2000 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary
Spatial Recognition Performance Tests Using Omni-directional Infinite Surface
| Project/Area Number |
11650261
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Intelligent mechanics/Mechanical systems
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| Research Institution | University of Tsukuba |
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Principal Investigator |
IWATA Hiroo University of Tsukuba, Institute of Engineering Mechanics, Associate Professor, 機能工学系, 助教授 (60184884)
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| Project Period (FY) |
1999 – 2000
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| Keywords | virtual reality / human interface / locomotion interface / haptic / walking / vestibular feedback |
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| Research Abstract |
This research executed experiments regarding navigation performance using a new locomotion interface for walking through virtual space. Although traveling on foot is the most intuitive style of locomotion, proprioceptive feedback from walking is not provided in most applications of virtual environments. We developed an infinite surface driven by actuators for enabling a sense of walking. Torus-shaped surfaces are selected to realize the locomotion interface. The device employs twelve sets of treadmills. These treadmills are connected side-by-side and driven in perpendicular directions. The virtual infinite surface is generated by the motion of the treadmills. A walker can go in any direction while his/her position is fixed in the real world. The device is named "Torus Treadmill." Navigation performance was measured by path reproduction tests. Subjects were immersed in a virtual grass-covered plain on which a cone-shaped target object was placed. The subjects first traveled to the target object. After they reached it, the target object disappeared and the rehomed subjects were asked to return to the place where the target object was placed. We also set two target objects and the subject traveled along a bent path. We compared two locomotion modes : walking on the Torus Treadmill and moving purely by joystick operation. The results of the bent path experiment showed that accuracy of path reproduction of Torus Treadmill mode is better than that of Joystick mode.
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