe it's possible to replicate locomotion while remaining stationary. For one, your body mass does not accelerate so you don't feel inertia. Also, the energy of your legs does not transfer directly to forward motion. It sort of "slips" as the treadmill absorbs your energy. I think it can feel pretty close and good enough for immersion - but not "really real". I think walking through mocap tracked spaces are the only way to really feel like you are moving.MSat wrote:The design is pretty brilliant. It does leave me wondering though: even if the motion of the treadmill and tracking system was perfected, is it actually possible to exactly recreate the feeling of walking/running, particularly going from a dead stop?
- Fredz
- Petrif-Eyed
- Posts: 2255
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:06 pm
- Location: Perpignan, France
- Contact:
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
There is also a smaller sized version of this, keeping an eye on it from time to time :V8Griff wrote:There was a treadmill used in a British TV programme called The Gadget Show that was a full blown immersive simulator of Battlefield 3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOGL-SsB0ZM
- V8Griff
- Sharp Eyed Eagle!
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:22 am
- Location: UK
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
That is very cool.
Never seen that before, good find.
Never seen that before, good find.
- Fredz
- Petrif-Eyed
- Posts: 2255
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:06 pm
- Location: Perpignan, France
- Contact:
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
I try to keep track of as many locomotion devices as possible, you can find lists of them here :
- http://vrwiki.wikispaces.com/Locomotion+devices
- http://vrwiki.wikispaces.com/accessorie ... %20devices
- http://vrwiki.wikispaces.com/Locomotion+devices
- http://vrwiki.wikispaces.com/accessorie ... %20devices
-
- Golden Eyed Wiseman! (or woman!)
- Posts: 1329
- Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2012 8:18 pm
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
This is an interesting thought. I'm trying to visualize how it would work for walking. I don't know what the tilting shoes could do in this case, although they seem like they could be useful in simulating inclines/declines and stairs.android78 wrote: There is a way to kind of simulate the inertia and that is with using gravity for acceleration/deceleration in a similar way to the car racing (or flight) simulators, however you need individually tilting shoe soles as well as a tilting platform. It will only give a partial simulation too, not 100%
- V8Griff
- Sharp Eyed Eagle!
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:22 am
- Location: UK
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
Great resource are you one of the contributors ? A link to that page should be your signature.Fredz wrote:I try to keep track of as many locomotion devices as possible, you can find lists of them here :
- http://vrwiki.wikispaces.com/Locomotion+devices
- http://vrwiki.wikispaces.com/accessorie ... %20devices
That is excellent
- Fredz
- Petrif-Eyed
- Posts: 2255
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:06 pm
- Location: Perpignan, France
- Contact:
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
I've set up the Wiki and I'm the only contributor except for some others I gave the rights to edit their VR Jam entry.
- V8Griff
- Sharp Eyed Eagle!
- Posts: 450
- Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:22 am
- Location: UK
Re: New Omnidirectional treadmill
Take a bow, it's a great resource.Fredz wrote:I've set up the Wiki and I'm the only contributor except for some others I gave the rights to edit their VR Jam entry.
- Fredz
- Petrif-Eyed
- Posts: 2255
- Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:06 pm
- Location: Perpignan, France
- Contact: