A Design of the Gait Sensing Algorithm for the Locomotion-Based Virtual Reality System

Abstract

This paper presents an algorithm to enable the user to navigate the virtual world by walking. The presented algorithm detects the user’s moving distance and direction by sensing his walking paces only. With this algorithm, the user can freely navigate the virtual environment by locomotion without wearing any tracking devices to detect his motion. To achieve this goal, a gait model, that analyzes the states of the walking posture, is presented in this paper. Compared to other researches on the locomotion devices, the gait sensing algorithm presented in this paper provides a more natural human-machine mechanism to navigate the virtual world. The algorithm presented in this paper is based upon a locomotion mechanism called Omni-direction Ball-bearing Disc Platform(OBDP). The OBDP is a round shape disc laid with arrays of ball-bearing point-sensors to detect the user’s footstep. At the end, this paper presents a prototype of an overhead crane simulator that is designed using the presented gait sensing algorithm to allow the user to navigate the virtual world.