Kat Walk C2 – The First Omni-Directional Walking Treadmill
Unlike other walking VR products such as the Omni or the Virtualizer, which restrict a user’s ability to perform actions unrelated to locomotion, the Kat Walk C2 lets users run, jump, crouch and tilt from side-to-side. It also has slippy shoes that make it easier to maintain a smooth walking trajectory.
How it works
VR headsets can transport you into worlds where anything is possible, but the problem with those environments is that they’re not physically based on the earth. Walking and running isn’t possible in those worlds because, while most virtual environments have a ground plane (roads and footpaths, for example), you can’t walk along them like real life.
But a company called Ekto VR is working on vr walker solving that problem. The idea is that you slip a pair of the company’s simulator boots over your regular shoes, don a virtual reality headset and use a treadmill to replicate the movement you’re making in your feet in the VR world.
The Ekto VR system uses dual-band GPS sensors, two RGB depth cameras and a Windows Mixed Reality-provided relative position trace to track your real-world path, while also matching it with the trajectory you’re taking in the virtual world. This means that any obstacles you might encounter in the real-world are also replaced with obstacles in the virtual world, and vice versa.
It’s not the first company to try to solve this problem, which is sometimes called the locomotion interface problem. One of the most famous attempts at this kind of solution was a treadmill developed by the University of North Carolina. It allowed users to walk through a three-dimensional virtual version of Sitterson Hall, the school’s computer science building.
Benefits
Xindy VR Walker is a new virtual reality omni-directional treadmill that allows players to walk, run, and play games in the real world. It is also the first to meld player’s true movement with the virtual scene to truly blend the two together. This unique treadmill will make the VR experience more immersive than ever before. It will help players to fully immerse themselves into the virtual environment and feel like they are in the game, as well as improve their physical health.
Previous VR studies have focused on reducing a single symptom such as pain or depression, but our results show that VR interventions are effective in improving multiple symptoms that can impact the quality of life of patients with MBC. In particular, our findings indicate that VR can reduce fatigue, which is a common symptom of advanced cancer and is rated by MBC patients as one of the most important symptoms affecting their quality of life.
Interestingly, the technology used to create the virtual-reality treadmill can be used to create other types of VR experiences, such as exploring natural environments, or interacting with objects in the real world. This could open up the potential for VR to be used in many different kinds of therapy, from assisting with balance and coordination to promoting social interaction and psychological well-being.
Design
VR walker is an early prototype of an idea that would allow locomotion within virtual reality without actually moving in real life. It’s an ambitious project that hasn’t quite reached its full potential, but it is an interesting concept that shows how far we can go with VR technology.
The company says that the C2 model will enable users to run, jump, crouch, tilt from side-to-side, and lean forward. The walker also includes an improved foot tracking system and slippy shoes that will better mimic the motion of walking in the real world. The company plans to ship the walker out as soon as it has been fully tested and certified.
In addition to kinematics data, it is possible to add gaze tracking to the platform to examine human behavior in VR. This will allow researchers to look at how people behave while they are walking and navigating in dynamic environments. This information will be valuable for the design of future VR experiments.
Another company, Infinadeck, has developed an omnidirectional treadmill that can be used for walking and running in virtual reality. It works differently from the Virtuix Omni, which is a static platform. It has a square set of corresponding treadmills that can be powered to precisely match up with any walk or run action ranged in any direction.
Installation
The VR walker is the latest virtual reality treadmill to be designed for walking and running in VR. It uses a gyroscope to track movement and weight sensors to measure foot pressure. The device is also capable of VR Motion Chair displaying information about your position and speed on the large screen attached to the device.
While the concept is still in its early stages, it is one of many ideas that could eventually lead to a new kind of locomotion for VR. However, some of these systems have some limitations that limit their use. For example, the Omni and Virtualizer restrict users from bending down. These restrictions are not necessary for a VR walker and could make the device less useful than it could be.
Another limitation of vr walker is that it requires an external computer to run. This may cause a strain on your computer and battery, especially when used for extended periods of time. It is recommended to use a gaming PC with enough power for this purpose. In addition, prolonged use of VR can be harmful to the eyes and ears.
