Walk simulation apparatus for exercise and virtual reality

[0001] This publication claims the benefit of PPA 17522 USPTO 60/474780

[0002] Not applicable

[0003] Not applicable

[0004] This invention relates to an exercise platform.

[0005] There is a growing demand for exercise machines to become more entertaining and less tedious. Similarly, users of virtual reality computer games wish to enhance their experience through physical stimulation and exertion, thereby increasing their “immersion” in the game. To this end many developments have sought to improve the computer gaming experience, for instance through three-dimensional visual graphics,' surround sound' audio and various devices that provide a physical feedback.

[0006] As many games require the player to walk or run around a virtual world several inventions have attempted to simulate walking and running. The key challenge to accomplishing this is to achieve a means of multi-directional movement within the restricted space usually required of such a game, while keeping the whole device compact.

[0007] A feature of walking/running exercise devices is that they tend to be computer controlled as opposed to providing an input to a computer. For instance a treadmill requires the user to input the desired speed it should operate at. There are dangers associated with forcing a user to ‘keep up’ with a machine and they may suffer comfort and modesty issues due to the jogging motion. Another feature of many existing devices is that it can be difficult or even impossible to change direction. Ideally a locomotion platform should allow a user to traverse freely in any horizontal direction for any amount of time.

[0008] Phillips' U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,397 demonstrates that when a user is constrained to a limited platform area while performing a walk action their movements can be monitored and the data used as input to a computer program.

[0009] The objective of the disclosed invention is to provide a locomotion platform. The apparatus is a concave platform for a user to stand on. The platform and/or the user's footwear are manufactured in such a way as to reduce the friction between them. Further objectives are that the user remains constrained to the platform area and that they may turn and walk in any horizontal direction.

[0015] Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only.

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the locomotion platform 2. The platform upper surface 6 is concave and upward facing. The platform 2 is of firm enough construction to support a user's weight without deforming. A user wearing virtual reality eyewear 8 can stand upon the platform 2 and slide their feet back and fore across the platform's upper surface 6 in a simulated walk action. For example, from a standing position at the center 12 of the platform their right foot can be slid forward as their left foot is slid back until they reach a point where the their feet are the distance apart of a normal pace and equidistant from the center 12 of the platform. To take another step the user would slide their right foot back at the same time as sliding their left foot forward until they have again completed a pace. The concave nature of the platform upper surface 6 is of a profile or angle that facilitates a user as they slide their feet across the upper surface. The concave profile is approximately spherical with a radius of curvature at least equal to the length of the user's legs 20.

[0017] A change in direction is achieved by altering the direction in which the user's feet are slid. As an example, to turn right, the right foot can be slid forward and to the right simultaneously while the left foot slides backward and to the left.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the platform 2 illustrating braces 7 to prevent movement of the platform 2 during use. The whole assembly should rest on horizontal terrain. For most adult or adolescent users the platform 2 needs to be approximately four feet diameter, or slightly more than a full walking stride in the horizontal plane. The platform base 5 may be constructed from any suitable material, for example metal, wood, plastic, ceramic or toughened glass.

[0019] In one mode of use the platform upper surface 6 shown in FIG. 1 may be coated with, or manufactured from, a material such as PTFE that reduces the coefficient of friction between the user's footwear and the platform upper surface 6. Alternatively the upper surface 6 can be painted and treated with polish, wax or a suitable lubricant. The user can wear footwear 4 with soles designed to minimize the friction between their feet and the upper surface. Examples of the footwear sole material include PTFE or silk.

[0020] The view from above the active platform 2 area is circular. The lowest point of the concave platform 2 is in its center. In this respect the platform 2 could be described as dish shaped. The user is thus able to move, crouch or jump vertically, and change the direction they are facing without impediment.

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates that from a cross-sectional view the concave platform 2 describes an arc, which has a radius that is at least the distance from the base of the user's footwear 4 to their hip joint 9. This facilitates ease of leg movement, as their center of gravity will not move substantially and the angle 3 of their foot 4 with respect to its leg 20 will remain fairly constant. The body of the user should not move substantially away from the center of the dish as they move their legs. The contour of the platform 2 is the same in every direction from the center.

[0022] In another exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the platform 22 is of the same shape and is used as previously described but is not coated or manufactured from a specifically friction reducing material. In this instance the user wears roller skates or similar footwear 24, which are designed to roll over a fixed upper surface 26. The same arrangement is illustrated in cross-sectional view FIG. 4. The friction reduction, which is necessary for the user's feet to slide easily over the concave platform 22, is in this case achieved by the user wearing roller skates 24. The upper surface 26 in this example would not be treated with polish, wax or lubricant. The actual coating if needed would be dependant on the particular material chosen for the platform 22, and would provide sufficient grip to prevent the wheels of the user's footwear 24 from skidding.

[0023] Notwithstanding that the locomotion platform of the present invention may be used simply for the purpose of exercise, the movement thus obtained is suitable for detection via electronic sensors. The data thus derived can be used by a computer program for analysis or as user input. Multiple methods of movement detection are possible. The following examples outline some of the methods to derive the movement data.

[0024] In one mode of use, the user wears virtual reality eyewear 28 and wears 3-dimensional tracking devices on or close to their feet. 3-dimensional tracking devices are typically used for motion capture. These devices output channels of information that corresponds to their X, Y and Z position relative to a magnetic source. A computer program that samples the X, Y, and Z position at sufficient intervals can compute the user's speed and direction. To calibrate this system the sensors would be placed at certain predefined positions relative to the platform, such as the center and at the limits of where the user's feet would be expected to travel. The computer program would then monitor the X, Y, and Z position of the sensors and calculate by reference to the calibration points how far the sensors moved in each sample time interval and therefore how fast they were moving and if they had changed direction. This arrangement can also operate in the reverse sense, whereby the user wears the reference sources and the sensors are mounted in the platform or nearby.

[0025] REDLINE In one mode of use, the user wears 3-dimensional tracking devices 40 on or close to their feet. 3-dimensional tracking devices are typically used for motion capture. These devices output channels of information that corresponds to their X, Y and Z position relative to a magnetic source. A computer program that samples the X, Y, and Z position at sufficient intervals can compute the user's speed and direction. To calibrate this system the sensors would be placed at certain predefined positions relative to the platform, such as the center and at the limits of where the user's feet would be expected to travel. The computer program would then monitor the X, Y, and Z position of the sensors and calculate by reference to the calibration points how far the sensors moved in each sample time interval and therefore how fast they were moving and if they had changed direction. This arrangement can also operate in the reverse sense, whereby the user wears the reference sources and the sensors are mounted in the platform or nearby.

[0026] In another mode of use, the platform upper surface contains a plurality of pressure sensors. These are activated as the user's feet press upon them. By analyzing the position and sequence of activated sensors, relative to time, the user's speed and direction is computed.

[0027] In another mode of use, the user wears visual reference markings. Optical sensors detect the absolute or relative position of these markings. Sampling the marker positions at sufficient time intervals and comparing these against elapsed time enables the user's speed and direction to be computed.

Other methods of position and movement detection are possible.

[0028] The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be deemed in all respects as being merely illustrative and not restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scopes of the following appended claims.