Omnidirectional Treadmill / Virtual Reality Floor Update

[0LoneTech]

I was thinking the bag design would lead to slack (or you could make it elastic, but get the same issues). Thinking of how to do it I was led to a double layer treadmill system, and two videos later I found that has been built in video moq1Dclza90

[tonycatman]

Issue 1 : How does the drive wheel work ? i.e. what physical mechanism allows it to maintain the right level of contact with the 'bag' and till overcome the friction.

Issue 2 : What material might possibly work for the 'bag' ?

Issue 3 : The load bearings - how would they measure or react to someone running, when they leave the ground ?

[tieguyny]

@tonycatman Good questions. This video is simply a demonstration of the main components of the device and the particulars of each element would have to be developed tailored to fulfill their purpose. Regarding issue 3, that could be handled in software (easing in and out, averaging, etc.) As far as the other issues, remember we live in a time of extraordinary materials developed to accomplish amazing things. It would only be a matter of investigation to find one to work in this application.

[Wizdish]

I love the design and hope you get it working. You might like to see another design that achieves the same result without moving parts search for WIZDISH. All contributions like yours are valid and useful. Well done.

[elliotnicklin]

Drive wheel takes over and you could get stuck on it forever

[smokysmoka]

I already thought about this 10 years ago .. but does not work: the membrane must be spherical, and therefore the center where you will be relaxed while walking on the sides where the membrane will be very tight curve ... This creates an effect that does not allow you to obtain a normal walking .. more when you run the accelerating tapeeroullant should follow along with you as regular exercise machines, if not, is not natural and very tiring .. reconsiders well ...

[lucidskies]

This is fucking epic. I will be following this as I want to be involved in it.

[Soluraz]

Perfect. Now imitate falling. Having the entire tread rise as the incline is increased to a certain maximum - presumably before injury to imitate falls, it must be able to fall in relation to virtual "ground" within world situations where you fall.

[cameundermayne]

this is beautiful, well done :]

[eidure1]

Oh wow, Imagine if you make a prisoncell with a omni-directional treadmill. It would be hell. You'll need no walls because he will always stay in the center of the treadmill and can't go anywhere xD

[vanlocke]

Perfect this, make CC corp, release the game The World and complete my dot hack fantasies.

[ddpsp]

We were all born on an omnidirectional treadmill called Earth.

[TheStfu1000]

here's an idea. if you want to simulate say a wall in front of you (in the game) you simply make it so that you cannot walk when you reach the object ie the tread mill will stop treading your foot if you try walking forwards and can only walk backwards. or do you have any ideas for simulating object interaction. what about small objects on the floor also if user falls over off centre wont that mess it up.?

[iknowmy3table]

the "bag" would have to stretch a lot to adjust the shape, the act of stretching would make it very tight and increase the friction, imagine a plastic bag designed to match the shape of a bagel perfectly, now imagine removing the bagel and putting it in the bag sideways, not a nice fit

[garrypig]

since it has to support 360 degrees a spherical bag or design will not work. now what might work is plates that travel around the sides and replace the ones behind you. plates such as hexagons will fit together and shoot orotund the circumference either counterclockwise or clockwise to replenish. it will need brakes or bumpers to slow down or stop the plates from rotating around and have pegs that will push them into place. it may be slow but it'll work.

[blade3412]

this bag would have to be highly flexible

[Inimoulleb]

I always thought it would be easier to just have a giant ball someone gets inside of...basically making a person a giant trackball. The surface wouldnt be level..but it would certainly be easier to make, space efficient, and require much less power as it would be human powered.

[swiitzerland]

@Inimoulleb I've done a lot of thinking about potential "holodecks" myself and come to the conclusion that being inside a sphere makes everything much more complicated. Space, yes, but positioning displays, playing sounds, flattening the floor you stand on and entering/leaving would be much more complicated.

[stevetennispro]

@Inimoulleb

There are two products out there that match your description. The Virtusphere and the Cybersphere. The Virtusphere rest on roller blade coaster like wheels, and the Cybersphere on an a cushion of air on top a ring.

[glaycio83]

The friction between the bag and the drum will still be to high. For a more natural flow of energy use a liquid based solution (for example water, oil, grease etc) to be in between the flexible walking surface and the drum. The rollers will push the walking serface against the drum, because of the liquid inside it will have less friction and more cooling. Make the curves of the drum more organic, for better handeling of the surface.

[Modzilla32]

Have you found a bag that is capable of doing what you plan?

[steviemartin1977]

Hi Tieguy, I like your idea, but I have to agree with roksr4k4. The spherical bag would have to be under constant stress to stretch around the disc shaped drum. This would generate a lot of friction despite the carpet fibres as most of the stretching would occur where the bag is being stretched. This means that the fibres would separate as the surface that they are attached to is stretched. Also you would need to run an earthing wire to the user as this apparatus would work like a giant vanderg

[Mikelaw709]

Hey Tie guy, I think I have a solution for in game movement, although not as elaborate as yours I think it will work. Skype me Hooves_Mcg

[roksr4k4]

this "bag" would only work if the metal drum was a sphere...but to make the surface level enough to walk on, this sphere would have to be huge! o.0 also it would not be easy to "have control" over this drum, since it has no contact points with the rest of the machine and is completely surrounded with this "bag"...

still a very innovative design and a proof of a creative mind :D keep up the good work...

[FlasherDisaster]

I must say, this is quite impressive. I'd throw down some money to see it built.

[1stNightingale]

The only problem i can see is the danger of having the incline too steep and getting caught or falling into something dangerous. But again you are a fantastic mind and will find a way to get this figured out. Also i worry about the rubber wheels and wonder why they cant be rubber balls that grip moved by ballbearings moved by some force that i cant think of right now.

[BenTheMagnifice]

I dont this is "pancake" bag will work.

[w0xz]

@BenTheMagnifice it must be very flexible to give it the pancake-shape in every moved angle.

problem - the drive-wheels wouldnt move such a flex-material.

[w0xz]

@w0xz (the drivewheels will stress the material)

[MJCrest]

Dude, I love this. Pair this system up to a "sensor suit" (like the pingpongball suit used to create Gollum for The Lord of the Rings) and videogames come to life.

After all this, I think an ocular apparatus that does not injure our eyes or depth perception is the most tedious aspect of virtual gaming (provided that the room temperature doesn't boil the 'player' in his environment.

Cont'd>

[MJCrest]

<cont'd

Also, to the idea of the player falling from an incline. Your previous design had a bar/bars in a circular fashion around the apparatus; elastic ropes from several (say 4-8) directions upon this bar (think like a crosshair/rudimentary spiderweb) would hold the "player" in place / also helping with your keeping said player in the middle of the floor.

While this may hinder a few movements that require a body parts to "roll" or "sweep". I'm not an expert- I'm sure someone could help there.

[roidroid]

@MJCrest The Microsoft Kinect seems to solved the need for a ball-suit.

[MJCrest]

@roidroid Yeah, my older brother got one for Christmas, technology is always surprising me :)

[blipblop54]

I also think about that a few months ago. Its not the same system (mine is more like a balloon), but the shape is exactly the same.

[johnnyquicksilver]

Great demonstration! I was wondering how this technology could be possible. Now I'm just wondering when they're going to make one for home video game use.

[mickeyaaaa]

Very cool! I had a very similar idea almost 10 years ago, but a manual version (non motorized) using a belt/bag surrounding a pancake shaped disk, suspended on ball bearings - for the purpose of using as a video game controller - would be very fun for first person shooter games, or social Virtual worlds like W.O.W. or Second Life. Ultimately I don't think it could be mass marketed due to size/cost issues.

[mickeyaaaa]

Very cool! I had a very similar idea almost 10 years ago, but a manual version (non motorized) using a belt/bag surrounding a pancake shaped disk, suspended on ball bearings - for the purpose of using as a video game controller - would be very fun for first person shooter games, or social Virtual worlds like W.O.W. or Second Life. Ultimately I don't think it could be mass marketed due to size/cost issues

[rockstarajw]

I don't mean grass or something complicated like that, but rock structure or something.

[tieguyny]

@rockstarajw

That would introduce some challenges, such as how to power moving parts inside the drum since it is isolated by the moving outer surface, deforming the moving surface and causing tripping, making it able to stretch, etc. Just more technical hurdles to overcome when I'd still like to see just the basic elements in this video come together in a practical way.

[rockstarajw]

@tieguyny yeah, I REALLY like the idea, I hope you can gain funding, or whatever, popularize this. This is better than the Human Hamster ball that has already sold a system in Vegas. If this makes it (and I know it can) I will defiantly be a customer

[rockstarajw]

have you thought of adding a feature INSIDE the metal drum to possibly simulate terrain?

[a202boy]

Veery very cool!

[szalmalevente]

Great work!

I really like the idea!