Rotating Body Suit with Actuated Joints for Full-Body VR Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current virtual reality experiences are limited to basic motion and haptic feedback, primarily relying on visual and aural immersion, failing to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience for users, especially in scenarios requiring full-body interaction and varied motion.
Innovation Solution
A body suit system that includes a base with rotational motion, sensors, and actuators, allowing for real-time feedback and interaction, enabling users to experience a wide range of physical sensations and movements by simulating resistance, weight, and environmental conditions, and transmitting user movements back to the virtual environment for synchronized interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional VR headsets and hand controllers are used, then visual and aural immersion is achieved, but the experience is limited to basic motion and haptic feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The body suit is divided into multiple independent segments including torso, arms, legs, and torso support member, each equipped with its own sensors and actuators. This segmentation allows each body part to be independently controlled and sensed, enabling complex full-body motion simulation while keeping individual components manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The body suit integrates multiple functions into a single system: motion tracking, haptic feedback, environmental simulation, and interaction control. The same device provides both input (tracking user movements) and output (providing tactile feedback) functions, eliminating the need for separate specialized devices.
2Ease of operation
If sensors and actuators are embedded in clothing to measure movement and impart haptic feedback, then user interaction is improved, but the hardware remains limited to basic functions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the strength and type of haptic feedback based on real-time virtual environment data. When the virtual character encounters resistance (e.g., swimming through water), the actuators dynamically increase resistance force. This dynamic adaptation transforms basic haptic feedback into immersive environmental simulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The body suit implements closed-loop feedback where sensors continuously monitor user movements and environmental conditions, which are then fed back to adjust actuator outputs. This feedback mechanism ensures that haptic feedback remains synchronized with virtual reality events, creating realistic and responsive interaction.
3Ease of operation
If a treadmill platform is used to allow users to walk in any direction, then navigation is improved, but the device is limited to motion only
Solution Approach 1:
The body suit merges the navigation capabilities of a treadmill with full-body haptic feedback, environmental simulation, and interaction control. By combining motion platform functionality with comprehensive sensor-actuator integration, the system achieves both free movement and immersive sensory feedback in a single device.
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 body suit enhances user immersion by providing a more realistic and interactive experience, allowing for a broader range of motions and sensations, such as walking, swimming, and combat, beyond the limitations of traditional VR headsets and hand controllers, thereby creating a more immersive and engaging virtual reality experience.
Implementation Method 1
The support member is spaced apart from the base by a support member and is configured to rotate relative to the base
Implementation Method 2
motors or brakes configured to provide resistance to the legs of the body suit as the user attempts to undertake a walking motion
Implementation Method 3
The processor collects data from the sensors to represent physical movement, i.e., force applied, direction and position, of the user in the real world
Implementation Method 4
smart sensors and actuators can be embedded in clothing to both accurately measure a user's movement and impart haptic feedback to the user through the clothing
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects and embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus, including a body suit, for providing improved interactions with media content, particularly interactive digital content. The body suit is rotatable around a base and includes one or more of knee, hip and elbow joints that can be driven by motors, or manually. Furthermore, one or more of the knee, hip and elbow can apply resistance to motion by way of braking means. The motors and braking means of aspects and embodiments of the invention, as well as force feedback attachments, provide a sense of realism through improved interaction with interactive digital content. In addition, real world movements of the body suit can be interpreted into digital interactions within an interactive digital content environment.