Gravity-Shifted Movement Device with Damping and Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices for simulating movements and enhancing user interaction in virtual environments lack intuitive and stable mechanisms for shifting the center of gravity and muscle activation, limiting the realism and control of user experiences.
Innovation Solution
A device design that allows users to shift their center of gravity by moving their hip area, with a movable part that tilts in different directions, supported by a system with grip and leg shells, and optionally equipped with motors and damping elements, enabling intuitive and controlled movement around virtual axes, and integrated with visual output for immersive experiences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user shifts center of gravity by moving hip area to enable intuitive movement control, then ease of operation is improved, but device stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a counterweight mechanism where the movable part's tilt movement is compensated by a counterbalancing system. When the user shifts their center of gravity to initiate movement, the counterweight system provides opposing force to maintain overall device stability while still allowing controlled movement. This resolves the contradiction by enabling intuitive user control through center of gravity shifting while preventing excessive instability through counterbalancing forces.
2Reliability
If motors and damping elements are added to influence device movements, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces damping elements as intermediary components between the motors and the movable parts. These damping elements serve as mediators that smooth out motor movements and reduce jerky motions, thereby improving reliability. The damping elements act as a buffer that translates motor output into smoother, more reliable device movements without requiring complex control systems, thus managing the trade-off between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic system where motors and damping elements work together to provide adaptive movement control. The damping elements dynamically adjust to movement conditions, providing resistance during rapid movements and allowing smooth motion during controlled movements. This dynamic approach enhances reliability by adapting to various operational conditions without requiring an overly complex static system design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the movable part tilts in different directions to enable multi-axis movement, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tilt mechanism into segmented, modular components that can tilt independently around different virtual axes. Rather than requiring a single complex mechanism to handle all tilt directions, the system uses multiple simpler tilt segments that can be manufactured and assembled with standard precision tolerances. This segmentation approach enables multi-directional movement capability while reducing the overall manufacturing precision requirements compared to a monolithic design.
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
The device provides a stable and responsive platform for users to interact with virtual environments, offering a realistic and immersive experience by allowing natural movement and control, while damping jerky movements and enhancing user safety through kinematic design and optional damping elements.
Implementation Method 1
The movements caused by the user can be generated solely by gravity by shifting the center of gravity
Implementation Method 2
The device has at least one motor and/or at least one damping element in order to be able to influence the movements of the device or the person located on it
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for carrying out movements by shifting the center of gravity and/or actuating muscles of a human body. A user lying on the device (1) shifts the center of gravity by moving his or her hip region in order to incline a movable part (2, 81, 82) of the device (1) in different directions with the inclusion of the user's own body. Furthermore, the user wears video spectacles or the like during the process and can move in a virtual environment using the entire system, which consists of the video spectacles and said movement device (1), and interact with the virtual environment. The movements caused by the user can be generated solely using gravity by shifting the center of gravity. Additionally, the movements of the device (1) are influenced by motors or dampers arranged in or on the device (1).