Biometric VR Avatar Control via Muscle Signal Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VR technologies are inadequate in accurately detecting user intentions and providing kinematic awareness, especially for users with amputations or physical disabilities, as they rely on cameras and accelerometers, which limit control and accuracy, and fail to measure the intention to activate muscles or perform complex motions without physical capacity.
Innovation Solution
Biometric-enabled VR systems that collect biometric signal data using devices like electromyographic electrodes and inertial measurement units to determine user intentions and modulate virtual avatar control, allowing for accurate representation and control of virtual avatars in holographic, 2D, or 3D virtual spaces without visual references.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If camera and accelerometer technology is used to detect user motions in virtual space, then the system setup becomes simpler and visual capture is achieved, but the ability to accurately detect user intentions and provide kinematic awareness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces camera-based visual capture and accelerometer-based motion detection with electromyographic (EMG) sensor technology that directly detects electrical signals from muscle activations. This substitution enables accurate detection of user intentions at the neural-muscular level, providing kinematic awareness even when physical movements are not executed, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces EMG sensors as an intermediary between the user's nervous system and the virtual reality system. These sensors detect electrical impulses from muscle activations before physical movement occurs, serving as a mediator that translates physiological intentions into virtual avatar control signals, thus improving intention detection accuracy without requiring complex visual tracking systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mirror or camera reference technology is used to treat phantom limb pain, then visual reference is provided for uninjured extremities, but it is ineffective for users with bilateral amputations or those lacking physical capacity to perform movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs EMG sensor technology that can detect muscle activations regardless of whether the user has unilateral or bilateral amputations, physical deformities, or neurological conditions. The system adapts to various user conditions by detecting electrical signals from residual muscles or compensatory muscle groups, making the solution universally applicable while maintaining precise control through direct physiological signal detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to control their virtual avatars using their own residual muscle activations and physiological signals, even when physical capacity is diminished. By detecting electrical impulses from attempted muscle contractions, the system allows users to self-regulate and control virtual representations without requiring physical movement capability or visual reference from intact extremities.
3Ease of operation
If camera-based visual capture is used to record and replay user images in virtual space, then current physical state is demonstrated, but the ability to augment personal image or control virtual avatar beyond captured motions is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent detects muscle activations and electrical signals from the user's nervous system before physical movements are executed. By capturing these preliminary physiological signals, the system can predict and translate intended motions into virtual avatar control, enabling augmentation of personal image and control capabilities beyond what traditional camera-based visual capture can achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The EMG sensors serve as an intermediary that captures intention information directly from muscle electrical signals, preserving data that camera-based systems cannot detect. This intermediary technology translates physiological intentions into virtual control signals, preventing loss of intention information while enhancing ease of operation for avatar control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to experience enhanced kinematic awareness and control over virtual avatars, improving VR fidelity and accessibility for users with physical limitations by accurately detecting muscle intentions and adapting to individual conditions, such as amputations, and providing therapeutic benefits like reduced phantom limb pain.
Implementation Method 1
electromyographic electrodes...configured to detect signals corresponding to the user's muscle activations
Implementation Method 2
inertial measurement units...configured to detect signals corresponding to movements of the user
Data Source
AI summary
Biometric enabled virtual reality (VR) systems and methods are disclosed for detecting user intention(s) and manipulating virtual avatar control based on the user intention(s) for providing kinematic awareness in holographic space, two-dimensional (2D) space, or three-dimensional (3D) virtual space. A virtual representation of an intended motion of a user corresponding to an intention of muscle activation of the user is determined based on analysis of a biometric signal data of the user as collected by a biometric detection device. The virtual representation of the intended motion is used to modulate virtual avatar control or output of a virtual avatar (representing one or more aspects of at least one of the user) or an object (as manipulated by the user) is manipulated in the holographic space, the virtual 2D, or the 3D space. The virtual avatar is rendered by a virtual interface configured to provide the kinematic awareness to the user in the holographic space, the 2D virtual space, or the 3D virtual space.